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Honorary Alumni- Wilbur D. Parker

Published Date: January 26, 2016

DOCTOR OF DIVINITY

The Reverend Wilbur Donald Parker has spent his life combining his faith in his Lord Jesus Christ with deep love for his country. A 1964 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, he served United Methodist churches in Ohio and Florida. He joined and served as a chaplain in the Florida National Guard before reporting for active duty as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in 1973.

Chaplain Parker served on the border of North and South Korea, conducting worship services among four deployed batteries along the Demilitarized Zone, holding monthly prayer breakfasts, and growing the worship attendance there. Back in the United States, he attended and graduated from Airborne School and Ranger School, having the distinction of being the first chaplain to finish Ranger School since the Vietnam War.0115 0895

Chaplain Parker was qualified to serve with special operations units, while providing for the soldiers’ spiritual needs. He developed spiritual soundness programs, resulting in substantial reductions in loss rates and increased morale and spirit among the soldiers.

In 1983 Chaplain Parker went to the U.S. Army headquarters in Europe as the Plans, Readiness, Policy, and Ecclesiastical Chaplain. He developed and coordinated the mobilization plan for chaplains in Europe and then for the entire European command, receiving his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. Back in the United States, he served at Fort Bragg as the 82nd Airborne Division Chaplain, completing over 100 airborne jumps himself. He was posted to the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania and the U.S. Army in the Pacific in Hawaii, and then to Washington, D.C. as Special Assistance Officer to assist the Chief of Chaplains. His thesis on the U.S. Army Chaplaincy, translated into Russian, was used by the Russian Army to set up its own chaplaincy program.

For the last years of his active duty service, Chaplain Parker served with the Office of the Chaplain to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. and as 3rd Army Staff Chaplain. Over his distinguished military career, he received numerous medals and commendations, retiring at the rank of Colonel in 2000. After retiring from the Army, he served for several years as Senior Associate Pastor and Minister of Pastoral Care at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia.0120 0900

Rev. Parker’s exemplary service to God and country is attested to by many friends and colleagues, both military and civilian. He has represented Asbury Seminary literally around the world, and today the Seminary honors him for that service.

Asbury Theological Seminary

December 11, 2015

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4 responses to “Honorary Alumni- Wilbur D. Parker”

  1. Floyd Carey says:

    Congratulations. I am a retired minister.

  2. Floyd Carey says:

    I read your resume’ – I commend you on your service to God and country. Extremely impressive record. Blessings!

  3. Lawrence Rhines says:

    Thank you for the imprint of faith you made in my life.
    I still carry the cross you blessed for me at Mt. Bethel.
    I miss you sir!

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