| LOUISVILLE —
The Rev. Wesley C. Baker, a passionate interpreter of the worldwide
mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who’s career spanned
six decades, died Jan. 4 of renal failure at his home in Severna
Park, MD. He was 80.
A native of Seattle, Baker grew up in California and Arizona.
He graduated from Arizona State University in 1943 and from San
Francisco Theological Seminary in 1946.
Early in his career, Baker worked as a resettlement director
for Hungarian refugees in Los Angeles. After pastoring churches
on the West coast for several years, he was tapped for the Commission
on Ecumenical Mission and Relations of the former United Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America, based in New York.
Fluent in five languages, Baker spent the most of the rest of
his career traveling the world on behalf of the Presbyterian Church,
making connections between U.S. Presbyterians and partners all
around the globe and interpreting the church’s global mission
to U.S. Presbyterians.
Baker authored several books, including Hope In This World,
Believer in Hell, The Open End of Christian Morals and More Than
a Man Can Take: A Study of Job. He also wrote countless study
guides and resource papers on various aspects of the church’s
mission enterprise.
In retirement, Baker served several interim pastorates and at
his death was preaching at Lakeland Presbyterian Church in Baltimore.
He is survived by his wife, Corrine; two sons, Ernest and Timothy;
a daughter, Rebecca Staut; two stepsons, David and Daniel Dyross;
a stepdaughter, Deborah Koski; a sister, Allison Davies; and 17
grandchildren.
A memorial service for Wes Baker has been scheduled for Jan.
14 at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park.
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