Friday, December 8, 2006
- NTS
Update: You may listen to the funeral service online by clicking here.
Dr. Joseph Kenneth Grider, Professor Emeritus of Theology at Nazarene Theological Seminary and ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2006 in Arizona. He was 85.
The visitation and funeral will both be held in the J. B. Chapman Memorial Chapel at Nazarene Theological Seminary. The viewing will take place Thursday, December 14, 5:00pm – 8:00pm; funeral services are planned for Friday December 15 at 11:00am.
Dr. J. Kenneth Grider, most commonly known as “Kenneth,” served as a member of the faculty of Nazarene Theological Seminary for 39 years (1953 – 1992). He received his Ph.D. in theology from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He was also a 1948 and 1950 graduate of Drew University (earning the M.A. and M. Div. respectively); a 1947 graduate from Nazarene Theological Seminary (B.D.) and a 1944 and 1945 graduate of Olivet Nazarene University (earning the Th. B. and A.B.). Olivet later conferred the D. D. on him.
Dr. Grider participated in the translation process for the NIV version of the Bible, doing a critical reading of a portion of the text for the translation committee. He was the author, contributing author and editor of numerous books and articles, including but not limited to: A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology; Entire Sanctification: The Distinctive Doctrine of Wesleyanism; Repentance unto Life, Born Again and Growing; Basic Christian Doctrines; The Word and Doctrine; and Contemporary Wesleyan Theology I.
For 36 years, Dr. Grider served as managing editor of the Seminary Tower, the now scholarly journal of NTS. He also was the convener of the NTS Breakfast Club (a Kansas City theological discussion group) for nearly all of his tenure as a member of the faculty.
In addition to his long teaching career at NTS, Dr. Grider also taught courses and delivered lecture series and commencement addresses at numerous educational institutions, including Point Loma Nazarene University, Olivet Nazarene University, and Southern Nazarene University. His first teaching assignment was at Hurlet Nazarene College in Glasgow, Scotland (predecessor school to Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, England).
Over the years, Dr. Grider was a member of various learned societies, including the American Theological Society, the Wesleyan Theological Society, and the American Academy of Religion.
Dr. Grider was preceded in death by his first wife Virginia. He is survived by his wife Marolyn and grown children Carol, Jeni and Ken, and 4 grandchildren.