During his years as George & Lyda Wasson Professor of Religion at Whitworth, Dr. Bruner touched the lives of countless students. His passion for teaching the biblical narrative, for scholarship and for church renewal made him one of Whitworth’s most influential professors. His influence extended far beyond the generation of students he taught and mentored at Whitworth. In fact, during his tenure at the college, he spoke and taught at hundreds of churches all over the country. Here, too, his passion for the gospel and his utter belief in the healing power of the church was infectious, and he became one of the most sought-after speakers in the Presbyterian Church. He continues to have a vital teaching ministry in the PCUSA. Upon retirement from Whitworth, in 1997, Dale and his wife of 46 years, Dr. Bruner is the author of A Theology of the Holy Spirit: The Pentecostal Experience and the New Testament Witness (Eerdmans, 1970) and Matthew: A Commentary (2 volumes; revised and expanded edition, Eerdmans, 2004). He also co-authored, with William Holdern, The Holy Spirit: Shy Member of the Trinity ( Augsburg, 1983). -- F. Dale Bruner, 2889 San Pasqual St., Pasadena, CA 91107. For The Good News Class with the Hansens and the Bruners, Hol lywood Presbyterian Church, 1760 N. Gower St., Hollywood, CA, 90028 |
Dale Bruner came to know Christ and grew in faith here at First Pres Hollywood. He calls this church his “home” and we are so blessed to have him teach the “Good News Class” at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. Bruner graduated from Occidental College in 1954; he then earned his M.Div. at Princeton Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. (Dr. theol) at Germany’s Hamburg University. After teaching for 11 years at Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines, he came to Whitworth College in 1975.
Kathy, moved to Pasadena, California, where he embarked on new studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. "On weekdays I walk an hour to the seminary," he says, "where I am now quietly doing research toward a commentary on the Gospel of John." Acknowledging his single-minded, scholarly nature, he adds, "Most afternoons after work Kathy and I walk together in the park so that I can learn to ‘chat,’ my single major challenge in life." On Sunday mornings during the school year he enjoys teaching, with his wife and another couple, here at his home church, The First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. "In May of 2005," he says, "we completed teaching, in order, happy paragraph by paragraph, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In September 2005, we began an exciting journey, again working paragraph by paragraph, through The Acts of the Apostles. I am deeply grateful to God for the privilege of studying and teaching what I believe with the Church is the single most important subject in the world: the gospel of Jesus Christ."