“Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the death of Terry L. Grove, district executive minister of Atlantic Southeast District. He suffered an aneurysm and passed away in a hospital in Orlando, Fla., this morning.
“We are all in shock and greatly saddened this morning by the sudden passing of our District Executive Minister,” wrote Ray Hileman, on behalf of the district board. “This is a tremendous loss, first for his wife, Carole, and the rest of his family, for the New Covenant Church, where he was about to begin an interim pastorate during their time of transition, and for the ASE District, where Terry’s visionary leadership was taking us forward into some new but exciting ventures. As the District Board, we are committed to continuing his legacy as we work with all of our 19 churches, 11 English speaking, 7 Haitian Kreyol speaking, and 1 Spanish speaking, with more on the horizon. Please pray for Terry’s family and for all of us as we struggle with this sudden loss and seek to move forward by God’s grace and power.”
Torin Eikler, chair of the Council of District Executives, offered this prayer in an announcement to council members:
“Lord God of all life, gather in the spirit of our Brother this day. Welcome him into your embrace, granting him rest and peace. Send your Holy Spirit to surround and uphold his family as they grieve. Comfort them in the midst of loss. Hold them close as they learn to live with this hole in their lives and give them assurance that Terry lives on with you, waiting to meet them once again–once for always. Soothe the pain and bring forth the memories of many moments spent in joy and laughter so that the weight of this burden might be lightened through smiles in the midst of tears. And let us all find hope and encouragement in a life well lived in the certainty of your salvation. AMEN.”
Terry Grove began as executive for Atlantic Southeast District on May 1, 2016. He had served a brief term as interim district executive a few years previously, and also had been treasurer for the district and Camp Ithiel.
In 2019, he was appointed to a five-year term on the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee of Annual Conference as a representative of the Council of District Executives.
He began his career in ministry at Carson Valley (Pa.) Church of the Brethren in the early 1950s, where he was licensed during high school. He was ordained in 1967. As a pastor, he served Church of the Brethren congregations in Pennsylvania, Washington, Indiana, and Florida, and a United Church of Christ congregation in Florida for 14 years.
His career also included more than 20 years of work for Church World Service (CWS) and CROP, opening offices for them in New Jersey and Florida. He was a CROP Regional Director 1973-97.
He was a graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., (1964), and held a master of divinity and a doctor of ministry from Bethany Theological Seminary (1967 and 1985).
In 2017, he celebrated 50 years of ministry in the Church of the Brethren.
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