Paul E. Larsen Papers

Born in Minneapolis in 1934, Paul E. Larsen was raised in the Covenant Church in California. A graduate of Stanford University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and San Francisco Theological Seminary, he served Covenant churches in his home state, including Pasadena, Orangevale, Eagle Rock, and Redwood City, where he served as Senior Pastor from 1971 to 1986. A well-read pastor, he authored Wise Up & Live! Wisdom from Proverbs (1974) and The Mission of a Covenant (1985).

Throughout his ministry, Larsen was active on conference and denominational boards and committees. His activities within the Church included the executive board of the Pacific Southwest Conference (superintendent 1965-1966); the Covenant Committee on Doctrine (1977-1986); the Covenant Board of Benevolence (1964-1969); and the Covenant Executive Board (1977-1983). He served as Covenant vice president in 1982-1983 and was elected Covenant president in 1986.

As president, Larsen proposed the theme of “Renewing the Covenant,” focusing on relationships within the Covenant Church, community, world, and self. During his three terms as president, the Church’s growth and evangelism broadened more intentionally to plant or welcome new ethnic, multiethnic, and urban churches. This outreach included churches from new geographic regions already within the denomination, principally in the southeast, mid-south, and southwest states. While these goals were not entirely new, strategic and prophetic initiatives helped the Church to expand with a richness of diversity.

Larsen also challenged each Covenanter to evangelize within his or her own community to spread the word of God. The ambitious “Living is Giving” fundraising campaign, which coincided with the centennial of North Park University in 1990, sought to raise $20 million. While falling short of the goal, it nevertheless greatly assisted the financial stability of the university as well as many mission projects at home and around the world. During Larsen’s presidency, new missions in Russia, Laos, and Germany were initiated and continued support was provided for existing missions in Alaska, Ecuador, and Zaire. Other contributions to denominational life included revisions of the hymnal, confirmation curriculum, the policy statement on baptism, and the start of a major revision process for the Constitution, the Bylaws, and the Covenant Book of Worship.

North Park University developed its academic programs and campus significantly during these years, more than tripling enrollment and adding graduate degrees, all under the leadership of David Horner, president of the University from 1987 to 2004.

Larsen retired in 1998. This biographical sketch represents his contributions and activities up until the time of his retirement.