Remembering Walter Brueggemann

Today I’m grieving the loss of one of the most important theological voices of our time—Walter Brueggemann, who passed away this morning at the age of 92.

His legacy is immense, and I don’t think it can be overstated. Through his writing, preaching, and teaching, Brueggemann taught so many of us how to read Scripture with courage, imagination, and deep faithfulness. He helped us see that the Bible is not a static book but a living, disruptive, hope-filled witness to God's justice and mercy.

Though I come from a different stream of the United Church of Christ than he did, I’ve always felt a strong connection to Brueggemann. His roots were in the German Evangelical tradition—one of the founding strands of the UCC—and I saw in his work a theological kinship that transcended denomination or background. His commitment to the prophetic, to lament, to truth-telling in the face of empire—all of it continues to shape the way I preach, pray, and pastor.

Walter Brueggemann gave us permission to be honest with God. He reminded us that hope isn't cheap. He insisted that the church is at its best when it dares to tell a different story than the one our culture tries to sell us. His voice will echo for generations.

I am deeply grateful for his life, his faith, and his relentless call to imagine something new.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.