Richard C. Halverson
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Richard Christian Halverson, D.D., (1916-December 1, 1995), was born in Pingree, North Dakota
. He attended Valley City State Teacher College
in Valley City, North Dakota
, before earning a Bachelor of Science
degree from Wheaton College
in Wheaton, Illinois
, in 1939, participating in the Wheaton College Men's Glee Club
. He then earned a Bachelor of Theology
degree from Princeton Theological Seminary
. Like his contemporary, Billy Graham
, Henrietta Mears
of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood
had a significant influence on his life.
Halverson was a minister of the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
and served from 1958 until 1981 as the Senior Pastor
of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Maryland
. He served as the Chaplain of the United States Senate
from February 2, 1981 until December 31, 1994. He was an associate of the National Prayer Breakfast
movement starting in 1956. Halverson also was a member of the Board of World Vision
, from 1956 to 1983, serving as chairman from 1966 to 1983. He was the President of Concern Ministries, a charitable foundation in Washington, D.C.
.
Halverson was married to Doris Grace Halverson (née Seaton) and they had three children.
Additionally, he wrote the introduction for the following:
Pingree, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 66 people, 26 households, and 21 families residing in the city. The population density was 367.9 people per square mile . There were 32 housing units at an average density of 178.4 per square mile...
. He attended Valley City State Teacher College
Valley City State University
Valley City State University is an institution of higher learning in Valley City, North Dakota, part of the eleven-member North Dakota University System. Founded in 1890 as a territorial normal school, VCSU offers four-year degrees in a number of fields in five academic divisions and graduate...
in Valley City, North Dakota
Valley City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile . There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile...
, before earning a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
in Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
, in 1939, participating in the Wheaton College Men's Glee Club
Wheaton College Men's Glee Club
The Wheaton College Men's Glee Club is an all-male glee club , at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois currently conducted by Dr. Mary Hopper....
. He then earned a Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
degree from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. Like his contemporary, Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
, Henrietta Mears
Henrietta Mears
Henrietta Cornelia Mears was a Christian educator and author who had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century....
of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood
First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood
The First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood has had a significant impact on both the Presbyterian Church and evangelical Christianity around the world....
had a significant influence on his life.
Halverson was a minister of the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was the largest branch of Presbyterianism in the United States from May 28, 1958 to 1983...
and served from 1958 until 1981 as the Senior Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. He served as the Chaplain of the United States Senate
Chaplain of the United States Senate
The Chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for Senators, their staffs, and their families. The Chaplain is appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate...
from February 2, 1981 until December 31, 1994. He was an associate of the National Prayer Breakfast
National Prayer Breakfast
The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year. The founder of this event was Abraham Vereide...
movement starting in 1956. Halverson also was a member of the Board of World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
, from 1956 to 1983, serving as chairman from 1966 to 1983. He was the President of Concern Ministries, a charitable foundation in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Halverson was married to Doris Grace Halverson (née Seaton) and they had three children.
Awards
Halverson received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Valley City State University on May 20, 1977, and an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Wheaton College. He received the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award from the state of North Dakota on March 26, 1994.Books
Halverson authored several books in the 1960s–1990s, including:- The quiet men: the secret to personal success and effectiveness by men who practice it, 1963
- Relevance: The Role of Christianity in the Twentieth Century, 1968
- A Day at a Time, 1974
- Somehow inside of Eternity, January 1981
- Timelessness of Jesus Christ, January 1982
- Word of a Gentleman: Meditations for Modern Man, December 1983
- Man to Man, January 1984
- Living Fellowship, January 1986
- No Greater Power: Perspective for Days of Pressure, August 1986
- We the People, July 1987
- Wisdom on Faith, April 1995
- Wisdom on the Church, April 1995
- Wisdom on America, December 1995
- Wisdom on Life, December 1995
Additionally, he wrote the introduction for the following:
- My Utmost for His HighestMy Utmost for His HighestWritten by Oswald Chambers , My Utmost for His Highest is a compilation of Chambers' Christian preaching to students and soldiers. Published in England in 1927, and in the USA in 1935, the book has become one of the most popular religious books ever written...
, by Oswald ChambersOswald ChambersOswald J. Chambers was a prominent early twentieth century Scottish Protestant Christian minister and teacher, best known as the author of the widely-read devotional My Utmost for His Highest.Born to devout Baptist parents, Chambers did not plan to go into the ministry... - Our Presbyterian Heritage, by Paul R. Carlson
External links
- Tribute to the Reverend Dr. Richard C. Halverson by Senator Chris Dodd
- "Halverson, Richard C." - publications listed at WorldCatWorldCatWorldCat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories which participate in the Online Computer Library Center global cooperative...