Dr. C. Robert Wetzel (1934-2024): A Scholar and Gentleman

By Rick Cherok

Milligan University recently announced the passing of Dr. C. Robert Wetzel, a highly respected scholar and prominent leader within Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Wetzel passed away at his home near Johnson City, TN, on the evening of August 13.

In a 1999 article in the CHRISTIAN STANDARD, Wetzel relayed the story of how he first started going to church as a 12-year-old boy in Hugoton, KS. “It was in the summer of 1946,” Wetzel wrote, that some boys from the First Christian Church of Hugoton “stopped by my home and said, ‘Let’s go to Vacation Bible School.’” That simple invitation, he went on to write, “was to shape the rest of my life.”

During a revival at the church the following year, Wetzel recounts, “one of my friends said to me, ‘Shall we go up tonight?’” And so, as the invitation hymn was sung, Wetzel and his friend walked forward together, made their Great Confessions, and were baptized the following evening.

Wetzel later went to Bible college, where he graduated from Midwest Christian College (now Ozark Christian College) with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to serve in congregational ministries in Oklahoma, Kansas, and North Carolina.

Upon completing a master’s degree from Fort Hays State College (now Fort Hays State University) and a PhD from the University of Nebraska, Wetzel joined the faculty of Milligan College (now Milligan University). In addition to teaching philosophy and humanities at Milligan from 1961 to 1980, Wetzel served as the institution’s academic dean from 1970 to 1976.

Wetzel was also instrumental in the establishment of Springdale College (now ForMission College) as a ministry-training school located in the Selly Oak district of Birmingham, England. Wetzel served as the school’s principal from its founding in 1980 to 1991 and helped lead the school into the Federation of Selly Oak Colleges in Birmingham, an ecumenical education effort, to better equip them for the fulfillment of their mission. During his tenure at Springdale, Wetzel also held the position of Recognized Lecturer at the University of Birmingham.

After his resignation from Springdale College and return to the United States, Wetzel accepted a faculty position with Emmanuel School of Religion (now Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College) in Johnson City, TN. Along with his instructional duties as a professor of ethics and philosophical theology, Wetzel became the initial director of Emmanuel’s Doctor of Ministry program. In 1994, Wetzel was called upon to become the seminary’s 4^th president, a role he filled until his retirement in 2009.

During Wetzel’s presidency at Emmanuel, he oversaw the construction of Emmanuel Village, a unique housing area for Emmanuel’s students. Reminiscent of a small English hamlet, Emmanuel Village is complete with winding roads, stone cottages (apartments), and a community center to promote student interaction and fellowship.

In 2008, Wetzel served as president of the 17^th Global Gathering of the World Convention of Churches of Christ (now Global Christian Connexion), in Nashville, TN. The Global Christian Connexion seeks to promote unity and cooperation among members of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement and other like-minded groups. Wetzel was the first member of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ to serve as president of the Global Gathering.

Following his retirement from Emmanuel, Wetzel was given the honorary title of Chancellor for Emmanuel Christian Seminary. He also taught part-time in Milligan’s Humanities program and served as an elder at the Downtown Christian Church in Johnson City. Numerous notes of respect and appreciation have been tagged to the Milligan University Facebook post announcing Wetzel’s passing. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and two daughters.

Rick Cherok is the Managing Editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD and the Executive Director of Celtic Christian Mission.