Remembering Dr. Dale Brown

Dr. Dale Weaver Brown, 95, professor emeritus of history and theology at Bethany, died August 30, 2021. 

A member of the Bethany faculty from 1962-1994, Dr. Brown taught courses on Bonhoeffer, Brethren theology and history, and peacemaking, among other topics. His published works include the books The Christian Revolutionary (Eerdmans, 1971), Understanding Pietism (updated edition published by Evangel, 1996), Another Way of Believing (Brethren Press, 2005), and Biblical Pacifism (Evangel, 2003), which was recently republished in a second addition by Brethren Press. He also contributed articles to The Christian Century, The Other Side, Sojourners, and many others. 

He earned his bachelor’s degree at McPherson College in 1946, and a year later married classmate Lois (Kauffman), his wife of 68 years. Dr. Brown earned a Bethany degree in 1949 and a doctorate from Northwestern University in 1962. He was ordained in the Church of the Brethren and served the denomination in many roles including as a pastor, moderator of Annual Conference, member of the General Board, board chair for On Earth Peace, and twice as a member of the Standing Committee of Annual Conference.  

Dr. Brown was a noted peace activist. While serving as moderator of Annual Conference in 1972, he presented a statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee opposing the draft. He was dean of the first Brethren-Russian Orthodox peace seminar in the summer of 1969, and he participated in several peace organizations including Brethren Peace Action, New Call to Peacemaking, and Christian Peacemaker Teams among others. 

His survivors include daughter Deanna (Brian Harley), son Dennis (Dorothy Brown), son Kevin (Kim Pece), and granddaughters. 

According to an announcement in Newsline, plans for a memorial service are forthcoming.