03 Jul We Will Never Let Them Go Out: A Pastoral Note from Rev. Dr. James Edwards

Over the summer, I am inviting clergy members connected to our Westwood UMC congregation to serve as guest writers of our Pastoral Notes. We are so glad that Rev. Dr. James Edwards is a part of our Westwood UMC congregation. Before retiring to Los Angeles with his wife (Dr. Deanna Edwards), Jim served as the Anderson University President for 25 years. Before this, he served for many years in pastoral ministry, followed by leadership as president and chief executive officer for Warner Press, the publishing house for the Church of God. Edwards graduated from Anderson University and the Anderson University School of Theology. He then earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy and Leadership at The Ohio State University. Pastor Molly Vetter

Dear Westwood Family,

Most colleges have had an Old Main in their lives. Ours started her life as a home for a group of dedicated ‘Saints’ who lived together and took no salaries in their devotion to extend the gospel in publishing. Our Old Main was built in 1906 largely by volunteers who poured building blocks by hand and raised the framework from timbers that once stood at the Saint Louis World’s Fair.

By 1917 the publishing work had grown significantly, and there was a concern that the church would need an educated ministry, and so a small college was born. Workers had moved on to gain homes and raise families, and the newly created college needed facilities.

In many ways, our ‘Old Main’ became a symbol of the unity and character of the institution that occupied her halls. Over the years of her life until replaced by new and up to date facilities, it housed the various elements of university life. It included some student housing, administrative offices, lecture halls, laboratories, a chapel and a library. There was also a post office, food service, a bookstore and more.

The campus expanded around a beautiful hardwood grove, which included a lovely valley that was preserved across the years. At its edge, the campus was bounded by an inter-urban traction line that connected communities from Ft. Wayne to Indianapolis. It later became a restored path, a favorite trail for friends to exercise their horses and take walks. In our time on the campus, this path had become University Boulevard, on which we lived for 25 years.

One evening during the early 1930’s, as was their habit, two good friends, the college president and the pastor of the nearby church, ended their day together walking on the path of the old traction line to the edge of the community. The great depression was having a serious impact on the young college. They felt the weight of challenges to support faculty and students during this time.

As they turned to come back to the campus, the pastor noticed that it was almost sunset, and the lights of Old Main were just coming on. He said to this rather beleaguered president,

“See those lights coming on in Old Main? We will never let them go out!”

This affirmation was remembered as a lifetime of encouragement.

I personally have remembered this story through many years, and it has spoken to me as challenges came and burdens were carried. Even now as we think about the life and work of so many friends we have come to know and admire, we are grateful for their devotion to things that matter. It is our way in our time to keep the lights on.

Rev. Dr. James Edwards