The memorial service for longtime Presbyterian missionary Carol Weir will January 2 at 3 p.m. Pacific Time at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, CA.
Carol Weir, who with her husband, Benjamin, devoted her life to Presbyterian mission in the Middle East, died Dec. 14 in Oakland, the day before her 86th birthday.
Carol and Ben Weir were appointed in 1953 to serve as Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missionaries in Lebanon. Initially they served in a Shiite Muslim community in south Lebanon. Later they lived in Beirut where Carol taught Christian Education courses at the Near East School of Theology. They officially served until 1985.
On May 8, 1984, Carol and Ben left their apartment in Beirut to attend a meeting. On the street, Ben was kidnapped by one faction in Lebanon’s civil war and was held for 16 months, 14 months of it in solitary confinement. During his entire captivity — chronicled by the Weirs in their book, Hostage Bound, Hostage Free — Carol (and many others) worked tirelessly for Ben’s release. He was finally freed on Sept. 14, 1985.
Ben Weir was subsequently elected moderator of the 1986 PC(USA) General Assembly and the two of them spent his moderatorial year using the office to promote Middle East peace.
Carol and Ben served as professors of evangelism and mission at San Francisco Theological Seminary from 1987 until their retirement in 1995. Through all those years and well into retirement, they served as good-will ambassadors and fundraisers for the Near East School of Theology.
Carol’s family has asked that memorial gifts in her memory be given to the Near East School of Theology in Beirut. Make your check payable to Presbyterian Church (USA). Indicate on your check for deposit to ECO 862612 (NEST, Beirut). Mail your contribution to Presbyterian Church (USA), PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.