Disciples Divinity House

John R. Bean, who was recognized in 1997 with DDH's Distinguished Alumnus Award, died May 18, 2013, after a brief illness. His distinguished ministry included twenty-five years as Senior Minister of North Christian Church, Columbus, Indiana; leadership throughout the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); and passionate advocacy for human dignity and rights. He was 84.

He was born December 23, 1928 in Clarksville, Arkansas, to Walter and Margaret Bean. He married Julia Peterfy in 1958; they had just celebrated their 55th anniversary. He is also survived by his two sons, Mike and Keith, and by three sisters. Mr. Bean received his undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University. He entered the University of Chicago as a Disciples Divinity House Scholar in 1951, and received his BD from the Divinity School in 1954. He began his ministry with the regional staff in Ohio. Before moving to North Christian Church as its senior minister, he served Chicago Avenue Christian Church and Northwest Christian Church, both in Columbus, Ohio. His significant leadership in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) included service as Chair of the Committee on Structural Renewal and Reform, Parliamentarian of the General Assembly, Moderator of the Indiana Region, Vice Chair of the Council on Christian Unity, and Co-Chair of the Ecumenical Partnership Committee of the Disciples of Christ and the United Church of Christ. He also served on the Board of Directors of Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and on the Alumni/ae Council and the Centennial Campaign Cabinet at the Disciples Divinity House.

In Columbus, Indiana, John Bean served on the Mayor's Commission on Human Rights, and was a member of the Advisory Board of the Council of Job Corps Center, served on the Board of Directors of the Community Action Project, the Board of the United Way, as Vice President of the Human Relations Council, and was the founding president of the Columbus Ecumenical Assembly, a council of churches that worked, among other things, to minister to the community through the Mobile Health Clinic and raised over $100,000 a year to help disadvantaged families. In 1989, he received from the city of Columbus, Indiana, the William R. Laws Human Rights Award.

His lifelong passion for justice grew from his understanding of the catholicity and inclusivity of the people of God. He observed, "That church is not necessarily led by the Spirit which chooses never to take a public stand nor to make an imaginative decision."

In 1997, he was honored as the Distinguished Alumnus of the Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago. The award cited him as an “exemplar of intelligence and integrity in ministry; leader of great effectiveness and insight." It commended him: For your remarkable congregational ministry which enabled worship, education, the arts, and social responsibility to flourish together; for your influential guidance in matters of renewal and structural reform; for your advancement of ecumenism throughout the church; and for your persistent advocacy for human rights as a pastor, leader, citizen, and fellow human being. Read Bill Crowl's introduction and John Bean's remarks here.

A memorial service was held on May 22 at Northwood Christian Church in Indianapolis.