In loving memory of J. Frederick Holper, we share his obituary from the North American Academy of Liturgy:
Born on April 23, 1947, in Wood River, Illinois, Fred explored a calling to the Catholic priesthood before turning to journalism as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Returning to ministry, he earned the M.Div. at McCormick Theological Seminary in 1977. He was the organizing pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Orland Park, Illinois, later serving congregations in Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. At the University of Notre Dame, he earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in Theology in 1988, writing a dissertation on “Presbyteral Office and Ordination in American Presbyterianism” under the direction of James F. White.
Fred taught liturgics and homiletics at three seminaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (1985–1991), Union Presbyterian Seminary (1991–1998), and McCormick Theological Seminary (1998–2010). His scholarly work on ordination and ministry led him to serve on a denominational task force on the theology and practice of ordination, for which he authored an influential 1992 study. He was a contributor to the PC(USA)’s 1999 Book of Occasional Services, as well as the 1993 and 2018 editions of the Book of Common Worship. Other publications include chapters and articles in The Ministries of Worship (Robert Webber, ed.), Beyond Establishment: Protestant Identity in a Post-Protestant Age (Jackson Carroll and Wade Clark Roof, eds.), Reformed Liturgy & Music, Call to Worship, and Interpretation.
Fred was an active member of the Liturgical Theology seminar of the North American Academy of Liturgy from 1985 to 2010. He challenged his doctoral students to present work at the Academy in order that they might hone their insights and broaden their horizons. Through his deep knowledge of the liturgy and love for the church, Fred shaped generations of scholars and pastors, inspiring them to pursue their own investigations of sacramental theology, pastoral ministry, social justice, and daily prayer. Colleagues and students remember him as an engaging teacher, visionary thinker, encouraging mentor, wise pastor, and respected leader. Friends and family celebrate his intelligence, kindness, humor, and conviction, recalling his love of reading, politics, and Notre Dame football.
Fred is survived by his wife of 19 years, the Rev. Dr. Cynthia M. Campbell, president emerita of McCormick Theological Seminary and pastor emerita of Highland Presbyterian Church, Louisville. In addition to Cynthia, he is survived by two children, Lisel Loven (Erik) and Randy Trumbull-Holper (Alex); one grandson, Emerson; a brother, Mike Holper (Sandy), and a sister, Marybeth Kosiba (Larrie).
Bio Credit: David Gambrell and Cynthia M. Campbell
Image Credit: Family of J. Frederick Holper