There are those times in life when you meet someone in person that evoke a great mixture of excitement and intimidation. Those folks who in your mind – and most likely in reality – are a living legend. Such was the case when I first met biblical scholar and theologian Walter Bruggermann.
The son of a German Evangelical pastor, Bruggermann was raised in rural Missouri. Those early roots shaped the world view that impacted his incredible capacity to connect the biblical narrative to the landscape of daily life. His depth of personal relationship with God consistently compelled Bruggermann to navigate and articulate a passionate faithful response to the challenges of the world around him.
My incredible good fortune was to work with Dr. Bruggermann on planning and implementing a retreat where he would be one of the keynote speakers. To my surprise he immediately disarmed my larger than life projection as with great ease he engaged everyone with a small town friendliness. He was genuinely curious not only in everyone’s perspective but also who they were as a person.
I also quickly experienced a complete consistency with his voluminous writings and Walter Bruggermann as a person. He was unequivocally passionate about the biblical narrative, particularly from the prophets and the Psalms and the clarion call to respond to the injustice in the world. I’ll never forget him looking directly at me and saying, “I’m too old and have too few years left to not tell the truth. And don’t you wait until you’re my age to do the same.”
At the core of Bruggermann’s writing and teaching is his invitation to hopeful imagination. “We need to practice prophetic imagination, which dares to imagine the world as though God were really active, present, and engaged.” This quote comes from my favorite Bruggermann book, The Prophetic Imagination. And my other favorite quote, “The Bible is not a book of certainties. It is a voice that breaks silences, questions the taken-for-granted, and imagines new worlds.”
As the story goes, a pivotal moment in Walter Bruggermann’s spiritual journey occurred during his confirmation at age fourteen, when his father inscribed Psalm 119:105 in his Bible: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This verse became a guiding principle throughout his life in Bruggermann’s writing, teaching and engagement in the world.
Forever grateful for the life and ministry of Walter Bruggermann – March 11, 1933 – June 5, 2025.