Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-06-27
LufheEaRS OTdcin
Two Negro War
Vets For Ministry

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 81.
Philips Lutheran Church. an in
terraclal 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
church Missouri Synod. IL the
largest member. have 100 chur-
ches In prsdominantly Negro and
lnterraciAl communities.
OF these, forty are Of the MIC
group In the u. 8. 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. willis 81 are members
Of the synodical Conference.
Nelson Trout completed high
school In Grove City. O., and
spent q year at wilbertorce Uni
versity IN Xenia, Ohio. after
which he enlisted and served in
the u, q. Army for five years. He
received officers training at Fort
Benning. Ga. and served with
the o2nd Division In Italy as a
second lieutenant, He participated
in several campaigns and was
wounded.
Honorable discharged from the
Army In i9t6. 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
IA degree In i9lS, In the fall OF
that year he enrolled in the
Lutheran School Of Theology Of
Capital University and was grad
uatcd with the seminary class
this year,
Pastor and Mrs Trout and their
daughter, Cassandra, win make
their home In Montgomery. Ala,
where Mr.. Trout has accepted a
call To become pastor OF Trinity
Lutheran church. n congregation
of the American Lutheran church
Harvard stephens, son OF the
Rev, =. w, stephens Of Admission.
Ala, attended high school In An
niSton. lie 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 on
nonresident basis,
Mr stephens has been called as
pastor 10 the Birmingham church.
lie Is married and has two chill.
drcn.
As in the case of Mr.. Trout.
Pastor stephens served with the
U, =, Army While in the Pacific,
he had an opportunity 20 observe
the well Lutheran
Mission on the island Of New
Guinea. The worldwide mission
airy activity Of the Lutheran
church 50 impressed this youthful
CT that he reached the decision TO
enter the ministry,
Fighting evil with the sword
of the Word seemed more effrc-
tive than 60 do - with guns and
other weapons he said.
Returning 10 the US. he
taught in the Lutheran elemcn-
tary schools Of Admission, Ala.
and Jackson. Miss. before COM
plotting the education that led TO
his ordination,
Negro pastors in church bodies
OF the National Lutheran Council
arr; Jesse Route, Jamaica, n. Y;
Paul West and John MaGAIec,
New York city; Alien Young.