Don J. Snyder (from left), the Rev. Elaine Hewes, the Rev. Hamilton Coe Throckmorton, the Rev. Peter W. Mercer and the Rev. Dr. Mark Allen Doty sing a hymn during the service of celebration for the life of Throckmorton's father Dr. Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr. at Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. "If you know anything about the Throckmortons, you'll know that they love music, especially hymns," said the Rev. Dr. Mark Allen Doty in his opening remarks.
BANGOR, Maine — There were tears and laughter at the Rev. Burton Throckmorton’s funeral Wednesday afternoon: Laughs over his “utter uniqueness” and tears over the loss of a loved one and scholar who taught all who knew him the meaning of justice, acceptance and thanksgiving.
“You always remember the first person who believed in you,” Don Snyder, author and longtime friend, said to those gathered at Throckmorton’s funeral in the Hammond Street Congregational Church.
For Snyder, Throckmorton was that person. Snyder met him at the age of 16 when he baby-sat Throckmorton’s two young sons, Timothy, who is now a sportscaster for WABI-TV, and Hamilton, who is a minister in Ohio.
“He saw what you could not see,” he said. “He saw value.” In Snyder, Throckmorton saw “that I could make a difference.”
Throckmorton was a New Testament scholar for more than six decades, with 35 years as a theologian at Bangor Theological Seminary. He also was an author, who dedicated much of his long life translating Scripture into inclusive language. He died on Saturday at the age of 87.
“His door, even when it was closed, was always open,” Snyder said, adding later: “He was always there for me.”
His wife of 57 years, the Rev. Ansley Coe Throckmorton, sat in the front row of the church, surrounded by family.
One of his sons, the Rev. Hamilton Throckmorton, took to pulpit to tell stories about his dad that highlighted his unique style and made those gathered at the funeral break out in laughter that echoed through the church.
He went on to say his dad was passionate about helping those who had been slighted, and making the language of the Bible and Scripture inclusive, by replacing or rephrasing English that contained negative or stereotypical references based on race, gender, physical disabilities or ethnic sensibilities.
For example, when humankind is referred to as mankind, it gives a negative connotation to women, which is something his dad addressed in his translations, Hamilton Throckmorton said.
“That work had a huge impact on me as a youth as well as others,” he said.
His book “Gospel Parallels: A Synopsis of the First Three Gospels,” first published in 1949, has been used for 60 years in most theological schools throughout the county, and is one of several books he penned during his lifetime.
Throckmorton worked his way through college as a professional vaudeville dancer with his sister, and earned his bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School in New York in 1943. Two years later, he earned his bachelor of divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York and began teaching there while finishing his doctorate of philosophy from Columbia University, which he attained in 1952. He met his wife while a young teacher at Union Theological Seminary, where she was his student. They married in 1951.
The Throckmortons came to Bangor in 1954 when he took a position at BTS as the Hayes Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, a post he held for more than 3½ decades. After retiring from the seminary in 1989, Throckmorton taught in the University of Maine Honors Program until 2001. He also was an ordained Presbyterian minister.
“When a light as fine as Burt’s goes down and vanishes, we are lost for a while … and that’s how it should be,” Snyder said.
On 1/8/09 at 7:03 AM,
Coolfusion wrote:
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As science and education becomes more universal and people become more atuned with the true realities that govern their lives, these fraudulent religous cults will become a distant relic of the past. The sooner the better.
On 1/8/09 at 8:37 AM,
Steamship wrote:
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And the beauty of God's love is that Rev. Throckmorton would smile and say a prayer, asking for God's blessings on you Coolfusion.
On 1/8/09 at 8:52 AM,
avidreader wrote:
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Well said steamship.
On 1/8/09 at 8:54 AM,
SammieJ wrote:
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Coolfusion, I am not the most religious person in the world, but I RESPECT their beliefs. I do also recognize that many things that happen can't be explained by science. People like you who lack morals, faith, and family values are those who put Barack Hussein Obama in power.
On 1/8/09 at 11:21 AM,
QuestionEverything wrote:
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Steamship's comment is a typical display of the delusional brainwashing that "Coolfusion's" fraudulent religious cults thrive on. Luckily for us, those cults are rapidly becoming extinct. Logic and science are finally gaining ground. Regardless, I'm sure the Rev was a kind man. Even if his views were different than the rest of ours I'm sure his core intentions were good. And SammieJ, what the hell does this have to do with Obama?? Even if you don't like him, try and find an intelligent argument that makes sense. Your post just makes you look dumb.
On 1/8/09 at 1:04 PM,
Steamship wrote:
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QuestionEverything, if you take the simple statistic that church enrollment is increasing in the US and Canada, and has been for sometime, you have a strong counter to your claim that, "those cults are rapidly becoming extinct". And while church membership is not a direct correlation with those who have a deep and unbridled faith in God, it is a strong indicator. But maybe I'm being a bit presumptuous; do you consider all religions as being comprised of delusional, brainwashed, cult members?
On 1/8/09 at 2:21 PM,
QuestionEverything wrote:
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Steamship, anyone who is convinced that two of every species of animal on earth climbed onto a boat and coexisted peacefully enough not only to survive the voyage, but to subsequently reproduce, most certainly qualifies as delusional and brainwashed. And what is the difference between your "religion" and a "cult" anyways? I always have trouble telling them apart. My beliefs are based on fact and logic - all of which are open to revision based on new information and scientific discovery. Your "faith" is built upon legend and fear. It is only updated or revised to accommodate someone's personal agenda. Do you follow the teachings of the Bible Steamship? If so, have you stoned to death any adulterers or girls who are not virgins on their wedding night? If not, you better get to work at that. If you're going to follow your sacred Bible you're only a hypocrite if you don't follow it 100%. It's God's way.
On 1/8/09 at 3:02 PM,
Steamship wrote:
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I couldn't agree with you more QuestionEverything, that if we Christians lived a life prescribed in some places of the bible, we'd be doing all those things you listed, as well as some other rather unique practices. Fortunately, (for everyone's sake!) we have come to know that our God is a living God, and that the literal and figurative word of God that we find in the bible is something to be celebrated, and not something to be used to repress. I hope that you are not truly angry with those of us who want to discuss our love of God. I'd really enjoy sitting down with you over a cup of coffee and talking philosophy. Until then, please take care!!
On 1/8/09 at 4:11 PM,
Woody1 wrote:
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"anyone who is convinced that two of every species of animal on earth climbed onto a boat and coexisted peacefully enough not only to survive the voyage, but to subsequently reproduce, most certainly qualifies as delusional and brainwashed. "
No. It's called faith. Faith is based on faith, nothing more. I believe in fact and logic, although I suppose I could call that a cult. If you believe in the cult of fact and logic, all well and good. I respect that. It's a shame you have no respect for anyone who doesn't believe exactly as you do. Believing exactlyu as you do also leads to the cult connotation.
Since you have no respect for me, I certainly have none for you. Wouldn't it have been better if we had respected each other? It's God's way.
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