Chronicles of the Seventh President

Joe Lapp

The portrait of EMU's seventh president, Joseph L. Lapp, who served 1987-03. Photo by Jim Bishop

The first processional forms at Christmas in 1942, while the world's at war. In Penn's Woods, long historical for peace folk, stands the village of Lansdale, where Edith and John, in the chilly winter, blanket the fifth and last of the Lapp boys for his first Sunday at Plains Church and his first public outcry during the "Now unto Him who is able . . ." of his father's closing blessing.

At five, Joe watches the first of his siblings go off to Virginia to high school, enrolled at the EMS, his family awed by its mountains of purple and wisdom's perpetual light. The diplomas for John and Mary and Jim--twice each—are received from the hand of the president, John R. Mumaw, fourth to preside, now with the name of College.

The siblings graduate one by one. After Christopher Dock, in a new decade, Joe follows, bent on Bible and history, fishing the campus puddles on behalf of the Weather Vane's worthiest causes. In the march of the class of '66 there's a Lapp at the center when President Augsburger, fifth to preside, confers degrees.

Juris Doctor, attorney-at-law, Joe returns to his alma mater to join the twelve-member governing body. Chairman Lapp will convene the Board of Trustees, construct the agenda, and brief the church for seven Augsburger-Detweiler years.

When retirement creates a need, the eventual answer from Joe is yes. On nineteen September, eighty-seven, the community gathers to solemnize and delights to affirm the call. Though plans are laid, the processional shifts with the blessing of rain.

After the hymn and prayers, the impressive address, after the charge, the shepherding voice of Dad Lapp rises to bless the inaugural: "Now the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob bless them. Now the God of Joseph and Hannah be with them and be their God," and the assembly unites in praise to the "God, whose giving knows no ending."

How do we measure the open heart, the compassion of President Lapp? In green: the grass of the playing fields, the Turf, the campus's manicure, almost a fractur of loveliness. Northlawn stands refurbished; the Seminary building is born, we announce university status; new signage sprouts; a Commons grows.

There is time for a Mideast cross-cultural, time for the caring and entertainment of students from diverse lands, time to cry calm to the nations' strife, and time for the president's healing words to assuage the community's griefs.

A center for justice and peace, new degrees—all these mark the growth in the tenure of Joe, who with Hannah on Lincolnshire models a haven of welcome for guests. We catch his resounding laugh. In chapels and convocations, at every commencement, re-echoes the mantra he loves: "EMU seeks to glorify God, to pursue excellence in all educational programs, and to challenge students to answer Christ's call to a life of witness, service and peacemaking."

Now we stand to acknowledge the fruit of a patriarch's benediction, the gifts from the God of Joseph and Hannah for sixteen years. The windows of heaven open: generous heart and hand steward the precious investment, the future of youth.

When we here unveil the likeness--a president seventh in line, whose God is the Lord-- our thanks are for Joe, master of hospitality, whose place is fixed in the university's annals, its portraits of faithful leaders.

--Jay B. Landis