CRCDS Mourns the Loss of Dr. Werner Lemke
It is with profound sadness that the Divinity School acknowledges the death of Dr. Werner E. Lemke. Dr. Lemke died on July 5th of an apparent heart attack while visiting family.
Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1933, he received his Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the University of Illinois (Chicago), Northwestern University in 1956. In 1959 he earned a Bachelor’s of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago and completed his Th.D. at Harvard University in 1964. Dr. Lemke joined the CRCDS faculty in 1966 as an associate professor of Old Testament Interpretation. He continued his association with the Divinity School until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 2003.
In addition to his teaching at CRCDS, Dr. Lemke held positions at McCormick Theological Seminary, Harvard University, Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Rochester. Complementing his teaching in the area of Biblical Studies, Dr. Lemke authored numerous articles and collaborated in the publication of five books. In October 1997, The CRCDS Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Lemke as the first professor to hold the Baptist Missionary Training School (BMTS) Professorship of Biblical Interpretation.
In 1997, on the occasion of the inauguration of the BMTS Chair Dr. Lemke wrote, “I believe in the centrality and importance of the study of God’s word in theological education and am especially gratified that the alumnae of the BMTS saw fit to establish the BMTS Chair in Biblical Studies. I love the Scriptures and the teaching of Scriptures which I have done here for the past 31 years.”
A memorial and thanksgiving for Dr. Lemke will be celebrated on Friday, July 16th, at 10AM at New Life Presbyterian Church, 243 Rosedale Street, Rochester, NY
The life, teaching and ministry of Dr. Werner Lemke is a model of generous and fruitful discipleship. Dr. Lemke throughout his many years of teaching and scholarship has enriched the lives of many students and his faculty colleagues. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School has indeed been blessed by his presence and sacred love of God’s Word.
Office of Institutional Advancement
July 7, 2010
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