Title: Disciples remember a full life devoted to addressing human need
Date: September 17, 1999
Disciples News Service and
National Council of Churches Office of Communication
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99a-59
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) The former administrative director of the Week of Compassion ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a highly regarded expert on Indonesia and Southern Asia died here Sept. 15 after a four-month struggle with cancer. The Rev. Larry D. Tankersley, 64, directed the Disciples disaster relief and human development ministry from 1986 to 1991.
"Larry's death is a great loss to the whole church in that he has served in the parish, in the regional and general manifestations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and in the church ecumenical," said Disciples General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm.
Ordained in 1957, Tankersley was pastor of five Disciples congregations and a hospital chaplain between 1962 and 1985.
In 1994, Tankersley was called to be director of the Southern Asia Office of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC). In that position he related to ecumenical organizations and administered Church World Service (CWS) programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal and Indonesia.
"I think of him as I watch the stories about East Timor and Indonesia and how committed he was to the people," said NCC General Secretary Joan B. Campbell. Tankersley had long pressed the case of the East Timorese people and was responsible for taking many delegations of church leaders to East Timor to educate them about the situation, most recently in 1998.
"Under the Rev. Tankersley, the NCC/CWS Southern Asia program grew into the largest theater of operation of Church World Service and Witness," said the Rev. Rodney Page, CWSW executive director and NCC deputy general secretary. "Under his leadership, thousands in Southern Asia were fed, the homeless housed, the refugee welcomed, the sick cared for and all whose way is hard assisted."
"He's a Disciple," said Campbell, also an ordained Disciples minister. "He grew up understanding unity and carried that out in the international realm. He was a good, strong colleague, and we'll miss him."
Ministry took Tankersley and his wife, Betty to Djakarta, Indonesia from 1967 to 1972. They served as fraternal workers for the Division of Overseas Ministries with the Indonesian Council of Churches. They returned to Indonesia in 1992, when Tankersley served as a development consultant to the Communion of Churches of Indonesia and as a country representative for CWS. Betty served as communications consultant to the General Secretary of the Communion of Churches of Indonesia.
Tankersley also served in a variety of roles in the life of the Southwest, Pacific Southwest and Florida regions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He was an active local ecumenist as well, serving as president of the Interfaith Ministerial Association, Fullerton, Calif., in 1983.
Tankersley left the National Council in August, taking disability leave in anticipation of retirement in 2000. The Tankersleys returned to Indianapolis where Betty Tankersley works as program associate for the Southern Asia Office of the Common Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.
Born July 21,1935, in Auburn, Neb., the Rev. Tankersley graduated high school in Leavenworth, Kan., then graduated from Phillips University, Enid, Okla., with a B.A. in philosophy and Bible in 1957. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, in 1962.
He completed additional studies at San Anselmo Presbyterian Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, Calif.; in Southeast Asia studies at Cornell University, and of the Indonesian language at Sataya Wacana University in Salatiga, Indonesia.
He was ordained a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1957. As a student he served four Disciples congregations in Kansas, Missouri and Texas.
After graduating from Brite he served pastorates in Community Christian Church, Richardson, Texas; First Christian Church, Corpus Christi, Texas; Kingwood Christian Church in Houston, Texas; and First Christian Church, Fullerton, Calif. In 1972, he served Miami Dade Christian Church, Miami, Fla.
Tankersley is survived by Betty Turpin Tankersley, his wife of 45 years; three children, Larry Stephen of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Mark Charles of Penngrove, Calif.; and Angela Marie Smith, Indianapolis, Ind.; and four grandchildren.
"Our deepest sympathy is extended to Betty who continues her work on behalf of the Common Global Ministries board. Larry was committed to a Christian vision of the world where peace and justice reign. Thanks be to God," said GMP Hamm.
The couple were charter members of Geist Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind. A memorial service will be held at Geist Christian, 8550 Mud Creek Rd. at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23. One hour of visitation at the church will precede the service.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Week of Compassion, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN, 46206.
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