Chewning was first elected a ruling elder in the Stony Point Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCES) in Richmond, Va., which is now a part of the PCA. He was elected to the Board of Covenant College in 1973 and served as Chairman for many years. Not only did Chewning serve as Moderator of the 13th GA of the PCA (1985), he was elected twice to serve as Moderator of the RPCES.
Dr. Richard C. Chewning, 81, Moderator of the 13th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. He was a member and ruling elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville.
Chewning was first elected a ruling elder in the Stony Point Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCES) in Richmond, Va., which is now a part of the PCA. He was elected to the Board of Covenant College in 1973 and served as Chairman for many years. Not only did Chewning serve as Moderator of the 13th GA of the PCA (1985), he was elected twice to serve as Moderator of the RPCES.
Chewning graduated from Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and the University of Washington. He did post doctoral studies at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He taught at the University of Richmond for 25 years. He then held the “Harry and Hazel Chavanne Chair of Christian Ethics in Business” at Baylor University for 15 years.
Chewning wrote the following to be included in his obituary:
Dick’s academic passion was reading God’s Word and seeking to discern how it spoke to God’s children who had been called to the field of “business.” In doing this he had over one hundred articles, essays, and reviews published, along with writing and editing seven books. The writing he most cherished is at this time being edited for publication, “Becoming…partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4. The majority of his writing was done with members of the “Christian Business Faculty Association” in mind. He wanted Christian business faculty to understand as thoroughly as possible, Christ’s mind as His revelation addresses the moral challenges that confront all who are called to work in business.”
Next to his wife Shirley, though, Dick’s greatest love was for the Triune God who revealed Himself most clearly through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of His son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the sending of His Spirit to dwell with those given to the Father’s only begotten Son. To this end Dick considered it a high calling to serve as an Elder in Christ’s church and to be granted the privilege of teaching Sunday School for many years. He wanted everyone to know that God the Creator is a Savior offering grace and mercy to His adopted children.
He authored a number of books including, Business Ethics In A Changing Culture; Biblical Principles and Economics: The Foundations (Christians in the Marketplace Series); and Business Through the Eyes of Faith.
Chewning is survived his wife of 59 years, Shirley Clarke Chewning; three children, Karen C. Schoch (Tim) of Glenside, Penn.; Jeff (Susan) of Springdale, Ark., and David of Waco, Texas; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., at Covenant PCA in Fayetteville.
Story originally posted by Paul Sagan, Chewning’s pastor at the Covenant PCA in Fayetteville, Arkansas.