Obituary for Reverend Charles Joseph Chipman
Charles “Chuck” Chipman was born in Sycamore KS on February 2, 1931 to Alice and Claude Chipman. Claude’s job as an oil driller took the family to work sites in Sycamore, central Michigan where Chuck’s brothers were born, then back to Sycamore. Locals often treated drillers as outsiders, which probably planted in Chuck the seed of lifelong compassion for the outcast.
He graduated from nearby Independence High School in 1949, then attended York College where a young professor led a study on the Beatitudes and asked what it meant to be peacemakers. Knowing it obviously meant loving and helping your enemy, they traveled to rebuild war-torn Germany, working at bomb sites in Kasel. Although he regretted not knowing German, this experience planted the seed of preferring peace instead of nationalism and militarism.
Chuck moved to Dayton and studied at United Seminary. He married Margaret and they welcomed daughter Karen into the world. He earned his Masters of Divinity, and a teaching certificate at Dayton University, while working nights at Dayton Power & Light where he happily joined the company’s music theatre troupe that performed summer shows. He happily took Rita Moreno to breakfast when her tour visited Dayton. Jesus’ parables planted an interest in creating the kindom of God, an alternate reality that theatre also created … making the beloved community real on earth.
When Chuck, Margaret and Karen moved to Detroit KS for Chuck’s first pastorate, young Garry Mikesell embraced the Chipmans as his family of choice, planting the seed of including all. Son Michael joined the family, and was kissed by President Eisenhower in Abilene.
In Syracuse KS, Chuck pastored the United Methodist Church and celebrated their often-defeated football team for fighting the good fight. Syracuse planted the seed of embracing people who had nowhere else to go.
In his final pastorate at St. Paul’s United Methodist, Chuck planned life-changing trips for the congregation, provided religious education for Park Elementary students, and initiated medical care for Wichita’s Latino population [later to become GraceMed]. Every Thursday morning – for years -- he met to pray with a small group of friends committed to peace and social justice, which was tested when Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist selected him and St. Paul’s as the first funeral in America to picket. St. Paul’s cultivated strength to continue doing what’s right, even amid opposition.
Throughout his ministry, Chuck traveled extensively for the church. He attended World Methodist Conferences in Dublin, Honolulu, Singapore, and Nairobi where delegates wrote the Methodist Social Creed; the World Methodist Youth Conference in Turo, England; New Mexico, Israel, and New York City where Andrew Young gave them a tour of the United Nations. In 1983 United Seminary named Chuck its Alumni of the Year.
The formative event, however, occurred during his first year of retirement, teaching religion at McCurdy Mission School in Española NM. Chuck was sitting at St Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, in a Spanish language mass he could not understand, and felt God’s unconditional love and acceptance. He wept uncontrollably. It was his “heart-warming experience.” Each time he returned to Santa Fe, he went to the cathedral, walked to his pew and touched it, remembering that absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love [Romans 8.38-39].
Chuck returned to Wichita. He worked at JR Koontz Flowers and got involved at College Hill UMC in the choir, bells, missions, a dinner group, and leading a new Sunday School class called Viceroy which created a new doorway for gay people to enter the church. Those local efforts aligned with the Reconciling movement that welcomes all sexual orientations and gender identities into the United Methodist Church. Viceroy gradually revealed that openness to sexual orientations was often the litmus test for the church’s willingness to handle other truths like accepting differences, spiritual doubts, struggles for social justice, and faith instead of dogmatism. Chuck provided integral leadership at College Hill, across the Kansas West conference, and at national Reconciling convocations in Atlanta, Denton, Tacoma, Nashville, Philadelphia, Cleveland Heights, Chevy Chase, Estes Park and Lake Junaluska. Viceroy was the first Sunday School class in the nation to become a Reconciling group, with College Hill later becoming a Reconciling Congregation. In his spare time, Chuck completed his degree in German at Wichita State University.
Chuck loved relaxing at home in his recliner, doing the embroidery he learned as a child, quilting at St. Paul’s, attending Wichita Music Theatre, eating at his favorite restaurants, going to the zoo, visiting friends and family, and staying involved at College Hill. He loved the cats that he and Brian befriended and welcomed into the family.
His abilities dwindled, especially after Thanksgiving 2022. Soon after Wesley Medical Center normalized some abnormal blood labs, Chuck decided to go home with Good Shepherd Hospice. Chuck was happy to be home, surrounded by constant care and love. Many friends sent cards, prayers, and kind thoughts. Touch and music were wonderfully comforting, especially Elaine Hagenberg’s setting of O Love, which Chuck sang several years ago with the College Hill Choir and in a concert collaboration with Plymouth Congregational and Hagenberg accompanying on piano.
Two days after his 92nd birthday, Chuck finished this life. His heart was beating 160 times a minute, determined to keep him alive. His characteristically big heart finally quit – officially at 1203 am on Sunday, February 4, 2023 – at home, peacefully and mercifully with no evidence of pain.
What remains is our memory of Chuck. Here are two you may not know.
If Chuck ever fixed you something to eat, he was actually serving you his love. Whether it was peanut butter fudge for Christmas or today’s lunch or a nice meal for a friend or something for the church potluck dinner, food symbolized love.
And whenever his phone rang, Chuck presumed it was someone in his church who needed help. He was forever thinking of you. He had a pastor’s heart his entire life, and shared it freely with any in need. Although he only served three churches in his long career, people in Detroit, Syracuse, St. Paul’s and College Hill always regarded Chuck as “my pastor” … even though it might have been years since he was there. If you needed help, Chuck showed up. He had no office hours. He responded like the Good Samaritan whenever there was a need.
