December 27, 2002
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Clark D. Morphew, nationally syndicated religion columnist, former religion writer for the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press and former Lutheran pastor, died Dec. 24 of lung cancer. Morphew, 64, died at his home in South St. Paul, Minn.
His weekly religion column was syndicated and published by dozens of Knight Ridder News Service clients throughout North America, according to a Pioneer Press report. Brent Bierman, Knight Ridder/Tribune news editor, Washington, D.C., said Morphew's column was "the most popular religion column we ran for many years."
Morphew was as a freelance writer before he became full-time religion writer and syndicated columnist for the Pioneer Press and Knight Ridder News Wire in 1982. He served in that role until he retired in 2000. Following retirement, he wrote a column for the Metro Lutheran, a monthly publication for Lutherans in Minnesota. His last column appeared in August, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Throughout his newspaper career, Morphew received various honors from the Associated Press, Religion Newswriters of America and Religious Public Relations Council (now Religion Communicators Council). His work was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in journalism.
Morphew was born in Nora Springs, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Northridge, Calif., and a master of theology from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Luther Seminary is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
In 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.
From 1977 to 1980, Morphew was a curriculum writer and editor for Augsburg Publishing House (now Augsburg Fortress Publishers) of the former American Lutheran Church. He briefly sold insurance for Lutheran Brotherhood, (now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans), a fraternal benefit organization based in Minneapolis. From 1967 to 1977, Morphew served as a pastor of Lutheran congregations in Grand Forks, N.D., and Cottage Grove, Minn., before leaving the clergy roster. Morphew was also a school teacher in Iowa and California.
Morphew is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and six adult children: Michelle Morphew, St. Paul; Valerie Linzie, South St. Paul; Stacy Osborne, Champlin, Minn.; Nathan, St. Paul; Bradley Linzie and Brian Linzie, North Oaks, Minn.; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Jan. 4 at Central Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Minneapolis.