Trinity community remembers Ted Ward

Deerfield, Ill. - Ted Warren Ward, a retired faculty member at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, died Jan. 9. He was 85.

From 1985-1994, he served as Aldeen professor of Christian education and mission, and as dean of international studies, mission, and education. Ward was among several key leaders who established the Ph.D. programs in educational studies and intercultural studies at TEDS. His arrival in Deerfield followed 30 years as a professor of education at Michigan State University.

According to a biography by Stephen T. Hoke and Linda Cannell, Ward supervised more than 200 doctoral students during his years at MSU and TEDS. About 65 of those doctoral programs were completed at TEDS. Cannell served on the TEDS faculty with Ward.

"The greatest honor we could do him is to remember the values he has taught us and modeled before us," Cannell said at the time of Ward's retirement from TEDS.

"Ted was a remarkable educator," said Craig Ott, who directs Trinity's Ph.D. program in intercultural studies and was one of Ward's doctoral students. "He did not write many books or academic articles - the standard by which most scholars are measured - but he invested in others. He empowered others to fulfill their potential.

"No one called him Dr. Ward, only Ted," Ott said. "He influenced an entire generation of Christian leaders."

After his retirement from the faculty in 1994, Ward continued to serve TEDS until 1999 as a consultant and part-time instructor in the Ph.D. programs he helped establish. Ott said Ward also taught or consulted in more than 40 countries.

"Informal education was his strength," Ott said. "For example, he was an influential advisor to the Biblical Institute for Christian Leadership (now Church-Based Theological Education), to Theological Education by Extension programs, and other innovations in Christian education."

Ward is survived by his wife Margaret and five children. A memorial service will be conducted April 2 at the Village Church of Lincolnshire. The family requests that memorial gifts be directed to the Ward Family Doctoral Scholarship Fund at TEDS.

A Facebook page for friends and family to post pictures and memories has been established at facebook.com/TedWardTribute/.