“Rev. Earl Palmer has served in pastoral ministries at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington; Union Church in Manila, Philippines; First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, California and The National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. He is viewed as one of the most gifted teachers of the Bible, with a unique style that unfolds the text and allows the listener to make great discoveries. As such, Earl has gained a reputation as a great expositor. He also has a strong interest in pursuing theological themes that are present in classic and contemporary literature, with particular focus on such authors as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth. As an author, Earl has published numerous articles and eighteen books plus contributed chapters in other published works. After his retirement, Earl Palmer Ministries (EPM) was created so that this teacher can keep sharing his gift with the world.”
Old, Hughes Oliphant. The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church. Vol. 7. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing, 2010. 108.
“I met Earl when I was attending University Presbyterian Church before I attended Princeton Theological Seminary and eventually started working as a Special and Rare Collections Archivist in the Library with Director Robert Benedetto. In 2005, we were looking for ways to build our repository, and explore new voices and perspectives to preserve. The addition of the Earl Palmer Collection to the Princeton Theological Seminary Library was an easy choice.
When you have a special collections library, often you are trying to connect with researchers through a focus in a specific activity or topic with rare books, institutional documents, personal papers and records from organizations. But in a seminary context, you’re also focused on ministry. Having relevant materials for pastors is extremely important for encouraging pastors practically within the seminary archives. Unlike other archives, The Princeton Theological Seminary Library is special place where pastors and ministry leaders can be inspired and impacted by the people they research.
When the idea for the Earl Palmer Collection came about, I knew that it would be a perfect addition. Earl was very formative to my faith and had a major personal impact on my life. We decided that we would like to become the entity responsible for preserving Earl’s papers and records, as is an important and prominent alumni of the seminary with a strong impact. He brings together a broad range of theological voices within the Presbyterian denomination with an extremely strong and accessible voice. We want these materials to be available for years and years to come.”
Dr. Michael Paulus
Dean of the Library; Associate Professor of Information; Studies Assistant Provost for Educational Technology
Seattle Pacific University
Special Collections Archive at Princeton Theological Seminary
THANK YOU, MICHAEL FOR PROVIDING THE HISTORY OF THIS COLLECTION AND SETTING UP THIS SPECIAL COLLECTION OF HARD COPY MATERIALS SUCH AS CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER WRITINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ON-SITE ACCESS FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN GAINING INSIGHT INTO EARL’S APPROACH TO MINISTRY.
The Earl Palmer Collection at Princeton Theological Seminary
The words written in the official establishment in 2018 of Earl’s ministry in the digital library under the Theological Commons at Princeton Theological Seminary provide the background for this honor are found in the Recital as stated below:
The Earl Palmer Collection at Princeton Theological Seminary” is as follows:
Whereas Palmer has committed his ministry to preaching and teaching through exposition of the Bible so that women and men may discover the centrality of Jesus Christ for their lives through their own personal, intellectual and spiritual journey with biblical texts,
A. Whereas Palmer has, over the course of his ministry, developed and retained materials that support and model the case for exposition, and may assist in preparing students, pastors and laity for ministry and leadership,
B. Whereas PTS seeks to equip men and women to serve Jesus Christ in ministry and leadership,
C. Whereas both Palmer and PTS believe that reposing The Earl F. Palmer Collection at PTS, where the materials are readily accessible to students, pastors and laity, serves their joint mission to further scholarship and intellectual inquiry for personal growth and preparation for ministry and leadership.
Now, therefore, Palmer and PTS agree in consideration for the mutual promises set forth herein…
Currently, the digital library contains over 3000 entries.
THANK YOU PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FOR CREATING THIS COLLECTION IN RECOGNITION OF EARL’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE PREPARATION FOR PASTORS AND LAITY IN FURTHERING THE GOSPEL.
A Recognition in Oxford
At the 50th anniversary of Earl’s ministry, the University Presbyterian Church presented Earl with the placement of a plaque in C.S. Lewis’ study in Oxford, England. Earl’s love of C.S. Lewis and the repeated honor of his invitation to lecture as ‘Scholar in Residence’ at the Kilns, home of C.S. Lewis, was a surprise that Earl found most meaningful. As many of you are aware Earl was a frequent speaker on the theological importance of the writings of C.S. Lewis.
The Palmer Award for Excellence in Expository Preaching
“This award affirms our graduate and recalls those in whose memory or honor the award was created, sustaining an important connection between our past, present and future. We are grateful for your support of our graduates through The Earl F. Palmer Award for Excellence in Expository Preaching.”
Todd Anthony Sloan
Vice President of Advancement, Princeton Theological Seminary
The endowment at Princeton Theological Seminary is a legacy to be given in perpetuity for an award for excellence in the joy of teaching and preaching through exposition of the bible in honor of Earl F. Palmer, Expositor. Called, “The Earl Palmer Award at Princeton Theological Seminary. Established in 2020 through the generosity of The Friends of Earl Palmer Ministry, this recognition with a stipend of $5000 is to be given the year of graduation to a third-year student preparing for parish ministry. The fourth award was presented in 2024 with the sentiment above.
