Rev. Dr. William O. Paulsell died on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the age of 88. He was the former President and Dean of Lexington Theological Seminary. Rev. Paulsell was an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the author of eight books, including Taste and See: A Practical Guide to the Spiritual Life (Upper Room, 1976), Tough Minds, Tender Hearts: Six Prophets of Social Justice (Paulist, 1990), and, most recently, Longing for God: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism (Paulist, 2021). “Bill was a titan…his influence and shaping hands on the church and her ministers is simply off the charts,” said Rev. Cyd Cowgill, a Disciples minister who lives in Lexington.
Born in Miami, Florida in 1935, Paulsell grew up in Dallas, Texas and was a leader in the Disciples youth movement. As a student at Texas Christian University, he fell in love with Sally Atkins, a fellow Religion major. They married in 1957 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee where Paulsell completed his Bachelor of Divinity and his PhD in Church History from Vanderbilt University. He was part of a group of Vanderbilt students who visited the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky for conversations about the human longing for God. Those conversations significantly shaped Paulsell’s future life and research, and he maintained a relationship with the Abbey of Gethsemani throughout his life.
From 1962 to 1981, Paulsell served on the faculty of what was then called Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, North Carolina in the department of Religion and Philosophy. He and his wife, Dr. Sally Paulsell, had two daughters, Stephanie and Diane. In 1981, the family moved to Lexington when Paulsell was called to serve as Dean of Lexington Theological Seminary. In 1987, he was appointed President of the seminary and served until 1992. After retiring from LTS, he served as Senior Minister of North Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana for five years, after which he and his wife, Sally, returned to Lexington. He continued to teach courses periodically at the seminary.
Central Christian Church was an important community in his life. He loved the people, the worship and the music. He taught a course on Thomas Merton and other significant spiritual writers for over a decade at Central. He also served as minister of Twin Pines Christian Church in Lexington while the senior minister was on sabbatical.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Sally Paulsell; his daughters, Stephanie Paulsell and Diane Paulsell; his son-in-law, Kevin Madigan; and two grandchildren, Theo Block and Amanda Madigan.
Published by Lexington Herald-Leader on Apr. 17, 2024.
John M. Von Almen
I want to express my condolences to the Paulsell family. He was a tremendous pastor, teacher and mentor, and was president of the seminary when I entered in August 1987. We will all miss him.
Houston Bowers
To the family of Bill Paulsell,
Bill was a real gift to the CHURCH! How many people were inspired by way of his gifts and love! I’m a part of the parade that was blessed by his ministry – Bill was the student pastor of LaCenter Christian Church (seven 7 years) until 1961 when he completed his academic work at Vandy. I became the student pastor of La Center Christian Church in September of 1962. While I have followed a number of people in the ministry, NO ONE laid the kind of foundation that he and Sally did in a wonderful church at the corner of the Ohio River and the Mississippi River. I discovered the ministry as one who followed him. Vandy was great but LaCenter was wonderful!