Dr. John Bachman, Educator, Author, LWR Historian and Board Member, Dies

Baltimore — The Rev. Dr. John Bachman, former college president, professor, author and pastor, died at the age of 87 in Minneapolis, July 7, 2003. Bachman served for five years on the board of Lutheran World Relief and authored a 50-year history of the organization in 1995, "Together in Hope."

"John was a blessing to Lutheran World Relief in many ways, but most especially as the author of 'Together in Hope,'" LWR President Dr. Kathryn Wolford said in a letter of condolence to his wife, Mrs. Elsie Bachman. "The book not only captures our past; as it is read by new board members, staff and friends, it helps to forge LWR's future."

"John Bachman served in many different capacities in the church, very capably, but I had been particularly grateful to him for taking time out of his retirement to write the history of LWR in exemplary fashion," said Dr. Robert Marshall, a 26-year veteran of LWR's board and chairperson during Bachman's membership. He was someone, Marshall noted, "who always had sound reasoning and was able to make good decisions."

In 1995 Bachman and his son John, a television newscaster in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted the 50th anniversary video history of LWR, "Ours to Answer."

Reviewing the sometimes daunting challenges that an organization like LWR faces Bachman wrote at that time in "Together in Hope": "...Lutherans have the best reasons for not being dismayed. We are not preoccupied with success, nor are we even striving to win God's favor, because we know that we are loved unconditionally. Motivated by the desire to respond to that love, we welcome the opportunity to join our Lord in tasks to be completed in God's good time. We can take risks not conditioned by fear of failure; we need only be faithful. That conviction inspired LWR's founders. The story of Lutheran World Relief shows how individuals, working together in communities and partnerships spanning the globe, can make a real difference."

One of Bachman's books is called "Faith That Makes a Difference." His other books include "Media, Wasteland or Wonderland: Opportunities and Dangers for Christians in the Electronic Age." He pursued his research and writing throughout his retirement years.

In his professional life, spent at the intersection of education, communication and theology, Bachman helped forge futures and policies for a variety of church organizations. During the 1980s Bachman chaired the Lutheran World Federation's Commission on Communication, during the 1970s he directed communication and mission support services of the former American Lutheran Church and, among his earlier positions, was president of Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, and professor at Union Theological Seminary, New York.