October 24 Today in OPC History

On October 24, 1989, the Rev. Charles G. Schauffele passed away in St. Louis, Missouri. Born on September 20, 1910 in Philadelphia and educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Schauffele pastored Orthodox Presbyterian congregations in Pennsylvania and California from 1937 until 1949, when he was called to teach at Gordon Divinity School (later known as Gordon-Conwell Seminary). There he was a fixture in the department of Christian education until his retirement in 1980. His strong support for the education of covenant children earned him the nickname of “Mr. Christian Schools.”

Schauffele brought his pastoral experience and his professional expertise to OPC’s Committee on Christian Education, where he was a member for 30 years, in four separate periods, beginning in 1939. He was an editorial advisor for Sunday school materials and he assisted in the development of seminars and conferences on Christian education. He also served as president of the committee from 1983 to 1988.

Schauffele died while he was serving, at the age of 79, as visiting professor at Covenant Theological Seminary. As a relative was quoted in New Horizons at the time of his death, Schauffele “was a strong example of an active Christian who never retired. He died serving the Lord.”