04.29Robert Webber: Thank-you and We’ll Miss You
My colleague and friend, Robert E. Webber died yesterday evening after a long, courageous and faithful struggle with pancreatic cancer.
Bob was past seventy, maybe seventy two, but he had the vigor of someone twenty-thirty years younger. Back in the nineties when I started writing in obscure journals and talking about issues post modern, post liberal, post Christendom, he was already on to it all. He encouraged me, supported me, pushed me on. Bob Webber blew my mind in the way he would humbly help and shepherd scholars, pastors coming up. I owe Bob Webber. He looked at my earliest writings and told me they were great. He gave me helpful suggestions on the Great Giveaway that really worked. And although we came from different generations, I was always amazed at how quickly he moved to understand the latest theologians.
These past months as Bob’s struggle worsened, he always struggled with hope, grace, perseverance eeking out the very most out of his every breath, reading, writing, meeting with people telling them how much he loved them, and was blessed by them (I know of these encounters thru stories told to me). He died so well in the knowledge and hope of the resurrected Lord.
I have learned that in times of death, that there are two extreme ways to die in our society. One extreme way is to die technologized, put out of our misery, where we expire in the company of machines. The other extreme is to put suffering and death into the context of the whole story of our lives and what God has done in and through us, so that the meaning of suffering and death takes on a quality of holy struggle in witness to the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death. Here, all the time is redeemed. Here, love, reconciliation, and appreciation are shared in a community. Suffering is borne with grace as somehow these sufferings take on the very task of entering Christ’s sufferings for our salvation. Tragically many in our world die close to the first extreme. Rarely do we see alot of saints die in the second extreme. Bob Webber, and Joanne his wife and partner, showed us how to walk faithfully in this second way. For this I thank God.
“Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world; in the name of God the Father Almighty who created you; in the name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you; in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you. May your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God. Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Bob. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.”
We’ll miss you Bob… until we meet again in Christ’s glory.
Pray for Joanne and the family. And I’ll reserve the comments here for any other prayers, tributes to Bob.
I never knew him.. except through his writings and his efforts around the AEF Call. But that was enough to feel a profound sense of loss, and gratitude for the gift of his life to us. Thanks Bob, and thanks Lord.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I never knew him.. except through his writings and his efforts around the AEF Call. But that was enough to feel a profound sense of loss, and gratitude for the gift of his life to us. Thanks Bob, and thanks Lord.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I’ve had the pleasure of sharing in two seminars that Bob Webber led. He was truly gracious and empowering as a person! Thank you for this news, though it is a tragic loss for the church.
April 30th, 2007 at 3:15 am
I went to one of Bob Webber’s seminars several years back when he was in Toronto and it totally changed the way I thought about worship.
Hubby and I were just looking at his website on Friday, at the different worship materials available to help us in our new “job”. I was just floored when I heard the news on Sunday.
I’m so grateful for all the work he did and the inspiration he was and will continue to be (through his writings and resources).
May 1st, 2007 at 2:58 am
David, I had the opportunity to be involved with Bob in a conference on ” Blended Worship “, some twenty years ago. I was always impressed with his passion for the ” CHURCH “…his vision to see into the future, while at the same time reach back and claiming the wisdom of the ancient church. Even back then Bob was engaged in the emerging/missional conversation…although he didn’t apply that label.His will a voice of wisdom that will be truly missed as the church moves further along the corridor of history. He has blessed us all.
May 2nd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I too owe Robert Webber a debt of gratitude. I am a lay Anglican blessed with the privilege of coordinating free-flowing alternative services to mark the church year. These involve new liturgies, formational rituals and devotional exercises. Bob’s columns, articles and conference seminars gave me two freedoms to do this. The first freedom was that of boundaries - liquid worship needs a channel to flow in, and though I had worshiped within the framework of the classic elements of a liturgical service for years, Bob’s teachings at seminars and in his columns underscored their role and importance. The second freedom came from his love and respect for worship traditions outside of his own personal Christian heritage. As a lay person, I loved many aspects of these ancient forms of worship, devotion and spiritual formation but felt uncertain in my assesment of their value. Bob’s endorsement birthed the freedom to join old and new.
In my brief personal encounter with Bob, I found him to be gracious and encouraging. Thank you Lord, for the gift of Bob.
May 5th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I too owe Robert Webber a debt of gratitude. I am a lay Anglican blessed with the privilege of coordinating free-flowing alternative services to mark the church year. These involve new liturgies, formational rituals and devotional exercises. Bob’s columns, articles and conference seminars gave me two freedoms to do this. The first freedom was that of boundaries - liquid worship needs a channel to flow in, and though I had worshiped within the framework of the classic elements of a liturgical service for years, Bob’s teachings at seminars and in his columns underscored their role and importance. The second freedom came from his love and respect for worship traditions outside of his own personal Christian heritage. As a lay person, I loved many aspects of these ancient forms of worship, devotion and spiritual formation but felt uncertain in my assesment of their value. Bob’s endorsement birthed the freedom to join old and new.
In my brief personal encounter with Bob, I found him to be gracious and encouraging. Thank you Lord, for the gift of Bob.
May 5th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Dr. Webber’s work changed the way I thought about both worship and the church. So many of us were impacted deeply by his generous scholarship.
His desire for full, deep, true worship is reality for him. May God comfort his family and many friends in their loss…
May 7th, 2007 at 12:35 am
I’m happy for him but sad for the Christ family left here on earth. His life served a great purpose and will leave a legacy that lives on with us as he lives on in the presence of God.
May 7th, 2007 at 3:28 am
Wondrous post about Bob, sir. Thank you. He was a great mentor and a kind friend.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:41 am