Read Earl’s words as to what exactly is meant by “exposition” of the Bible
Exposition is a teaching/preaching form that enables a text in the Old Testament and New Testament to make its own point here and now. And, in turn, positions the content of the text within the whole biblical and theological witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Exposition of the biblical text becomes a natural way to make a theological and discipleship truth relevant and allow people to discover it for themselves. Exposition invites the listener or reader to watch that progression within a text happen by paying attention to the language and imagery choices of the writer, and the writer’s encounter with the wider context that surrounds the writer’s narrative and/or story. The idea is to help a person meet this Jesus and to be able to say, “Aha, I see the truth for myself.
Exposition is an invaluable gift to teaching because listeners are exposed to the possibility of discovery. This is true not only for comprehension of content but also because it can be the doorway into the larger whole of scripture. When this happens, the expansive implications of the discovery produce excitement for personal understanding of written text in those who listen and worship guided by a message that comes alive. I call this form of teaching and preaching Joyous and contagious.
IT IS WITH GRATITUDE THAT WE EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED GENEROUSLY TO THIS ENDOWMENT IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE READY TO MOVE INTO MINISTRY WITH THE CONFIDENCE of COMMUNICATING THE SCRIPTURE IN WAYS THAT THE GENERATIONS OF TODAY CAN HEAR THE MESSAGE FOR THEMSELVES – THAT CHRIST STANDS ALONGSIDE AND STEADIES US AS WE LEARN OF HIS GIFT OF KNOWING THAT WE ARE BELOVED AS ATTESTED TO IN THE SCRIPTURES.
The Berkeley Palmer Lectureship
In May of 2018, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley and New College Berkeley launched an annual lectureship in honor of the Reverend Earl F. Palmer, pastor of First Presbyterian Church Berkeley from 1970 to 1991, and founding trustee of New College Berkeley. The Berkeley Palmer Lectureship was established to examine current biblical scholarship at the intersection of the Church and the Academy. The lectureship intends to continue to bring the lens of biblical scholarship to issues of concern to universities, seminaries, and the church.
Read the history as written by Susan Phillips, Past Executive Director of New College Berkeley:
“I met Earl in 1976 when I started my PhD program in Berkeley, and in finding a church, everyone said the best biblical teaching is at FPCB. I’ve served on the Regent college Board and NCB board with Earl, and he and Shirley have been such supportive friends and colleagues.
NCB and FPCB have been ministry partners for 47 years since Earl Palmer and David Gill founded NCB. It was created to offer graduate level teaching to help Christian lay people enhance and deepen their knowledge of Christian faith, so that they can become better at walking with newness of life as they follow Jesus.
Earl is the only person who taught for NCB every year since its creation in 1977, with the last years bringing in other presenters. The way he teaches about various exemplars of the faith has helped us understand better how biblical studies can inform people. We’re concerned that there has been erosion of this. Not all growing Churches necessarily have an ongoing commitment to biblical reflection.
Myself, Rev. Dr. Tom Elson, and a committee of pastors and lay leaders wanted to create an annual lectureship in Earl’s name that would bring cutting edge biblical scholars to Berkeley to speak in the kind way that Earl speaks; Illuminating scripture that helps us to live our lives as citizens, teachers, lawyers, doctors, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. The lectureship was to take place right next to a major public university and a large theological consortium. We wanted it to be on the intellectual level of university lectureships, and interest everyone who came through the doors. The Berkeley Palmer Lectureship was born.”
THANK YOU BERKELEY, FOR YOUR WORDS AND FOR ESTABLISHING CONVERSATION FOR YEARS TO COME ON THE ISSUES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO EARL’S MINISTRY.
The Palmer House and University Ministries
The Palmer House was strategically planned for 15 years, and finally completed in 2019. Earl Palmer originally had thought of creating a space where college students at the University of Washington and other surrounding universities could find home away from home. Owned by University Presbyterian Church, this building was transformed from law offices into a coffee house and community space with generosity of the many who contributed funds to an endowment for the reconstruction into a useable location for outreach to University Ministries. The house has provided offices for staff of university ministries plus a top floor apartment for those who manage the events. To accommodate the expanse of a ministry of hospitality there is also a commercial grade kitchen, a conference room, a prayer room and two lounge spaces. At present, however, the ministry to university students is in transition. This legacy In honor of Earl was built upon the following resolution put into action by the Session of University Presbyterian Church with these words
Officially named “The Earl and Shirley Palmer Center for Student Ministry” written on a plaque placed at the main entrance to the building that bears the inscription featured right. The Session of University Presbyterian Church voted “overwhelmingly” in favor of naming this new home for University Ministries in honor of Earl Palmer. The formal resolution reads:
The Reverend Earl Palmer
Has spent his life investing in pastoral ministry, specifically in churches with significant ministries to university students, including University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, WA and First presbyterian Church in Berkeley, CA.
Served 17 years as UPC’s senior pastor (1991-2008)
UPC’s Pastor to University Students (1956-1964)
Has demonstrated proficiency as a scholar and an expositional preacher of biblical texts
Along with his wife, Dr. Shirley Palmer, has modeled deep and abiding faith in Christ and made a lasting impact on University Ministries at UPC.
EARL ALWAYS WAS A COLLEGE PASTOR WHO SAW HIMSELF TALKING TO AND WITH THOSE OF UNIVERSITY AGE. HE WANTED STUDENTS TO KNOW THEY ARE BELOVED BY GOD. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ESTABLISHED AND SUPPORTED UNIVERSITY MINISTRIES AS A VITAL MISSIONAL FIELD.
