St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-06-27
Lutherons Orduin
Two Negro War
Vets For Ministry

1DlhlllDubt " ~- AANLSJ - WI
Negro war veterans-both holders
of the Purple Heart-are among
the several hundred young men
ordained to the ministry of the
Lutheran Church this year.
They are Nelson Trout of Col
umbus and Harvard Stephens of
Birmingham, Ala. They were or
dained here on June Is, at st.
Philips Lutheran Church, an in
terracial congregation. DR.. Otto
Ebert, president of the Ohio Dis
trict of the American Lutheran
church, assisted by several pas
tors was in charge of the odrina-
ton service.
National Lutheran Council
church bodies and the Synodical
Conference of which the Lutheran
Missouri Synod, is the
largest member, have $50 chur-
ches in predominantly Negro and
interracial communities.
OF these, forty are of the MIC
group in the u. S. and Virgin Is
lands. A number of pastors serv-
ing these congregations are white.
There are 81 Lutheran pastors Of
the Negro race, seventeen of
whom are affiliated with the MIC
churches, while 81 are members
of the Synodical Conference.
Nelson Trout completed high
school in Grove City, o., and
spent a year at Wherefore Uni
versity in Xenia, Ohio, after
which he enlisted and served in
the u. S. Army for five years. He
received officers training at Fort
Benning. Ga, and served with
the 92nd Division in Italy as a
second lieutenant. He participated
in several campaigns and was
wounded.
Honorable discharged from the
Army in 1916, he entered Capital
University in Columbus, one of
the oldest and largest Lutheran
colleges in America, which has re-
ceived students of various races
throughout its history. From
this institution he received his
BA degree in 194S. In the fall of
that year he enrolled in the
Lutheran School of Theology OF
Capital University and was grad
uated with the seminary class
this year.
Pastor and Mrs Trout and their
daughter. Cassandra, will make
their home in Montgomery, Ala,
where Mr.. Trout has accepted a
call to become pastor of Trinity
Lutheran church, congregation
of the American Lutheran church
I Harvard Stephens, son OF the
Rev. p. w. stephens of Admission
Ala, attended high school in An
niston. He received his college and
professional education at Ala
bama A and NJ, at Huntsville
Alabama State College and Ala,
bama Lutheran Bible Institute
After attending the Lutheran
Seminary Of Capital University
he served st. Paul Lutheran
church at Birmingham while com,
pleting his theological studies or
a nonresident basis.
Mr.. stephens has been called as
pastor TO the Birmingham church
He is married and has two chill,
/ dren.
AS in the case of Mr.. Trout
Pastor stephens served with the
] - - Amy " me III Nllt L dNlllN
he had an opportunity TO observe
the well-estahlished Lutheran
Mission on the island of New
Guinea. The worldwide mission,
airy activity of the Lutheran
church so impressed this youthful
CT that he reached the decision e
enter the ministry.
Fighting evil with the sworC
Of the Word seemed more effec
tive than TO do so with guns ant
other weapons" he said.
Returning to the US. ht
taught in the Lutheran elemen,
tary schools of Admission, Ala.
and Jackson. Miss, before com.
pleting the education that led &c
his ordination.
Negro pastors in church bodies
Of the National Lutheran Council
are: Jesse Route, Jamaica, N. Y;
Paul West and John Magalee
New York City; Allen Young.