Rev. Patrick Malphrus
Reverend Patrick Malphrus, Pastor of Old Providence ARP Church in VA and Synod’s Moderator Elect, is recovering at home following surgery this morning to remove his gallbladder. He is a little sore, but feeling fine. Continue to pray for Patrick during his recovery.
The ARP Magazine
The November/December ARP magazine is at the printer. It will be mailed out next week. The magazine does cover some of Synod highlights from last week, therefore it is delayed getting to your mailbox. If you would like to subscribe, click here.
Bonclarken Conference Center
Tropical Storm Zeta proved too much for the culvert on the road leading down by the lake to the YAB. There are also several trees and limbs down. Thankfully there were no injuries. (Photo from Bonclarken’s Facebook page)
Rev. Edward Franze
The Rev. Edward Franklin Franze III, 76, of Winder, GA died June 22, 2020 at Tranquility Hospice Center in Marietta after contracting the coronavirus. He was a family man, music lover, ordained minister, theology teacher and Latin scholar. He was known as “Ace” to family and friends, a name given him as a tribute to his naval aviator father.
Mr. Franze was born February 19, 1944 in Lexington, VA, the son of the late Edward F. Franze Jr. and Sally Ann Lauderdale Franze. His grandfather was Rev. David T. Lauderdale, long-time pastor of Lauderdale Church in Lexington, Va.
After high school, Ace received a B.A. degree in English from Georgia State University in 1966 and a Master of Divinity degree from Erskine College in 1972. Licensed by Virginia Presbytery he was ordained by Catawba Presbytery on July 12, 1972 and served the Smyrna and Hickory Grove Churches in York County, SC. Later he taught Bible at Erskine College, then Latin at several high schools in Georgia. In addition, he taught adult Bible study for 25 years at St. Anthony Episcopal Church in Winder, GA.
He is survived by his sister, Sally Franze Jordan of Bristol, TN; one aunt, Barbara Franze Schoening of Minneapolis, MN; his four children, Emily Franze of Atlanta, GA, David Franze of Lithonia, GA, Rachel Franze Hedley of Darien, CT and Sarah “Betsey” Franze Jabbour of Walnut Creek, CA; three stepchildren from his second marriage, Fred White of Monterrey, CA; Adam White and Josh White, both of Rumford, RI; seven grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren.
His obituary described him as “an intellectual with a quick wit who loved books, music and sports. But above all he loved family. He was a gifted orator with a commanding presence and was an accepting and patient man. He had a vascular stroke in May 2015 and never fully recovered but he kept his charm, sense of humor and gentle personality throughout his illness.”
Ace Franze was a faithful servant of the Lord using the talents with which the Lord endowed him. In the words of Matthew 25:21, we say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
(From Catawba Presbytery clerk, Guy H. Smith, D.D.)