Paul A. (Paul Albert) Zimmerman (1918-2014) Papers

Record Group

Identifier: Collection ID-1494

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection is organized into three generalized sections. The first section contains materials relating to the Fact Finding Committee appointed by Pres. J. A. O. Preus II. It includes the transcriptions of faculty interviews, reports, notes and others. The second general section relates to Dr. Zimmerman’s time serving at Concordia Seward (now Nebraska), Ann Arbor (now under Concordia Wisconsin), and River Forest (now Chicago). The third section in the final two boxes contains the reel-to-reel audio tapes of the faculty interviews, which have been digitized.

Dates

Creation: 1950 - 1980
Creation: Majority of material found within 1971 - 1974

Biographical / Historical

Paul A. Zimmerman (June 25, 1918-January 28, 2014), a professor of religion and chemistry, also served as president of Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University, Nebraska) in Seward, Neb. (1954-61); Concordia Junior College (now Concordia University), Ann Arbor, Mich. (1961-73); and Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University Chicago), River Forest, Ill. (1973-83).

During his tenure at Concordia, Ann Arbor — where, as founding president, he was charged with the responsibility of building the campus, faculty and student body — Zimmerman served as chairman of the Fact Finding Committee (1970-73) appointed by then-LCMS President Rev. Dr. J.A.O. Preus II. That committee was responsible for investigating charges of “false teaching” at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, at that time.

Zimmerman served as a special assistant to LCMS President Rev. Dr. A.L. Barry in 1995 and 1996 and was chairman of the Synod’s mission board from 1982 to 1992. His 40 years of service to the church included an early call to Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn., where he was a professor and served as dean of students. Zimmerman served part time during his educational career as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Janesville, Minn.; St. John Lutheran Church, Seward, Neb.; and, after his 1983 retirement, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Harrison, Mich. After relocating to Traverse City, he continued to serve vacancies, when needed, at local congregations.

He also served on LCMS convention floor committees, as a convention essayist, a conference presenter and a consultant on education and accreditation issues. An editor and author, he frequently wrote devotions for Portals of Prayer — his final set of devotions is scheduled for publication later this year.

Zimmerman was a 1944 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and held a master’s degree in education as well as a doctorate in chemistry — both from the University of Illinois, Urbana.

He also was the recipient of two honorary degrees — a Doctor of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, then in Springfield, Ill., in 1975 and a Doctor of Laws from Concordia College (now University), Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1993 — and two awards: the Christus Primus from Concordia, Ann Arbor, and the “Distinguished Alumnus” from Concordia Seminary.

(Information from Reporter Online, the Web version of Reporter, the official newspaper of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Content is prepared by LCMS Communications. January 29, 2014)