Memorials: Kenneth Sealer Kantzer

Kenneth Sealer Kantzer was born on March 29, 1917, to Edwin and Clara Sealer Kantzer in Detroit, MI, but the family later moved to Ashland, OH. Kenneth was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church, and even though his parents had been saved under Billy Sunday's ministry, Kenneth rejected his early Christian upbringing and his parents' faith, entering Ashland College (OH) as an atheist. However, early in his college career Kenneth came to a firm faith in Christ, and fellowshipped with the League of Evangelical Students. He was graduated from Ashland College with an A.B. degree in 1938, then obtained his M.A. degree in modern history from Ohio State University in 1939, planning to teach history in high school.

Instead, however, Kenneth's life took a different turn. After his marriage to Ruth Forbes in 1939, he began theological studies at Faith Theological Seminary in Wilmington, DE, earning the Bachelor of Divinity in 1942 and the S.T.M. degree one year later.

In 1950 he received his Ph.D. from Harvard University. His thesis was on John Calvin. After teaching part-time at The King's College and at Gordon Divinity School, he became assistant professor of philosophy and theology at Wheaton College, where he remained from 1946-1963. When he joined the Evangelical Theological Society as a charter member on February 25, 1950, in the space on the application given for literary publications, Kenneth wrote, "none worth mentioning." In later years he amply corrected that appraisal.

From 1963-78, Kenneth was dean of his denomination's seminary, and had the name of the school changed to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He helped assemble an outstanding faculty, and worked diligently for them to be able to write and be productive in their fields. He became the fourth editor of Christianity Today from 1977-82, then served as president of Trinity College for two years, then as chancellor from 1984-92. He was also professor of biblical and systematic theology from 1984-94, and director of the Ph.D. program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School between 1986-90. Since 1994, Kenneth was professor emeritus and took care of his helpmeet, Ruth. He was a board member for The Evangelical Alliance Mission, Columbia International University, and other enterprises.

A charter member of the Evangelical Theological Society, Kenneth served as president in 1968. He was a member for more than fifty-two years. Kenneth passed into glory from this life on June 20, 2002 in Victoria, BC, Canada. His memorial service was held at North Suburban Evangelical Free Church in New Jersey on July 10. He lived 85 years, 2 months, and 22 days.

Left to mourn his absence were his wife Ruth, who then also went to be with the Lord on August 2, 2002; his daughter Mary Ruth and her husband Loren Wilkinson of Galiano Island, British Columbia; his son Dick Kantzer and his wife Huaiching, of Pennington, NJ; a sister, Ruth Marie Kantzer of Dayton, TN; and five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Copyright Evangelical Theological Society Mar 2003
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