Clark used to attend St. Hilda’s occasionally. He was a brilliant theologian and a very humble man: if asked a question, he had a tendency to say “what do you think?” – and listen to the answer. He will be greatly missed.
From here:
Clark Pinnock Passes on to Glory
One of the more influential and controversial Evangelical theologians in recent decades passed away Sunday afternoon, August 15, 2010.Clark Pinnock was a giant in theology. His theological exploration inspired me and many others to follow the Spirit’s leading in seeking truth about God and creation.
I agree with much of what Clark proposed theologically in the latter years of his life. In fact, I’ve written extensively about Clark’s version of Open theology in past blogs. And one of my new books, The Nature of Love: A Theology, explores what I like about Clark’s thought, although I do propose some ways I think Open and Relational theology could be improved.
But some other aspects of Clark’s life have been especially exemplary. I’ll list four:
- Clark was not afraid to change his mind. He began his academic career as a quasi-fundamentalist with strong Calvinist leanings. He changed his mind about how we ought to read the Bible, how he should think of God’s nature, and what God knew about the possible future. I appreciated his honesty in his quest for strong theology!
- Clark was unafraid to draw from many sources in his theological quest. While the Bible was his primary tool, he dipped in Arminian theology, Calvinist theology, process theology, Trinitarian theology, and creation theology, among others. The best theology can draw from diverse sources, while keeping a coherence amidst generative differences.
- Clark was humble. Although he surely had convictions about how we should think theologically, he never presented himself as having all things figured out. When he and I disagreed about some issues, he was always ready to hear me out and learn from me. This made me more open to learning from him.
- Clark was creative up to the end. His scholarly and devotional output was amazing! Although Alzheimer’s disease eventually took over his life, he participated in several projects with me in his final years. In fact, two of his last essays are printed in books I edited: “Evangelical Theology after Darwin,” in Creation Made Free, and “A Cosmology of Love,” in Love Among Us.
I plan to attend Clark’s funeral this week. My friend, Jason White, passed along some details you may want to know if you also plan to attend the funeral or send a card to Clark’s wife, Dorothy.
The funeral will be Thursday evening, August 19, at Little Bethel Community Church. The church is located at 320 Paling Avenue Hamilton ON Canada L8H 5J9. Send cards to Dorothy Pinnock at this address.
I would have liked to discuss more issues with Clark. He was a good friend. I hope one day to continue our conversation in heaven.
Today as I think of Clark’s life, legacy, and our friendship, I’m reminded of the refrain of a hymn I sang as a youngster:
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!
Here is another article from Christianity Today which gives some pertinent insights on Clark:
Another important element of Pinnock’s career was his emphasis on the Holy Spirit. While a cessationist early in his theological career, he later argued that Christology had been given much more attention “and the Spirit has been made a kind of junior assistant to Christ.” Among the catalysts for his change of mind was the healing of one of his eyes, which had nearly gone blind with macular degeneracy. “I know from personal experience that one such incident can be worth a bookshelf of academic apologetics for Christianity (including my own books),” he later wrote. His Flame of Love (1996) was lauded by some as addressing an important neglect, and dismissed by others as “maverick theology.”
“Here’s an academic who was overstuffed in the brain and the heart cries out,” Pinnock said of his passion for charismatic renewal. “It’s possible that I like strong charismatic forms partly because it’s so unnatural to me and it meets a deep need.”
My condolences to Dorothy and Clark’s family, as well to you David.
“Clark was not afraid to change his mind.”
I know from experience how difficult this can be, having been dislodged from one or two cherished positions myself. It’s a rare person who can do this easily.
Back in the mid seventies, Clark was a professor at the Institute of Biblical Studies, a Campus Crusade for Christ summer program. He was way over my head as a fresh out of college Campus Crusader, but I loved being challenged. Our class so enjoyed him that we took up a collection and gave him a bike when the class was over.
That is exciting to know that he had a physical healing.
My condolences to his family and friends.
I’m afraid I was not all that familiar with him, but I found his , “Open Theology” somewhat troubling.
John (#4), I think open theology is more commonly known as open theism. Pinnock was definitely outside the mainstream of evangelical theology. Regardless of one’s view of his theology, it appears that he was respected as a good man.
Yes.
I knew Clark and Dorothy on a personal level for years, they took a sabbatical in Austria while I worked there on missions. They were a wonderful couple, a brilliant team and a so in love with God. It doesn’t matter his ‘theology’, his relationship with God is what counts… and he loved him. It is nice to know that he’s finally home even though he will be missed here.
My heart goes out to Dorothy… my prayers are with you during this painful time.
Laurie (Doyle) Haughton
Dorothy and Clark Pinnock became our friends of during his contentious stint at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Our parents had a wonderful 1810 cottage in the French Quarter, and the Pinnock’s with their baby Sarah choose to reside in the Vieux Carre too. Warm, approachable, and kind would describe their life in New Orleans. Only wish the Baptist hierachary at NOBTS would have recognized the greatness of this couple. Remember Clark and Dorthy calling my father on Easter Sunday to tell him that Christ “Had Risen” in his native Russian language. My he rest in Peace and of his acts of goodness be remembered.