I just learned that the beloved Dr. Vernon Grounds died at the age of 96.

Dr. Vernon Grounds

He was old when I knew him, so I thought. I was a busy student at Denver Seminary, 1985-1986. He was the chancellor by then, in his seventies. He was old school, yet he seemed to fit in better with students than with the professors.

I heard he was hosting Jim Wallis at his weekly prayer meeting, so I got up for the 6:00 am meeting and listened and watched the two old friends talk about their faith and social action. I sipped coffee with the handful of guys and gaped at the collection of walking canes Grounds had collected over the years. He had covered the walls of his office with canes. I remember Dr. Grounds talked about how he had taken part in a protest of WW I!

I remember Jim Wallis recalling a time when he was being excoriated by many church leaders (when is he not?) and he was at a conference, sitting on the stage, waiting to speak. Wallis said he looked up and saw the smiling Dr. Grounds walk across the stage towards him. Grounds greeted Wallis with a warm embrace of unconditional acceptance – in front of the audience of admirers, skeptics and critics. That public gesture of love gave Wallis a jolt of courage that he remembered to that day. I’m sure he draws courage from the memory to this day as well.

I felt that way around Dr. Grounds too. So, did hundreds, thousands of others who were touched by his words of deep wisdom, his wink and smile, his warmth as he grasped your hand, his characteristic jibes that you weren’t sure if he was serious or kidding – he was usually kidding, I think. But, I’m not sure. But, I was sure of his affection. He loved people.

George Lucas must have met Dr. Grounds. I don’t know, but I think the shorter-than-me  Grounds exuding wisdom must have inspired Lucas’ Yoda in Star Wars.

I had a few occasions to see him and talk with him, though he was retired and held a limited schedule. Once he agreed to speak to my young singles group at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church. I felt privileged because my Church History professor had declined to speak at our retreat because his schedule was already filled with Baptist events! Vernon Grounds wrecked my stereotype of Baptists. He wasn’t thrilled that I had left my Baptist roots to join in with the Presbyterians, but I felt he accepted me just the same. I thought he would have made a better Presbyterian than Baptist. Now, it doesn’t matter.

Some students would call him Vernon, but I was too much in awe of him to call him anything but Dr. Grounds. I still am. I am guessing that when Dr. Grounds entered heaven he was ushered to the front of the room, right at Jesus’ feet. Maybe he is squeezing one of Jesus’ feet and looking up with that mischievous smile. The day he long looked forward to has come. But, it’s a sad day for me.

Read Gordon MacDonald’s tribute to Vernon Grounds

Read Denver Seminary’s tribute to Vernon Grounds