Canon Pepper, Church Leader, Dies
Diocesan Press Service. September 10, 1973 [73215]
HARTSDALE, N.Y. -- The Rev. Canon Almon R. Pepper, D.D., director from 1936 to his retirement in 1967 of the Department of Christian Social Relations of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, died September 2 of a heart attack in the White Plains, N.Y., hospital. He was 74 years of age and made his home in Hartsdale.
In 1938, through the leadership of Canon Pepper, the Executive Council established the Episcopal Committee for European Refugees and this program in 1940 developed into the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, with Canon Pepper as its executive secretary.
In cooperation with other U.S. churches, he assisted in founding refugee and relief committees which, in 1946, combined to form Church World Service, the relief agency of the National Council of Churches.
The Department of Christian Social Relations, which Canon Pepper headed for more than 30 years, was concerned with people in urban society, intergroup relations, civil rights, family life, world relief and refugee resettlement, church-state relations, alcohol education, care of the aging, and chaplaincy service to hospitals and prisons.
The Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, Presiding Bishop, in a tribute to Canon Pepper, said, "His complete dedication, skillful administration and keen social conscience were responsible for innovative and effective programs in Christian Social Relations during his lengthy term of office."
As the architect of Episcopal and ecumenical relief programs, Bishop Hines said, Canon Pepper "was known and admired the world over and for years when people thought in terms of the Episcopal Church's social involvement they thought first of Almon Pepper and his unique pastoral and administrative gifts. The gift of his ministry in and to the Episcopal Church continues to be a source of gratitude for countless numbers who were its beneficiaries."
Born in Sheboygan, Wis., Canon Pepper graduated from Kenyon College, Gambler, Ohio, in 1921, and earned his M.A. degree from Bexley Hall, the Theological School of Kenyon, in 1922. In 1924 he graduated from Nashotah House, Nashotah, Wis., and was ordained to the priesthood that year. He studied further at General Theological Seminary, New York City, and received his degree in psychiatric social work in 1933 from the Columbia University School of Social Work. He received honorary D.D. degrees from Nashotah House in 1942 and from Kenyon College in 1962.
In the Diocese of Ohio he was executive secretary of the Department of Social Service and rector of Grace Church, Cleveland. He was named an honorary canon of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, in 1936. In Ohio and New York City he did much chaplaincy work in hospitals and prisons.
After his retirement in 1967, Canon Pepper was a consultant on community service for the Executive Council's overseas department. He also served as interim director of the Episcopal Mission Society of the Diocese of New York.
Surviving are his widow, the former Alpha Catherine Larsen, and a daughter, Mary Mallory Pepper.