William G. Rusch, an ELCA pastor who was a leader in the ecumenical movement, died Jan. 16, 2025. He was 87.
As the first director of the ELCA Office for Ecumenical Affairs, he oversaw the development of “Ecumenism: The Vision of the ELCA,” which was adopted by the first ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 1989 as a “working document.” This was followed by “A Declaration of Ecumenical Commitment,” which was adopted in 1991 as the church’s policy statement. Both documents were published together, outlining the ELCA’s stance on ecumenism and reaffirming its commitment to foster relationships and cooperation with other Christian denominations.
For many years Rusch served as a member of the Lutheran-Reformed, Lutheran-Episcopal, Lutheran-Roman Catholic and Lutheran-Orthodox dialogues in the United States, setting the stage for future agreements and understandings. He also served on committees of the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation.
“[Rusch’s] work to articulate an ecumenical vision for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has served us well for nearly a quarter-century,” wrote Elizabeth Eaton in a letter for his funeral service. “The result has been a strong ecumenical witness, lived out through various full communion partnerships, ecumenical dialogues, councils and coalitions.
“Bill was such a force for ecumenism. It was who he was, and what he embodied. He wrote, ‘Ecumenism is the joyous experience of the unity of Christ’s people and the serious task of expressing that unity visibly and structurally to advance the proclamation of the Gospel for the blessing of humankind’ (‘The Vision of the ELCA). This calling we share is how we will honor Bill’s life and continue his legacy.”
Rusch received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 and Master of Arts degree in 1960 from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York. He received his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary) in 1963 and a Doctor of Philosophy from Mansfield College, Oxford University, England, in 1965.
Ordained in 1966, he also served as pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, New York; professor at Augsburg University, Minneapolis; associate executive director of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A; director of Fortress Press; director for ecumenical relations for the Lutheran Church in America, an ELCA predecessor church body; director for the Commission on Faith and Order of the National Council of Churches of Christ; and director of the Foundation for a Conference on Faith and Order.
Rusch wrote or edited 26 books and more than 100 articles in scholarly and church journals.
His funeral service will be held Feb. 15 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, New York.
