North Park Seminary has honored the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Carlson by dedicating a room in Nyvall Hall to the late professor, a lifelong learner who spent his life fighting racial injustices.
The space is called Richard鈥檚 Renaissance Room, a nod to Carlson鈥檚 devotion to a variety of pursuits, from history to baseball, Civil Rights, poetry, and biblical scholarship. Carlson鈥檚 wife, Jolene Bergstrom Carlson, said her husband also loved spending time with his children and spent his life fighting against societal hatred and violence.
鈥淩ichard especially had a head and heart for racial justice, lamenting over racial injustices until his final moments,鈥� Jolene said. 鈥淭o Richard, all people belonged and had worth.鈥�
The Richard Renaissance Room, designed as a place to read, pray, and connect with others, is being furnished by $30,000 in private donations to the Seminary. The money also provides tuition assistance via the Richard and Jolene Carlson Scholarship Fund to a seminarian whose studies focus on justice issues.
鈥淩ichard was brilliant, but he never used his mind as anything but a tool to encourage his students to engage with the complexities of faith and life through thoughtful questions and readings,鈥� Jolene Carlson said.
The dedication took place Jan. 24, during the ECC’s Midwinter Conference.
To donate to the fund, visit , select 鈥渙ther鈥� and include 鈥淩ichard Carlson Memorial Fund鈥� in the comment box to designate your giving. You may also mail checks to 萝莉社鈥檚 Development Office:
萝莉社
Development Box 6
3225 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625.