Remembering the Rev. Dr. Clyde J. Steckel: ‘He understood the value of covenant and lived it out’

If ever there was a person who could talk with great passion and write prolifically about the covenantal foundation of the United Church of Christ, that would be the Rev. Dr. Clyde J. Steckel.

Born March 11, 1926, Steckel, a UCC pastor who spent a long and illustrious career in academia, joining United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minnesota, in 1970 as a professor — later retiring in 1995 with the title professor emeritus — believed in the renewing and restoring power of a relational God. Steckel died January 11, 2025. He was 99 years old.

But Steckel did more than talk and write endlessly about the covenantal heart of the UCC. He lived it, and fully, giving selflessly of himself and drawing from what seemed to friends, family and colleagues to be an endless well of time and talent as well as wit and warmth.

His was a “rare and precious” gift said the Rev. Shari Prestemon, Acting Associate General Minister for the UCC and Co-Executive of Global Ministries.

A tireless servant

Prestemon, who met Steckel while serving as Conference Minister for the Minnesota Conference UCC — where Steckel himself once served as interim conference minister — called the preacher and teacher a “tireless servant in the UCC, even to the last.”

“He remained theologically astute, and he never slowed down,” she said, recalling how the “beloved saint of the Minnesota Conference” never missed a meeting, always lending his vast knowledge, passion and intellect to the issues of day.

“Clyde didn’t feel the need to talk a lot,” said Prestemon. “But when he did speak it was deeply theological.”

His words not only blessed conference meetings, but they also led to great change for United Theological Seminary. In 1982, Steckel brought United through its accreditation. He also guided the seminary to becoming more welcoming and equitable to women, LGBTQ+ and Indigenous students.

He also penned his thoughts in several books, among them, New Ecclesiology and Polity: The United Church of Christ, which was published in 2009. In it, Steckel argued that the UCC needed to reshape its ecclesiology and polity to ensureits future as a faithful and strong ministry in the post-modern world. A few years later, in 2012, he completed a book about the Minnesota Conference called Fifty Years of Covenant Keeping.

Prestemon always looked forward to the conference’s annual meeting in June as it was an opportunity for her to publicly recognize Steckel’s commitment to and love for the Church.

“He truly understood the value of the covenant, and he lived it out,” she said.

The heart of a pastor

With all his academic accomplishments and accolades, Steckel’s heart was that of a pastor as well as a learned theologian.

“With all his status, Clyde never led with his head, but always with his heart. He was down to earth and could relate to all people. He could talk to children just as easily as he talked to his ministry colleagues and professor friends,” said the Rev. Jane McBride, principal minister of First Congregational Church of Minnesota UCC in Minneapolis.

McBride had the honor of knowing Steckel in two very different settings. First, while serving as an associate pastor while Steckel was interim pastor. And then, McBride became Steckel’s pastor when she came to serve First Congregational Church.

“During those 15 years of being his pastor, I came to see the depth of Clyde’s love for the Church,” she said. “He was devoted always to being present and showing up for people.”

And when Steckel filled in the pulpit for McBride, the pastor could guarantee a full house in her absence.

“He was a popular preacher, able to communicate the Gospel in a relational way. His sermons were pastoral, often filled with stories from his own life,” said McBride.

Steckel’s vulnerability in the pulpit might have surprised some people who only met him in passing as he would be the first to admit that he was a “German stoic,” recalls McBride.

“He was reserved, but he was also incredibly generous with opening his life to others. And that is what made all people gravitate towards him,” she said.

A memorial service will be held February 15 at First Congregational Church of Minnesota at 1 p.m. CT. Zoom information will be available a few days before at www.firstchurchmn.org.

You can read more about the life and legacy the Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel here.

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