BETH HOSTETLER MARK, ANNARUTH SIDER OSBORNE, and DEVIN C. MANZULLO-THOMAS. Worthy of the Calling: Biographies of Paul and Lela Swalm Hostetler, Harvey and Erma Heise Sider, Luke Jr. and Doris Bowman Keefer. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Brethren in Christ Historical Society, 2014. Pp. 351. $15.00 (U.S.)
Reviewed by John Hawbaker *
When you pick up a book that contains three biographies in one volume, you wonder: Why three in one? And why these three? In Worthy of the Calling, editor E. Morris Sider attempts to answer such questions up front. In the introduction Sider explains: “The lives of all three couples portrayed in this volume tell much about the Brethren in Christ Church, especially in the last half of the twentieth century” (p. 1). More specifically, these three couples were chosen for the book because they illustrate various kinds of church involvement. Paul and Lela Hostetler exemplify the work of pastoral couples (although Paul also spent years in administrative roles). Harvey and Erma Sider show the lives of missionaries and church leaders. Luke and Doris Keefer reflect the academic and theological developments of the Brethren in Christ.
Two of these biographies were written by family members of the subjects. Beth Hostetler Mark writes about her parents, Paul and Lela. AnnaRuth Sider Osborne writes about her brother Harvey and her sister-in-law Erma. The third author, Devin Manzullo-Thomas, who writes the biography of Luke and Doris Keefer, lacks the intimacy of having grown up with his subjects, but as editor Morris Sider points out, Manzullo-Thomas “has the advantage of viewing his subjects with fresh eyes and fewer preconceived ideas” (p. 1).
There is a uniformity of approach in that each author begins with an introduction about his or her subject and closes with a conclusion or epilogue. The introductions are especially helpful in providing either historical context or mention of upcoming themes, or both.
Five of the subjects grew up in Brethren in Christ families that were deeply involved in the life of the Brethren in Christ Church; Doris Bowman Keefer grew up in a Mennonite Church and experienced many of the same benefits, struggles, and adjustments that most of the other five experienced.
Paul Hostetler served as pastor at Clarence Center, N.Y.; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Grantham, Pennsylvania—sometimes as assistant pastor and sometimes as the only pastor. Then he served as director of public information at Messiah College, and later as associate director of stewardship for the Stewardship Office of the Brethren in Christ. In their years of pastoral service Lela accompanied her husband in doing home visitation, taught Sunday school classes, served on a building committee, and mentored students and others. She had “the gift of caring about others and making lasting relationships” (p. 110).
Harvey and Erma Sider, both from Ontario, Canada, were teachers in public schools, then missionaries to India for twelve years. Much of Harvey’s work in India related to indigenization, which is “the natural process of ‘growing up,’ the emergence of the church from the Mission” (p. 170); after serving in India, Harvey was a pastor, bishop, and then moderator of the denomination in North America. Erma was fully involved in ministry; she served as office manager for the Brethren in Christ offices in Grantham, Pa., and published two cookbooks, the second one—Celebration of Hospitality: A Brethren in Christ World Cookbook—featuring recipes from Brethren in Christ persons from around the world.
Luke Keefer was a missionary teacher (at the Brethren in Christ Navajo Mission in New Mexico), a pastor (at three different churches), and professor (at Messiah College and Ashland Theological Seminary). He had a ministry of scholarship, giving special attention to John Wesley’s doctrine of “perfect love,” holiness, and sanctification. Luke loved his denomination, but he was concerned that Evangelicalism was weakening the theological heritage of the Brethren in Christ, so he spoke up. Biographer Manzullo-Thomas observes: “When he witnessed drift—or the potential for drift—Luke provided gentle yet unequivocal reminders of the history and theology of the church, and an encouragement to seek God’s wisdom for guidance” (p. 311). Doris’ strengths included “her clear moral compass and her willingness to live out her convictions” (p. 257). She homeschooled their two sons, became a homeshooling resource to other parents, led the Christian education department at the Dillsburg Church, and re-launched the Bible-quizzing program at the Ashland Church. Together Luke and Doris, like the other two couples in this book, were “exemplars of hospitality” (p. 261).
One of the large overarching themes of the book is the reality of change in the church and how these three couples responded to changes in the denomination—and how they responded to or helped to shape those changes. Both the editor and the authors refer to the significance of the year 1950. That was “the year when a small group of church leaders became aware that to remain a ‘plain’ church meant facing an ongoing decline in membership and a continuing loss of their young people. It was the year when the church began grappling with issues of tradition, legalism, core beliefs, and of finding its way in the larger evangelical world” (p. 5). For the subjects of these biographies, practical changes had to do with moving from “plain” dress (no neckties for men, and long hair and a head covering for women and girls) to conventional dress. From the narrations it would seem that Harvey and Erma made this transition without the distress that most of the others experienced. In regard to change in the denomination’s structure, organization, and theological statements, the reader learns that Harvey “led the church through a time of significant transitions” (p. 201).
Another theme that connects the biographies is the importance of balance: balancing ministry time and home life, and balancing administration and pastoral care.
Still another recurring theme is the role of women in the church. As I noted above, all three of these women, while being supportive of their husband’s ministry, also gave themselves to specific ministries in the church, and to a lesser extent in the community, according to their own gifts and passion. Biographer Beth Hostetler Mark observes in the introduction to her section: “Sometimes Brethren in Christ biographies give significantly more space to salaried pastors and church leaders than to their spouses’ equally important ministry roles” (p. 5). Beth and the other authors of these biographies seek to avoid that imbalance.
The authors narrate the realities of ministry, not just the pleasant aspects. In reading about the Hostetlers’ experience when the Clarence Center Church voted not to have him continue as pastor, we learn that Paul and Lela “were devastated and later identified this time as the lowest point in their lives” (p. 50).
Moreover, the authors treat their subjects with candor, telling not only about positive accomplishments and success, but also about struggles, difficulties, and poor decisions. For instance, the authors give frank attention to the parenting styles of the subjects, citing specific illustrations of the attitudes and actions of the fathers.
These biographies necessarily contain many facts, dates, and accomplishment, but fortunately interspersed with these elements are anecdotes that help us to see the warmth and humanity of each person.
Finally, all three biographies deal with the realities and details of growing up “plain” in a Brethren in Christ setting and of serving in mostly Brethren in Christ ministries. (Luke’s teaching at Ashland Theological Seminary is an exception to this rule.) One wonders if the book would have much appeal to anyone who had not grown up in the Brethren in Christ Church or a similar “plain” church.
The title for the book comes from Ephesians 4:1, in which the Apostle Paul challenges his readers to live a life “worthy of the calling” they have received. Editor E. Morris Sider observes: “These words are fitting for this collection of three biographies” (p. 2). This reviewer agrees.