Servant of God – Mentor of Men

Rev. Chuck Muether, Director of Advancement

Years ago I remember as a member of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations when I was in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, our committee administrator spoke on the floor of our General Assembly about how God has graciously given the churches of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council faithful heroes and traditions that have shaped the different denominations and federations of NAPARC. 

It is by God’s grace, that men have been raised to maintain the orthodoxy of the church. For the first graduating class of HTS, (Revs. Scott Henry and Chuck Muether), Dr. Robert E. Grossmann was truly one of those champions of the Reformed faith. He was a servant of God and a mentor of men. This founding professor was everything Heidelberg Theological Seminary professed to be: practicing pastors teaching young minds to be pastors–or in the Class of 2006’s case, teaching two middle-aged minds. 

Dr. G demonstrated for me not just what sound doctrine is, but how to practice it. Little did I know at the time that God would have me planting churches (one in the OPC and now one in the RCUS), and in my listening to my professor and in my shadowing him on occasion, I would see in real-time how one physically and spiritually invests himself in the place where he is planting a mission work. 

Dr. G was involved in the local ministerial association and the Rotary Club. I remember on a few occasions that after class I wanted to get going and head home, which was a commute of about five hours, but Dr. G would remind us that class is not quite over, and so we would follow him as he interacted with people of all walks of life.

Dr. G was a product of Old Westminster. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1963. He studied under Professor John Murray and Drs. Cornelius Van Til, Paul Woolley, and E. J. Young. Dr. G’s teaching was reflective of the faithful orthodoxy of which he was trained. 

I marvel at how I was introduced to HTS and how Dr. G, with Dr. Embree, and then Professor Koerner (who also had significant church planting experience) taught and influenced us in so many ways. Heidelberg Theological Seminary remains committed to the vision of pastors teaching future pastors. For me especially, Dr. G taught how to cast the net and wait on God for the catch.