Today the Lutheran Forum community, along with the wider ecumenical and interfaith community, mourns the passing of Father Richard John Neuhaus. It is perhaps too early to judge the impact of his life's work on the world he leaves behind, but it is easy for those of us who have been impacted directly by him to know how deeply he will be missed.

Readers of Lutheran Forum will know that Sarah cut her editorial teeth under Richard John at First Things magazine. Readers also will remember that Richard John had a profound impact on the formation of my identity as an evangelical catholic within the Lutheran tradition. Long time readers of Lutheran Forum and Forum Letter know that it was Richard John who played a large role in putting Lutheran Forum on the map during his tumultuous time as editor of Forum Letter.

Saddened too are his former parishioners at St. John the Evangelist in Brooklyn, where he served as a pioneer in urban Black ministry by Lutherans. It was a testament to a graciousness that was only surpassed by his intellect and incisive wit that even after his move into the Roman Catholic Church he maintained so many of his Lutheran friendships, and held the respect of his peers across ecumenical and interfaith lines.

Our prayers for God's comfort remain with his sisters, brothers and extended family, his family at the community house in Manhattan, and his family of faithful readers who along with our family here at Lutheran Forum know that the Church has lost a dear friend.

Requiescat in Pace et Lux Perpetua luceat ei