Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 85:1 (Spring 2023)
Article: Great Preachers: Edmund P. Clowney (1917–2005)
Author: Stafford Carson

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Great Preachers: Edmund P. Clowney (1917–2005)

Stafford Carson

Stafford Carson is Principal and Professor of Ministry at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This article was first presented at the Westminster Conference on Preaching and Preachers at Westminster Theological Seminary on Oct. 19, 2022, as the annual lecture on great preachers.

I. Introduction

The year is 1977. The city is Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is a dark and difficult period in the history of Northern Ireland as the IRA continues its armed struggle in pursuit of its political aims. There are regular bombings and shootings in the center of Belfast, and there are soldiers and armored vehicles in all areas of the city.

On this particular evening there is a large congregation gathered in one of the main halls in the city center. They are there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and one of the denomination’s founders, Rev. James Greer, is chairing the meeting. The preacher is Dr. Edmund Clowney, President of Westminster Theological Seminary.

The platform is huge, large enough to hold a full orchestra and choir on banked seating going right up to great organ pipes. Behind the lectern there are two rows of seats where the ministers and the senior elders of the church are seated. Everyone is eager to hear the special speaker. Dr. Clowney announces his reading from John 4, and dives into an arresting and illuminative exegesis of the text as Jesus explains to the woman at the well how, with the coming of Messiah, the argument over the proper geographical venue for worship is now redundant.

As he begins to develop his theme, a door opens high up at the back of the stage and a man appears, moving rather hesitantly and tiptoeing along the back of the stage. Every eye in the congregation is now following this man, and the congregation is no longer enthralled by Dr. Clowney’s careful exegesis. The man moves slowly down the steps until he comes to the second row of men sitting behind the speaker. He whispers to the man who is seated at the outside

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of the row and passes him a note. The note moves along the row until it reaches the man sitting directly behind Mr. Greer. That man then leans forward, whispers in Mr. Greer’s ear, and gives him the note.

All the while Dr. Clowney is preaching his text and perhaps wondering why the congregation is not as focused as they were on what he is saying. Mr. Greer, an elderly man, rises to his feet and stands just behind Dr. Clowney, waiting for him to pause. It seems like an eternity even tho...