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The Rev. Dr. Nathanael M. Guptill Connecticut Conference Minister Emeritus |
ObituaryServices
Tuesday, Sept. 18, 4:00 pm
Saturday, Sept. 22, 1:00 pm |
by Jim Morgan
NEWTON, NC (09/16/2007) -- The Rev. Dr. Nathanael Mann Guptill, Connecticut Conference Minister Emeritus of the United Church of Christ, entered into eternal life on Sunday, September 16th at Abernethy Center in Newton, North Carolina, where he resided. He was 90 years old.
He was called to serve as Conference Minister in 1962, a position he held with great distinction until his retirement from active ministry in 1981.
“Dr. Guptill was a great Yankee saint of the United Church of Christ,” commented the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, Connecticut Conference Minister and one of his successors. “He taught us all what it meant to be followers of Jesus, and what it means to be the Church in this time.”
In the years of his administration, Dr. Guptill was known for his preaching, his no-nonsense New England practicality, and his love of the Church. At Conference Annual Meetings, he regularly inspired the delegates and clergy of the Conference with his addresses that usually included “conversations” with the Rev. Amos Bassett, a founder of the Missionary Society of Connecticut in 1798, whose portrait hung over his desk.
He named “Our Conference strengthened in effectiveness, unity, fraternity and mission” and “Pastors encouraged to take joy and fulfillment in their calling” as the qualitative measurements by which he determined the success of his Conference Ministry.
Before becoming Conference Minister, he had served as Co-Secretary for the national United Church of Christ at the time of the union of the Congregational Christian and the Evangelical and Reformed Churches. In an unusual arrangement, the new denomination, formed in 1957, elected co-officers from the two predecessor denominations to serve together as a symbol of unity in the early years of the union.
“Dr. Guptill gave himself fully to the creation of this church, and served with distinction in one of its highest offices,” said Rev. Crabtree. “He will forever remain one of those great leaders of the universal Church who has inspired thousands of clergy and laity in their living of the faith.”
Rev. Guptill grew up in Maine, the son of Rev. and Mrs. Orville Guptill. His father was longtime Superintendent of the Maine Seacoast Missionary Society. He attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where he met Helen Eugenia Carter. They married in 1937 and were constant companions and support to each other for 69 years, until her death in January 2007.
A graduate of Andover Newton Theological School, he was ordained in 1943. He served as a parish pastor in Maine and Massachusetts, and also taught at Andover Newton. He was one of the guiding initiators of the Christian Conference of Connecticut, which he served as its first President from 1976 to 1979. He also was Moderator of the UCC General Synod from 1979-1981. Dr. Guptill is remembered for his enthusiastic leadership and wisdom in those positions.
He authored several books and wrote numerous pamphlets and articles for religious journals. He also served as editor of the Minister’s Quarterly and was a staff correspondent for The Christian Century from 1947 to 1958.
He is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law, Lois and Roger Smith of Sharon, ME and Judith and W. Steve Simmons of Granite Falls, NC, son and daughter-in-law, Timothy Guptill and Roseann of Riviera Beach, FL, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
A service of remembrance and celebration of his life and ministry will be held at First Church of Christ Congregational, United Church of Christ, in West Hartford. The date is to be determined. Donations in his memory may be sent to Missionary Society of Connecticut, 125 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105 for the Nathanael Guptill Scholarship for Seminarians.
