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Professor and Author Lewis B. Smedes Dies
 Lewis B. Smedes, best-selling author of more than
15 books and professor emeritus of theology and ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena,
California, died Thursday after a fall at his home in nearby Sierra Madre. He was 81.
"With the passing of my dear friend Lewis Smedes, Fuller Seminary has lost one of its great faculty
leaders," said Fuller President Richard J. Mouw. "An influential interpreter of our kind of open
evangelicalism, he embodied a unique blend of
intellectual rigor, pastoral warmth and eloquent expression. More than one of his former
students has said that while his class lectures were unforgettable, it was worth coming
to class just to hear his opening prayer."
Smedes was a visiting professor in the philosophy of religion at Fuller from 1968 to
1970, when he was invited to join the faculty as chair of theology and ethics. In 1990
he accepted a chair on the integration of psychology and theology in Fuller's School of
Psychology, where he served until retiring in 1995.
"For me, Lew has been one of those strong saints and a marvelous friend," said Max
De Pree, former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc., author, and Fuller trustee. "He had an
ability through his writings and teaching to communicate with everyone."
"Lew knew what it meant to be a friend. His deep caring matched his soaring intellect.
His thoughtful devoutness was authentic because it was the bloom of his mind and
soul," said Rabbi Allan Schranz of Sutton Place Synagogue in New York City.
Smedes was a sought-after speaker and the author of best-selling books, some of
which were translated into several languages. In the classroom, in the pulpit, and in his
writings, Smedes frequently discussed the difficult but important issue of forgiveness. In his popular book, Forgive and Forget, Smedes wrote: "...when we feel that
somebody has hurt us deeply...will we let our pain hang on to our hearts where it will
eat away our joy? Or will we use the miracle of forgiving to heal the hurt we didn't deserve?"
Among his other book titles are All Things Made New; Shame and Grace: Healing
the Shame We Don't Deserve; Mere Morality: What God Expects From Ordinary
People; Choices: Making Right Decisions in a Complex World; Caring and Commitment; Keeping Hope Alive; and How Can It Be All Right When
Everything is All Wrong?
In his recent book, A Life of Distinction: What It Takes to Live With Courage, Honesty, and Gratitude, Smedes shared key ingredients for living a life with
character: "Integrity is not an optional part of ourselves," he wrote. "A good car can
lack air-conditioning and still be a splendid automobile. But if we lack integrity, we lose
our hold on the other components that go into the making of a pretty good person.
Losing integrity is more like having our lungs cave in; everything else goes out with them."
Smedes earned his undergraduate degrees at Calvin College and Calvin Theological
Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, then studied for his doctorate at the Free
University of Amsterdam. He completed further graduate work at Oxford University in
England and the University of Basel in Switzerland.
After several years of pastoral ministry in the Christian Reformed Church, he accepted
the position of professor of religion and theology at Calvin College. He also taught
ethics as a visiting professor at the Free University of Amsterdam.
Smedes is survived by his wife, Doris; three children, Cathy, Charles, and John; and two grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Child SHARE, 1544 W. Glenoaks Boulevard, Glendale, California 91201
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A 300dpi picture of Dr. Lewis Smedes is available for download and publication at
www.fuller.edu/news/html/smedes300dpi.jpg
Fred Messick, Director of Public Relations
135 North Oakland Avenue, Pasadena, California 91182
Phone: 626-584-5367 Fax: 626-584-5335 E-mail: fmessick@fuller.edu
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