Clark Pinnock passed away August 15. The controversial theologian impacted many in the Christian community – including Christian Info Society president Flyn Ritchie, who studied under him. Following are tributes by several noteworthy commentators. 

Doug Koop

Clark H. Pinnock’s life journey is over. The influential and often controversial evangelical theologian died unexpectedly of a heart attack. He was 73. In March, the long-time professor of systematic theology at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, had announced he was withdrawing from public life – and that he was battling Alzheimer’s disease.

It was a difficult admission for a man whose mercurial mind and openness to the Holy Spirit led him to stake out theological positions that challenged evangelical orthodoxies.

Renowned for exploring the frontiers of biblical truth, he was reputed to study carefully, think precisely, argue forcefully – and shift his positions willingly if he discovered a more fruitful pathway of understanding. He said he preferred to be known, “not as one who has the courage of his convictions, but one who has the courage to question them and to change old opinions which need changing . . .”

Pinnock’s evolving position on the authority of scripture was one of the indicators of his questing mindset. His early book, A Defense of Biblical Infallibility (1967), argued for the necessity of belief in the Bible’s authority, inspiration and inerrancy.

But by the late 1990s, theologians like R.C. Sproul and         J.I. Packer were denouncing him. Pinnock kept pushing the envelope, championing the concept of ‘open theism,’ which emphasizes God’s self-limitation in dealing with humans – including his vulnerability. He argued that God could be surprised by events, and persuaded to change a decision . . .

While he was courageous in his ability to adopt new ideas and positions, Pinnock did allow that theological change has its painful aspects. “Not only am I often not listened to, I am also made to feel stranded theologically.”

Ron Dart

The theological differences in Canada between the dominance of the Reformed tradition, and the more Wesleyan way, were played out in a graphic and not to be forgotten way by J.I. Packer and Clark Pinnock.

I was a student of Packer between 1979-1981 at Regent College, and I worked with him on the Anglican Essentials movement in the 1990s. When I was doing my doctoral studies at McMaster University between 1983-1988, I was in a house group with Clark and Dorothy Pinnock.

Pinnock emerged in the 1980s-1990s as the leading Canadian critic of the way Reformed theology had co-opted and defined biblical thought and the evangelical tradition.

The differences between Packer and Pinnock could not be more obvious and pronounced than in their understanding of how the Bible is to be interpreted, and their attitudes to Reformed theology.

I was quite fortunate to live through this clash of the two most prominent Canadian theologians.

Barry Callen’s Clark H. Pinnock: Journey Toward Renewal: An Intellectual Biography (2000) brings to light the nature of Pinnock’s trying journey, as he dared to question the Reformed ‘Sanhedrin’ – and the price he paid for doing so.

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John Stackhouse

I disagreed with Clark on a few key matters – not least his defense of Open Theism, and his diffidence about critiquing the Toronto Blessing. But I valued him, and liked him very much. I wrote the following as a tribute upon his retirement.

 I needed advice about several key things, just before my final year of university. This accomplished teacher of Christian truth wrote back to me personally.

He asserted that you should focus upon that to which you believed God had called you, even though others might misunderstand or even resent your priorities. Indeed, he wrote, some might think you are ruthless; but you must obey God, and not other people’s agendas.  

That holy ruthlessness is, I now realize, key to every successful Christian life. The great leaders of the church have shown this determination to do just what God wants them to do, no matter what. Our Lord Jesus demonstrates it most clearly of all. Regardless of what his disciples, or his family, or the crowds wanted, he obeyed his Father in everything – often in ways that astonished or even dismayed his associates.  

Holy ruthlessness [also] means openness to overruling even one’s own sincerely-set agendas, when God brings something unexpected and unusual to do – that is, nonetheless, consistent with one’s calling. One must be poised in the Holy Spirit to discern such things . . . even answering mail from a student in need.  

I bless Clark H. Pinnock, my big brother in the profession of theology, for his exemplary Christian kindness to me.

Wayne Northey

During two of the three years Clark was at Regent College, I lived in his basement. The house was a haven for me, including the Bible Study group run by Clark and his wife Dorothy, which I loved attending.  

Clark was incredibly dedicated to his studies, but he exuded as well an exuberance to draw one in to anything he was passionate about.  Before I went to Regent, I was forewarned by a friend that Clark would challenge just about every theological notion I ever had! There was truth to that.  

After hearing of Clark’s Alzheimer’s, I finally ordered some of his work on Open Theism. While on a recent camping trip, I read with appreciation Clark’s contribution in The Openness of God.  I’ll be reading more.  

Twice after his Regent College days, I challenged Clark on his views of violence: once about the death penalty, after a published exchange between Clark and Mennonite political scientist John Redekop; and another about his support of the first Iraq War, in juxtaposition with an article by Mennonite missiologist Jon Bonk.

Both times, Clark and I met and talked. He was ever so gracious in both exchanges.  

Thanks for letting me share. Clark retains a formative, warm place in my heart.  He is greatly missed.  

Doug Koop is editorial director of Fellowship for Print Witness; Ron Dart is a professor at the University of the Fraser Valley; John Stackhouse is a Regent College professor; and Wayne Northey is director of M2W2 Restorative Ministries.

September 2010