 Franklin Clark Fry (1900-1968) became the first president of the Lutheran Church in America at its formation in 1962. Elected president of the United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) at the age of 44 in 1944 and eight times thereafter, his presidency continued into the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and until his death in 1968. He had a profound impact the international and ecumenical scene, by serving in a variety of international capacities including terms as president of Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). He was the first treasurer of LWF, the first vice-chairman of the World Council of Churches Central Committee and later its chairman. Nationally, he served on the executive committee of the National Lutheran Council, was vice chairman of American Relief for Korea and chaired the National Council of Churches Policy and Strategy Committee. A driving force in the formation of the LCA, he was dubbed "Mr. Protestant" by Time Magazine in an April 1958 cover story. |