| This announcement of the death of Ben Weir came Oct. 14 from Debra Avery, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, California.
Dear Friends,
It’s with a mix of sadness and joy that I write to tell you that Rev. Ben Weir went home to his Lord early this morning. As it begins to rain, it feels like every drop is a tear falling from the eyes of the many people Ben’s ministry and friendship touched. For us at FPCO, the sadness we feel began some months ago when Ben was no longer able to get to worship. The joy is connected to Ben’s own yearning to go home to God and to be reunited with his beloved wife, Carol. We can celebrate that he has found the fullness of freedom in eternal life.
Ben was a Presbyterian Mission Co-Worker in Lebanon from 1953 to 1984 when he was taken hostage and held for 16 months. He served Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1986. Ben and his wife Carol also served as professors of evangelism at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. If you’d like to know read more about Ben’s life, this article by Andrew Killgore, the former ambassador to Qatar, gives a good overview. You may also like to read Carol Weir’s obituary, written by Ben and Carol’s pastor from their time at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church.
The family and I will be meeting in the next few days to begin to think about a Service of Witness to the Resurrection. I will be letting you know details as they emerge. In the meantime, thank you for your prayers.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Debra
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