I knew it was coming. I knew the day would come when I would receive the word, but I always hoped it would be later. We always hope that, don’t we?
But today was the day. Today as we were about to walk to our table to eat lunch with some my colleague Christianne Rushton, my phone started to vibrate and ring. It was the news that Hardy Clemons had passed away in San Antonio, Texas, another Covid victim, but one that left such a hole in my life.
Pastoral Staff, FBC Greenville, August 1997 Front row:Don Flowers, Hardy Clemons, Glen Adkins; Back Row: Michelle McClendon, Janice Johnson, Baxter Wynn, Donna Forrester
I had the privilege of working with Hardy on the staff of First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC. I was his “youth boy,” but he never saw me that way. I was always his colleague, and later he allowed me to be his friend. Without him and his influence on my life I would not be in ministry today. Even more, I would not be the person I am.
In 2010 Hardy was awarded the Wayne Oates Award. I was honored with he opportunity to introduce him. I share my words with you today as a way to introduce him to you, my boss, my pastor, my mentor, my friend.
Introduction of Hardy Clemons
Wayne Oates Award Banquet
September 23, 2010
Broadway Baptist Church
Louisville, Ky.
Well!
I still can’t get that to work as well for me!
It was about this time of the year in 1988. Being the new “Youth Boy” I was sitting at my desk in the basement of First Baptist Greenville on a Monday morning, still trying to unload all the boxes, still trying to figure out how to get from my office to the sanctuary, still trying to figure out what I had gotten myself into when the intercom buzzed.
It was my colleague, Bill Thomas who was our Minister of Music and Worship.
“What are you doing Thursday morning?”
“I don’t have anything planned.”
“Well, you do now. We are having breakfast with our new pastor!”
“Who is it?”
“Hardy Clemons from Second Baptist Lubbock TX.”
Lubbock Texas! Can anything good come from Lubbock, TX? I hung up the phone, looked at the boxes and wondered if I told my former church I was sorry they might let me come back!
And Hardy Clemons? Who is he?
Over the next 9 years I had the opportunity to learn that answer up close and personal! Hardy is a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great grandfather! The only downside to this evening is that Ardelle can’t be here to celebrate with you, and it is probably best because we all know that she would just show you up as usual.
Hardy Clemons is a scholar. If you have a few months, ask him about Harry Emerson Fosdick! Hardy wrote his dissertation on Fosdick, afraid that the great preacher had a dream that he didn’t know about! It was so extensive that after reading his, Southwestern put a limit on how long a dissertation could be! The places where he has taught sounds like a “wheres-where” of incredible institutions! Dr. Clemons could have spent his life as a professor and that would have been a life well spent.
But Hardy Clemons is also a counselor. He has enough letters after his name to start his own alphabet! He has served as a supervisor for individuals making their way towards accreditation, advanced degrees, and just good learning. He has been a counselor to innumerable individuals who are making their way through life’s transitions—both in person and as a writer. His book, Saying Hello to Your Life After Grief, is one that I give to everyone who has suffered a loss. (A kickback on the royalties would be nice!)
He is a leader. In the early days of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship it was to Hardy that we turned time and time again, in ways both official and unofficial. His calm presence was a gift in those turbulent days. Hardy has served on the Board of Trustees at Furman University (I am wearing my purple tie just for you!) and was named in the inaugural list of Greenville’s 50 most influential people.
Hardy Clemons is all of those things. But at his core, I think he is a pastor. In fact, one person called him “The pastor’s pastor.” And that may be true. There were countless times when we delayed staff meeting—just a few minutes—so Hardy could finish a conversation with a pastor who just needed his calming voice.
I know! How many times over the past 13 years have I faced a situation and asked, WWHD? “What Would Hardy Do?” How many times have I picked up the phone to say, “let me run something by you!” And he has always been there!
For better or worse, many of us have tried to model the way we do ministry after Hardy. As I recently told the congregation I have the privilege to serve, the best things I do are a dim reflection of Hardy Clemons. The mantra I heard from him have become the basis of the way I try to do ministry—“Tell the truth and trust the people.” See, Hardy is a Baptist pastor!
When I came back from that breakfast meeting, my secretary remarked, “Isn’t he just a big Teddy Bear?” I responded, “yeah, but there is a lot of Grizz in there too!” There has been a lot of talk about Mama Grizzlies this year, but let me put in a word for Pappa Grizzlies!
Before you think that Hardy is all sweetness and light, let me testify that you really haven’t had your tail chewed until Hardy has shown you how it is really done! Hardy does not mind fighting with you! And he usually wins!
But those of us who had the privilege of working with him know that he would also fight For us. He protected us, giving us the freedom that allowed us to do our best stuff. He held us accountable, and together—both as staff and as individuals. And I would not be in ministry today if it weren’t for him.
So who is Hardy Clemons—perhaps it was best answered the morning that Schaeffer Kendrick made the recommendation from the Search Committee. He said they had talked to a lot of people who knew First Greenville and knew Hardy. But perhaps the best recommendation came from Buddy Shurden who said, “Hardy Clemons is one in whom there is no guile.”
That is who he is! What you see is the real Hardy. Hardy Clemons has more integrity than anyone I have ever known, and I am certain that if he were here this evening Dr. Oates would agree, and be really proud of his student and friend.
So it really is one of the great privileges of my life to present to you, not introduce him, because you know who he is, my boss, my mentor, my pastor, my friend, Hardy Clemons.
Me and Hardy