Mason First Presbyterian Church
Mason First Presbyterian Church
Mason First Presbyterian Church | Staff

Getting to Know Fred Graham

by Margaret Doolittle
October 2009




Earlier this year, the Session and Presbytery approved obtaining the services of a Parish Associate for our congregation – a new concept for our church, although a handful of churches in the Lake Michigan Presbytery have Parish Associates. Everyone who already knew Dr. Fred Graham was very pleased that he agreed to fill the position at the request of Pastor Bill Pinches! Fred served as an interim pastor at Mason Presbyterian in 1975-76, and has made several guest appearances in our pulpit since then.

Fred grew up in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and graduated from high school there before heading off to Tarkio, Missouri, to attend and graduate from Tarkio College, a small Presbyterian-affiliated institution that was established in 1883; it closed in 1992. Fred went on to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, receiving his Masters of Divinity degree in 1955.

Fred’s first pastorate was at the Bethel Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, Iowa, where he served from 1955 to 1961; during that time he also began work on his Masters of Theology degree at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, and completed it in 1959. Fred continued his education by working on his doctorate at the University of Iowa, finishing that up in 1965. Studies abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, and in Scotland have enhanced his religious education.

Michigan State University was Fred’s next destination, where he taught in the Religious Studies department from 1963 until his retirement in 1992. Fred and his wife, Jean, live in East Lansing. They have four daughters and six grandchildren. The Grahams are happy that their daughter and three of those grandchildren live in East Lansing, too.

In his leisure time, Fred enjoys playing golf and tennis, jogging, and reading. He sings in the choir at Eastminster Presbyterian in East Lansing, and occasionally fills in at the pulpit there. Fred also edits the MSU retiree newsletter. He served on the East Lansing Library Board for five years, and as president of both the 16th Century Studies Society and the MSU chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.

Fred is just getting started as our first Parish Associate; his time with us officially started September 1st. He’ll be doing some occasional preaching, taking part in some Wednesday night activities, and substituting for Pastor Bill when asked, whether it’s in the pulpit, making hospital and homebound calls, or officiating at weddings and funerals.

Welcome to Dr. Fred Graham! We’re all glad that he’s chosen to spend some time at this point in his long and fulfilling career at the Mason Presbyterian Church!

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might . . . ”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
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