by Amy Rasmussen Buckley, M. Div.

A drawing hangs on the wall of the late Catherine Clark Kroeger’s personal library–A small frog has become trapped in the mouth of a big bird, and it appears the end is near. But all is not lost! Somehow, the little frog has reached out from inside the beak, and is holding to the big bird’s neck for dear life. “Never Give Up!” declare the words beneath the drawing. I’ve always imagined a happy ending to the story–the little frog wrestles free and hops toward a new future. 

Nothing describes Catherine Clark Kroeger better than the words–“Never give up!” When I studied at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I had the privilege of studying under Dr. Kroeger. Later she invited me to work as her teaching assistant, and I quickly began seeing that the gentle, winsome and brilliant, white-haired lady never gave up seeking justice and restoration for anyone who had suffered any form of prejudice or abuse. Cathie (as she asked to be called) often spoke of her desire to unite Christians in an effort to right a “terrible evil” that twenty-five percent, or more, of Christian families suffer.

It wasn’t long before I realized that not everyone appreciated PASCH. Some scowled and called us “feminists.” Others huffed and wrote us off as “liberals.” As I resisted the urge to confront what I considered rudeness, and defend PASCH’s cause, Cathie smiled in the way she always did, and wished them a nice time at the conference. On other occasions, people stopped to thank us for our work. “Oh, you are on the side of the angels,” Cathie declared with twinkling eyes.  She never gave up treating friendly and unfriendly people with kindness and respect.

A passionate evangelical, Catherine Clark Kroger never gave up unveiling God’s intended purposes for the written Word. Driving with her between Cape Cod and South Hamilton, MA (for classes), we often spoke of her scholarship. She shared increasing archeological evidence that the Greek meaning of the word head–kephale–is akin to that of a head of a fountain or a river. According to Scripture, Christ–the head of the church–is the source of all life similar to the head of a fountain, or river, serving as the starting point (the source) of life-giving waters. Cathie would quote Ephesians 4:15-16:

“We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine… But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.” (Women’s Study New Testament, Based on the NRSV)

I am indebted to Catherine Clark Kroeger for being my teacher, mentor, champion, cheerleader and beloved friend. I am indebted even more to God for allowing me to know such an amazing woman. I say this knowing that so many of you feel the same. As we celebrate the life of PASCH’s founder, Catherine Clark Kroeger, I pray that we consider the work God has for us to do as we carry forward the legacy of PASCH. As we move ahead, I can’t help but wonder if Cathie is standing with a cloud of witnesses high-fiving angels and scoring a big win for Heaven! And I can’t help but wonder if she is standing next to Jesus urging us to never give up!

(This tribute is based upon words shared during the memorial service, honoring Catherine Clark Kroeger, at the PASCH 2011 Conference in Abbotsford, British Columbia.)

Links to other articles about Catherine Clark Kroeger

The Boston Globe: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=catherine-clark-kroeger&pid=148677701

Cape Cod Times: http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20110217%2FOBITS02%2F102170344

Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/july/liberatingwoman.html?start=1

Her.meneutics, the Christianity Today Blog for Women: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2011/03/catherine_clark_kroeger_rememb.html

Christianity Today Live Blog: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2011/02/founder_of_chri.html

Christians for Biblical Equality: http://www.cbeinternational.org/?q=content%2Fhonoring-legacy-dr-catherine-clark-kroeger

Faith Trust Institute: http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/news/in-memoriam-catherine-clark-kroeger

God’s Word to Women: http://godswordtowomen.org/kroeger_testimony.htm

God’s Word to Women: http://www.godswordtowomen.org/kroeger.htm

SheLoves/Magazine.com: http://shelovesmagazine.com/2011/cracking-open-what-is-hidden-the-legacy-of-catherine-clark-kroeger/comment-page-1/#comment-2670

RethinkingFaith.com: http://rethinkingfaith.com/post/3312196213/catherine-kroeger

Emotional Abuse and Faith Website: http://eaandfaith.blogspot.com/2011/02/catherine-clark-kroeger-pass-away.html

MjtMinistries.org: http://www.mjtministries.org/files/kreoger_toward_an_understanding.pdf

TimetoFly.org: https://www.timetofly.org/catherineclarkkroeger.html

InterVarsity Press: https://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/author.pl/author_id=925

Legacy.com (Boston Globe Guest Book): http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/bostonglobe/guestbook.aspx?n=catherine-kroeger&pid=148677701&cid=full