Rev. Dr. Rudolph (Rudy) Featherstone

The Reverend Dr. Rudolph Richard Featherstone, age 89, passed away on November, 8, 2024.

Rudolph is preceded in death by his parents, James Samuel Featherstone and Annie (Brown) Featherstone; wife, Carmella Delores Featherstone; son, Sean Richard Featherstone; siblings, James Samuel Featherstone, Jr.; Jean Erma (Featherstone) Clark; Ralph Edward Featherstone; and Joyce Elizabeth Featherstone Wigfall.

He is survived by his wife Nancy Featherstone; siblings, Norida Ann (Featherstone) Harrison; Charles Austin Featherstone; Deloris (Allan) (Featherstone) Stephenson, adopted niece Gabrielle Hudecek, and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, friends, and colleagues in ministry.

Rudolph, also known as “Rudy”, was one of eight children born to parents, James and Annie Featherstone on December 26, 1934. He was born and raised in Washington, D.C.

Rudolph Richard Featherstone, an ordained pastor, described himself as “a janitor for Jesus”, followed his calling as a faithful, unwavering and obedient Child of God. 

He attended Gettysburg College in the 1950’s and was the first African American to graduate from Gettysburg College and was the only African American on the campus for his first two years of college. He is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and a 1972 graduate of Harvard Divinity School.

Following his graduation from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg he served as a pastor for 10 years at St. John’s Lutheran Church in the Bronx, N.Y., Incarnation Lutheran in Jamaica, N.Y., and Good Shepherd Lutheran in Detroit. Through his work as a pastor he strengthened the relationship African Americans had with the Lutheran church and local congregations.

Featherstone was a powerful preacher as well as teacher throughout his career. After graduating from Harvard Divinity School, he served in campus ministry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a mentor to students of color.

His presence on campus led him to a position as professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Bexley, Ohio. There he taught Cross-cultural Theological Studies and Mission. Among many courses, he taught “The Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr.”, and in instruction and preaching his powerful voice mimicked the voice of Dr. King.

Throughout his entire career Featherstone was dedicated to advocating for African American Lutherans.

Featherstone, with other ELCA teaching theologians of African descent, was involved in the Conference of International Black Lutherans (CIBL) and spoke at commencements, presentations and convocations including a Founder’s Day Convocation at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. His publications and presentations include, “The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,” “A Tri-dimensional Reality and Symbol,” and “Human Dignity in the Thought of Martin Luther King Jr.”.

He embarked on numerous travels with African American colleagues in ministry to the continent of Africa, and also South America as a servanthood commitment to mission and ministry abroad. 

Professor Rudolph Featherstone retired from the ministry and teaching in 2001 as Professor Emeritus of Cross-Cultural Theological Studies and Mission. In May 2008, he was celebrated for his life of service to the church and received an honorary Doctor of Theology Degree at the 173 rd Commencement Exercises of Gettysburg College.