In Memoriam: William E. Pannell
It is with deep sadness yet gratitude for a life well lived that Fuller Seminary announces the passing of William E. Pannell, esteemed and beloved professor emeritus of preaching, Fuller’s first Black trustee, distinguished scholar, and a giant in the evangelical landscape of the last century. He passed away in the early morning on Friday, October 11, at the age of 95. In January 2015, the seminary recognized his tremendous service to Fuller and the global church with the renaming and dedication of the William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies.
Fuller President David Emmanuel Goatley expressed his gratitude for Dr. Pannell’s life, legacy, and the indelible mark he left on Fuller Seminary, stating, “Bill Pannell’s winsome personality, thoughtful engagement, faithful witness, and pioneering spirit won many hearts and earned much respect from students, colleagues, and believers near and far. His participation in my inauguration as Fuller’s sixth and first African American president was an important moment for him to experience, and in many ways, I, along with many others, stand on his shoulders. He is now one of the many saints of the ages who ‘rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them’ (Rev. 14:13).”
President emeritus Mark Labberton echoed his gratitude for Dr. Pannell’s impact: “Dr. William E. Pannell has been a singular transformative influence at Fuller Theological Seminary for decades. Fuller’s first Black board member, and eventually its first Black professor, are significant forms of that influence. But it was the man himself—his courage, boldness, honesty, wisdom, warmth, humor, and faith—that left such a deep impact. We loved him and will miss him greatly.”
Born on June 24, 1929, in Sturgis, Michigan, Bill Pannell gave his life to Christ during his junior year in high school, thanks to some Christian friends, though the seeds of his conversion were sown many years before in Sunday school at a local Plymouth Brethren Church. Pannell received his BA from Fort Wayne Bible College in Indiana in 1951. He went on to study Black history at Wayne State University in Detroit. In 1980, he earned an MA in social ethics from the University of Southern California.
After graduating from Fort Wayne, he became an evangelist, preaching and teaching throughout the United States. In 1964, he was named assistant director of leadership training with Youth for Christ, serving in that capacity until 1968, when he joined Tom Skinner Associates as associate evangelist and vice president.
He remained with that ministry until 1974 when he was invited by David Allan Hubbard to join Fuller. Pannell became the first African American to serve on Fuller’s Board of Trustees from 1971 to 1974 before he joined Fuller’s faculty as assistant professor of evangelism and director of the Black Pastors’ Program (later the African American Church Studies Program). In 1992, he was appointed as the Arthur DeKruyter/Christ Church Oak Brook Professor of Preaching, a role in which he served until 2000. He also served as dean of the chapel from 1992 to 1998. In 1993, he was selected by his faculty colleagues to receive the C. Davis Weyerhaeuser Award for Excellence.
From May to July 1983, he was the interim host of a television series called Faithways produced by Fuller Theological Seminary and KNXT, which covered topical discussions on contemporary, moral, and social issues. He authored My Friend, the Enemy (1968), Evangelism from the Bottom Up (1992), and The Coming Race Wars?: A Cry for Reconciliation (1993), the latter of which was released as an expanded and revised edition in 2021 with a new introduction by Jemar Tisby, who deemed it the “honor of his writing life” to write of his mentor.
Dwight A. Radcliff Jr., academic dean of the William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies, offered this tribute: “There are a plethora of prefixes and a multitude of monikers that could be used in conjunction with the Rev. Dr. William E. Pannell. He was a husband, father, mentor, professor, confidant, prophet, advisor, preacher, trustee, pastor, and trailblazer for so many. Above all of these, however, he loved Jesus. The Pannell Center, Fuller Theological Seminary, evangelicalism, and the entire body of Christ have all experienced a tremendous loss at the passing of our friend, Bill Pannell. Although he ran an amazing race in the faith, we join with his beloved family in mourning his passing. His fingerprints, footprints, and legacy await new generations of scholars and practitioners. May we honor him as he joins the ancestors by being faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in our scholarship, our ministry, and our lives. May we be present in our communities and churches, as he was for so many. Dr. Pannell, we miss you already. ‘Whoa!’”
Three weeks ago, Fuller hosted the film premiere of The Gospel According to Bill Pannell, a feature-length documentary from FULLER studio, the William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies, and Jemar Tisby. Nearly 400 attendees joined in person and online to view the film consisting entirely of Pannell’s words compiled from sermons, speeches, and interviews he gave throughout his life. Bill was able to record one final video to thank all who were in attendance, which you can watch here.
Ever the adored family man, Bill’s presence was likely nowhere more cherished than in his home. His son Dr. Philip Scott Pannell died in 2015 after a seven-year battle with cancer. Bill’s wife, Hazel Pannell, passed away in 2021. They are survived by Bill’s son Peter Pannell; Bill’s daughter-in-law Luann Pannell; and Bill’s five grandchildren, Taylor, Grace, Eric, Ezekiel, and Justus.
The Fuller community and the academic and religious world mourn the loss of a beloved teacher, illustrious mentor, influential visionary, and one-of-a-kind human. The ripple effect of his life and work, both public and private, will serve as a testament to the faithfulness of God in every season.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones as we remember and celebrate the life of Bill Pannell, a true exemplar and hallmark of unwavering joy, grace, and devotion to Christ, his church, and the world at large.
Service details are forthcoming.
In the words of William E. Pannell himself,
“Mercy.”