PURSEY, Barbara Rev. Dr.

PURSEY, Barbara Rev. Dr. (Los Angeles, CA, Aug. 3, 1929--Dubuque, IA, May 21, 2014). Barb earned a BS in chemistry and a PhD in organic chemistry from UCLA and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After she received her Ph.D., she taught chemistry at California State University Northridge until her marriage to Dr. Derek Pursey in 1962. The Purseys lived in Glasgow, Scotland, for two years where Barb was a postdoctoral research fellow in chemistry at Glasgow University. In 1964, they moved to Ames, Iowa, where Barb continued to do postdoctoral research at Iowa State University until her son was born in 1970.

In the late 1980s Barb was called to structured ministry and studied for a Master of Divinity degree at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. After her graduation in 1988, she was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and served on the faculty of UDTS until her retirement in 1996, teaching mostly Christian formation. The Purseys established their home in Dubuque in 1993 when Derek retired from Iowa State University.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Barb was active in the charismatic movement. As well as speaking at various venues, she served on the board of Presbyterian and Reformed Ministries International, and wrote three teaching booklets (The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, The Charismatic Renewal and You, and Prayer Beyond the Beginnings).

In the last half of her life, her ministry passions were for healing, helping people mature through spiritual direction, and the relation between science and Christian faith. Hearing the late Fr. John Park speak at a conference triggered her interest in a healing ministry. Fr. Park was Director of the Order of St. Luke the Physician (OSL). Barb joined OSL, and served as Director of Region XI of OSL for a number of years. As well as leading healing events in churches and retreats, she made major contributions to several OSL publications, especially the Going Deeper series. Her final contribution was an article "Promise or Contract?" published in the January/February 2014 issue of the OSL journal Sharing.

Barb received her training as a spiritual director at Pecos Benedictine Monastery in New Mexico. Most of her ministry as a spiritual director was with students at UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY and with UDTS graduates.

Barb's interest in how science and Christian faith relate date from her youth, thanks to her Uncle Ad-a chemist working in the oil industry and a mature Christian. This interest was revived by a Presbyterian-sponsored conference in 1987, which led to a PC(USA) Working Group on Christian Faith, Science, and Technology, on which Barb served. This in turn led to the Presbyterian Association on Science, Technology and the Christian Faith (PASTCF). Barb was a founding board member of PASTCF, and later served as secretary/treasurer. Her work for PASTCF included a series of courses at Ghost Ranch with PASTCF colleague Rev. Dr. James Miller, courses at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Summer School, seminars at several conferences, and essays in the PASTCF journal SciTech†. In 2012 she was inducted into the Society of Ordained Scientists.

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Obituaries. Dubuque Today by the Dubuque Advertiser.