A real hero of the faith died yesterday, Robert Farrar Capon. I almost wrote that he “went on to his reward” but I doubt Dr. Capon would have liked that phrase very much.
Readers of this site will know how deeply indebted we are to Dr. Capon, how inspiring he has been and continues to be. Author, theologian, food critic, Episcopal clergyman, the man was an unwavering advocate for grace in its most radical and Christocentric expression–a prophet if the truth be told–and we will not see his like again.
We’ll run some lengthier tributes next week, but for today, I invite you to take some time and acquaint or re-acquaint yourself with his work. Note the pastoral insight and rhetorical brilliance, the uncontrived playfulness (and occasional snark!), the sheer creativity–it is astounding. Words and turns of phrase leap off the page in Spirit-filled exuberance. The man didn’t just talk about freedom, it dripped from his every sentence.
As anyone who has read Kingdom, Grace, Judgment (or leaned on it, week after week, for sermon and bible study “help”) knows, Dr. Capon was that rare scholar whose love of the Bible was truly contagious. And anyone who has read/experienced Between Noon and Three knows that he was also a provocateur after God’s own heart, unafraid to follow the Good News into every crevice of human experience. I consider it to be one of the true privileges of my life that he granted us that one final interview in 2011 and would like to think, in some small way, that we carry on his work. I pray we might.
We are grateful for the life of Robert Farrar Capon and look forward to the day when we will get to toast him at the heavenly banquet about which he wrote so beautifully. He won’t be hard to find–the life of the party never is.
A few highlights of our Capon coverage over the years:
- A Parable of Gracious Infidelity: The Marriage to Merit-Demerit
- The Layoff of the Accountants
- Junk Bonds, Grace, and the End of Religion
- God Is Not Your Mother-In-Law
- Divine Lifeguards and Our Fatal Love Affair With the Law
The only footage of Dr. Capon on youtube comes from a retreat he led in 2004 following the release of his final book, Genesis: The Movie. It captures him in all his salty glory:
COMMENTS
10 responses to “In Loving Memory of Robert Farrar Capon (1925-2013)”
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This is big news. I am really sad about this, even though I know it is very well with him at this moment. I hugely honor the man, he has been a great influence and inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing.
He will be greatly missed – what a great man of extraordinary wisdom. He has helped change the path of Christianity and I think it will only be in decades to come that we realise just how much.
Thanks so much for this tribute. I am inspired to tuck into some of his works again this weekend 🙂
“would like to think, in some small way, that we carry on his work. I pray we might.”
I “met” him through mbird.
Thank you.
He is a hero. To discredit immortality of the soul, what courage! Immensely grateful to Mbird for introducing him to me. What should I read first?
Though we never met, Dr. Capon has been a wise mentor to me for years– we will miss him, but I get a thrill just thinking of the wonderful surprises God has for him in the next chapter of his journey. Shalom
i want to thank you for a lovley tribute to my father in law.. i sent to all the family.. but most importantly i want to thank you for the you tube.. i didn’t know there was one.. and as my husband said .. thank you it was great to see him the way he was..thank you for a great gift..
My third comment but I want the family to know how I met dearest Robert by accident. Jack and I were in Port Jefferson one summer in 197’s. We called him saying how much we enjoyed his books. He invited us supper and cooked lamb. We saw his Polish woodpile and saw how he made it. In a copper pot he made us Zablionne custard. ( bought a copper pot of hen I got home), as I remember, Jack did some drawings for him that evening. Jack was a well known Chicago artist. We will never forget our time with him. Several years ago I called him about that evening. Not sure he remembered. He may still have the drawings.
Memory eternal!