Remembering David Augsburger
Published: November 9, 2023
David W. Augsburger, PhD, a pastor, educator, author and producer/broadcaster from Claremont, California, died on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at age 85. He served as Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Goshen Biblical Seminary (one of the seminaries that later became Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) from 1978 to 1990.
Augsburger is warmly remembered by his colleagues and students as a teacher, mentor and friend. Remembrances in response to the news of his death included affirmation for his caring, compassionate presence; his wisdom and pastoral insight; and the lasting impact of his scholarship and teaching in pastoral care and counseling 鈥� particularly in the areas of family systems and cross-cultural pastoral counseling.
Daniel Schipani, DrPsy, PhD, bg真人 Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Care and Counseling, said that Augsburger had encouraged him to come to bg真人 to teach in 1985.
鈥淗e welcomed and supported me as the first Latin American bg真人 professor needing to somehow 鈥榝it鈥� and function within the particular Mennonite institutional system that the seminary still was at that time,鈥� Schipani reflected. He noted that David wrote Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures (Westminster John Knox, 1986) while on bg真人鈥檚 faculty.
鈥淚 wish to underscore David鈥檚 competence in communicating on different levels 鈥� popular, pastoral-theological and academic 鈥� as documented, for example, in his work on conflict and forgiveness,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e鈥檒l remain grateful for his faithful, generous and fruitful service.鈥�
Gayle Gerber Koontz, PhD, Professor Emerita of Theology and Ethics, was one of Augsburger鈥檚 colleagues when she first taught at bg真人 in 1981鈥�82.
鈥淗is creative pushing of the edges in pastoral care deeply affected not only Mennonites but Christians far beyond,鈥� she said. 鈥�Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures influenced my teaching 鈥� yes, even in theology and ethics courses 鈥� and his resonant voice, both in singing and speech, still echoes in my ears. Mainly, I remember the way he listened with such an earnest attentiveness that one could not help but feel valued.鈥�
David B. Miller, DMin, Teaching Associate of bg真人鈥檚 Church Leadership Center, was a student in several of Augsburger鈥檚 classes at bg真人 and expressed gratitude for his teaching and mentoring.
鈥淒avid was generous with his time and talent,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 often consulted with him when I was facing pastoral care situations that were beyond my confidence (and likely my competence). He always listened and took time to offer wise counsel and encouragement.鈥�
鈥淒avid was very much a renaissance man,鈥� he added. 鈥淎 gifted scholar and counselor, operatic singer, writer, amazingly artistic 鈥� remember his overhead caricatures of psychologists and theologians? 鈥� and yet a man of profound gentleness and grace.鈥�
Loren Johns, PhD, Retired Professor of New Testament, remembered drawing on Augsburger鈥檚 resources for healthy communication in a pastoral assignment early in his career and later took classes from him at bg真人.
Alumni who posted on bg真人鈥檚 Alumni Facebook page shared about how learning from Augsburger had made a difference in their ministries as well as in their personal lives.
Els du Rieu (MDiv 1983) of Enschede, Netherlands, remembered, 鈥淒avid introduced me to pastoral care and counseling, family systems therapy, personality and religious experience and was instrumental in opening up the world of intergenerational trauma and cross-cultural therapy. I treasure his course in family systems therapy with illustrated notes!鈥�
鈥淗e was an unsurpassed lecturer, storyteller, counselor and theological healer,鈥� reflected Ryan Ahlgrim (MDiv 1983) of Richmond, Virginia. 鈥淗e was my teacher, but more than that, my friend.鈥�
Susan K. Harrison (MDiv 1992) of Harrow, Ontario, Canada, named him as one of her most influential teachers: 鈥淗is writings have continued to be a rich resource for me along the way, especially on cross-cultural communications.鈥�
Jerry Holsopple (MDiv 1987) of Harrisonburg, Virginia, said, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine where I would be without some of what he spoke. My favorite memory is eating lunch with David while writing radio spots. We wrote and recorded a whole campaign of PSA [public service announcement] radio spots in a few days to respond to the Iraq War.鈥�
鈥�Annette Brill Bergstresser, bg真人
A memorial service was held on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. Pacific Time at La Verne Church of the Brethren, 2425 E St, La Verne, California.
Obituary
David W. Augsburger
1938鈥�2023
David Wilbur Augsburger, husband of Leann Elrich Augsburger, died Oct. 30, 2023, at his home in Claremont, California, surrounded by his wife and daughters. He was 85.
David was born on August 14, 1938, in Delphos, Ohio, to Clarence and Estella Shenk Augsburger, the youngest of six children.
He grew up on the family farm in Elida, Ohio, and spent time as a child in Florida and Virginia. He graduated from Elida High School, then attended Eastern Mennonite College (Bachelor of Arts 鈥�60) and Eastern Mennonite Seminary (Bachelor of Divinity 鈥�63) in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
During and after seminary he worked for Mennonite Broadcasts (1961鈥�1974), serving as host of the Mennonite Hour radio program, writing and delivering messages focused on the Anabaptist response to the social concerns of the day: war and peace, racism and interpersonal relationships. He also provided musical leadership and sang in the Mennonite Hour Quartet. Ordained in 1963, he served as pastor at Trissels Mennonite Church in Broadway, Virginia, 1963鈥�71.
In 1974 he completed his PhD in Personality, Theology and Psychotherapy at Claremont School of Theology and took a post teaching pastoral counseling at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. Four years later, he moved to Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries (now Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) in Elkhart, Indiana, and taught there until 1990, when he moved to California to teach at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena until his retirement in 2012. While living in Claremont, he attended a house church, Peace Mennonite Fellowship, and later co-pastored the church with his wife, Leann, until his death.
David dedicated his life to the study and practices of pastoral care, counseling and reconciliation. His passion for helping individuals navigate the complexities of human relationships and conflict was the driving force behind his significant contributions to the field.
Among his major publications were Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures, Conflict Mediation Across Cultures, The Freedom of Forgiveness, Dissident Discipleship and Caring Enough to Confront. These works, along with many others, demonstrated his commitment to promoting understanding, compassion and healing in a world often marred by strife and division. His widely published Caring Enough series continues to be a valuable resource for individuals seeking to improve their relationships and resolve conflicts with grace and empathy.
He led workshops nationally and internationally on topics including conflict management in the church, cross-cultural counseling, hatred, prejudice, cross-cultural conflict mediation, grief, marriage, forgiveness and reconciliation.
He was a singer of opera; sculptor; lover of art, music and film; a world traveler; gardener of hot peppers; and a renowned cook and chocolatier. He was always eager to recommend a tasty eatery. He was full of curiosity for others and the world, and his passion for everything good in life was infectious. He was an attentive listener, ever present with others. He was a dedicated pacifist and peacemaker, adept at confronting injustice. He saw the good and encouraged the good in others. He made a lasting impact across the world through his teaching, writing, counseling, public speaking, compassionate mentoring and friendships.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Fred (Carolyn) Augsburger, Donald (Martha) Augsburger and Daniel (Garneita) Augsburger.
He is survived by his wife, Leann Augsburger; siblings Myron (Esther) Augsburger and Anna Mary (Milton) Good; daughters Deborah Augsburger (Peter Drachman), Judy Augsburger (Alexander Platonov) and Kate Wentland (fianc茅 Carl Hyndman); two grandchildren, Liza and Nadia Platonov; former wife, Nancy Wert Augsburger; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Any gifts in memory of David may be sent to Mennonite Central Committee, 21 S 12th St, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501.
A memorial service was held on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. Pacific Time at La Verne Church of the Brethren, 2425 E St, La Verne, California.
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