The Disciples-ELCA bilateral dialogue team expresses profound sadness at the passing of Rev. Dr. Mark G. Toulouse, who had been faithfully engaged in our dialogue from its inception. As a historian and Disciples theologian, his contributions to this work were invaluable. His deep understanding of Disciples history and theology enriched our conversations and helped shape our shared vision for Christian unity.
Dr. Toulouse was a champion of the ecumenical movement, both as an educator and a historian. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of full communion with the United Church of Christ in 1989 and was instrumental in fostering the full communion relationship with The United Church of Canada in 2019. Most recently, he was a key member of the Disciples-ELCA bilateral dialogue team, bringing his wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to our shared work until his passing.
His sudden departure has left the dialogue team in shock, especially following our successful February session in Chicago. The loss is deeply felt among his colleagues, who valued his wisdom, insight, and unwavering commitment to ecumenical engagement.
Reflections from Dialogue Team Members
Robert Cornwall, Disciples co-chair, shared:
“The sudden passing of the Rev. Dr. Mark Toulouse just days after he had played an integral role in our recent ELCA-Disciples Bilateral Dialogue not only caught us by surprise but left a large hole in our Disciples team. Mark is well respected among our Disciples of Christ community and the larger Christian community, bringing his deep knowledge as a historian and theologian of our Disciples tradition as well as his ecumenical expertise to our dialogue. On a personal note, Mark has been a friend, colleague, and theological conversation partner for more than three decades. I will deeply miss him and know he will be deeply missed by countless others. That is especially true when it comes to our ELCA-Disciples dialogue; we have lost his insightful, frank, and at times impatient voice that continued to push us forward on this journey together.”
William Gafkjen, Lutheran co-chair, reflected:
“I met Mark through our work on the dialogue team. We were blessed by the many gifts that he brought to this important conversation and shared so generously. Among them were his nuanced understandings of Disciples history and contemporary realities, a passion for ecumenical relationships, a wise theological mind, frank honesty, and a holy impatience about making concrete progress in the relationship between our traditions. We will miss Mark deeply.”
Paul Tché, President of the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry, who worked closely with Dr. Toulouse, shared:
“Mark was my professor at Brite Divinity School two decades ago, equipping me with the tools I needed for the work entrusted to me. His vast knowledge and wisdom guided me in my journey toward full communion with The United Church of Canada. As his student and later as his colleague, I have always aspired to represent my tradition authentically, living up to the high expectations he set for me and so many others.”
Kathryn Lohre, Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment at the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, and a co-staff of the dialogue, noted:
“As our heads of communion and co-staff met in the fall of 2020 to consider the possibility of resuming our dialogue, Mark was the bridge from the past to the future. He encouraged us to consider the urgency of living out our Christian unity in visible ways, especially in an ailing, polarized, and broken world. He was intrepid in his commitment to ecumenism and his scholarship will continue to serve us well in our efforts. He will be missed by us all whenever we gather in dialogue or seek to live more meaningfully together in Christ.”
Allison Bright, dialogue team member, reflected:
“For all his love of history, he was never content with nostalgia. On our dialogue team, he was the one always pushing us forward. While others might have lingered in theological reflection, Mark had his eyes fixed on the church outside those walls—the one shrinking, struggling, searching for solid ground in an uncertain future. Especially among the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he knew the weight of our moment and was always reminding us of the urgency of our work. He refused to let us forget it.”
As we grieve the loss of a cherished colleague, teacher, and friend, we give thanks for the lasting impact of Dr. Toulouse’s life and work. His legacy will continue to shape the ecumenical movement for years to come. May his memory be a blessing.