The next time you show up because someone needs help, or serve some food to someone secretly needing love, you will be remembering Chuck and continuing the tradition he learned from God.
The Livestream link can be found on the Photo and Videos Tab above.
He graduated from nearby Independence High School in 1949, then attended York College where a young professor led a study on the Beatitudes and asked what it meant to be peacemakers. Knowing it obviously meant loving and helping your enemy, they traveled to rebuild war-torn Germany, working at bomb sites in Kasel. Although he regretted not knowing German, this experience planted the seed of preferring peace instead of nationalism and militarism.
Chuck moved to Dayton and studied at United Seminary. He married Margaret and they welcomed daughter Karen into the world. He earned his Masters of Divinity, and a teaching certificate at Dayton University, while working nights at Dayton Power & Light where he happily joined the company’s music theatre troupe that performed summer shows. He happily took Rita Moreno to breakfast when her tour visited Dayton. Jesus’ parables planted an interest in creating the kindom of God, an alternate reality that theatre also created … making the beloved community real on earth.
When Chuck, Margaret and Karen moved to Detroit KS for Chuck’s first pastorate, young Garry Mikesell embraced the Chipmans as his family of choice, planting the seed of including all. Son Michael joined the family, and was kissed by President Eisenhower in Abilene.
In Syracuse KS, Chuck pastored the United Methodist Church and celebrated their often-defeated football team for fighting the good fight. Syracuse planted the seed of embracing people who had nowhere else to go.
In his final pastorate at St. Paul’s United Methodist, Chuck planned life-changing trips for the congregation, provided religious education for Park Elementary students, and initiated medical care for Wichita’s Latino population [later to become GraceMed]. Every Thursday morning – for years -- he met to pray with a small group of friends committed to peace and social justice, which was tested when Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist selected him and St. Paul’s as the first funeral in America to picket. St. Paul’s cultivated strength to continue doing what’s right, even amid opposition.
Throughout his ministry, Chuck traveled extensively for the church. He attended World Methodist Conferences in Dublin, Honolulu, Singapore, and Nairobi where delegates wrote the Methodist Social Creed; the World Methodist Youth Conference in Turo, England; New Mexico, Israel, and New York City where Andrew Young gave them a tour of the United Nations. In 1983 United Seminary named Chuck its Alumni of the Year.
The formative event, however, occurred during his first year of retirement, teaching religion at McCurdy Mission School in Española NM. Chuck was sitting at St Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, in a Spanish language mass he could not understand, and felt God’s unconditional love and acceptance. He wept uncontrollably. It was his “heart-warming experience.” Each time he returned to Santa Fe, he went to the cathedral, walked to his pew and touched it, remembering that absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love [Romans 8.38-39].
Chuck returned to Wichita. He worked at JR Koontz Flowers and got involved at College Hill UMC in the choir, bells, missions, a dinner group, and leading a new Sunday School class called Viceroy which created a new doorway for gay people to enter the church. Those local efforts aligned with the Reconciling movement that welcomes all sexual orientations and gender identities into the United Methodist Church. Viceroy gradually revealed that openness to sexual orientations was often the litmus test for the church’s willingness to handle other truths like accepting differences, spiritual doubts, struggles for social justice, and faith instead of dogmatism. Chuck provided integral leadership at College Hill, across the Kansas West conference, and at national Reconciling convocations in Atlanta, Denton, Tacoma, Nashville, Philadelphia, Cleveland Heights, Chevy Chase, Estes Park and Lake Junaluska. Viceroy was the first Sunday School class in the nation to become a Reconciling group, with College Hill later becoming a Reconciling Congregation. In his spare time, Chuck completed his degree in German at Wichita State University.
Chuck loved relaxing at home in his recliner, doing the embroidery he learned as a child, quilting at St. Paul’s, attending Wichita Music Theatre, eating at his favorite restaurants, going to the zoo, visiting friends and family, and staying involved at College Hill. He loved the cats that he and Brian befriended and welcomed into the family.
His abilities dwindled, especially after Thanksgiving 2022. Soon after Wesley Medical Center normalized some abnormal blood labs, Chuck decided to go home with Good Shepherd Hospice. Chuck was happy to be home, surrounded by constant care and love. Many friends sent cards, prayers, and kind thoughts. Touch and music were wonderfully comforting, especially Elaine Hagenberg’s setting of O Love, which Chuck sang several years ago with the College Hill Choir and in a concert collaboration with Plymouth Congregational and Hagenberg accompanying on piano.
Two days after his 92nd birthday, Chuck finished this life. His heart was beating 160 times a minute, determined to keep him alive. His characteristically big heart finally quit – officially at 1203 am on Sunday, February 4, 2023 – at home, peacefully and mercifully with no evidence of pain.
What remains is our memory of Chuck. Here are two you may not know.
If Chuck ever fixed you something to eat, he was actually serving you his love. Whether it was peanut butter fudge for Christmas or today’s lunch or a nice meal for a friend or something for the church potluck dinner, food symbolized love.
And whenever his phone rang, Chuck presumed it was someone in his church who needed help. He was forever thinking of you. He had a pastor’s heart his entire life, and shared it freely with any in need. Although he only served three churches in his long career, people in Detroit, Syracuse, St. Paul’s and College Hill always regarded Chuck as “my pastor” … even though it might have been years since he was there. If you needed help, Chuck showed up. He had no office hours. He responded like the Good Samaritan whenever there was a need.
The next time you show up because someone needs help, or serve some food to someone secretly needing love, you will be remembering Chuck and continuing the tradition he learned from God.
The Livestream link can be found on the Photo and Videos Tab above.