David Van Strien
The Rev. David Van Strien, tireless worker for equal rights and opportunities for all people, died at age 89 on June 29, 2014 at RiverMead Lifecare Community, Peterborough, NH.
Mr. Van Strien’s work for justice was primarily, but not exclusively, focused on the rights of the Palestinian people in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He received the first annual award from the New Hampshire Chapter of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee for his work for the cause of peace and justice, but was also instrumental in promoting Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union in southern New Hampshire.
At one point he sued New Hampshire Governor Meldrim Thomson to keep him from lowering the flag to half-mast on Good Friday. The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court where Mr. Van Strien won. He was instrumental in putting a successful nuclear freeze resolution on the ballot in Peterborough and, with his congregation, successfully opposed the local school board in its attempt to allow the Gideons to distribute Bibles in the Peterborough public schools.
He considered himself a humanist and used the tenets of humanism to give voice to peace and justice issues and organizations throughout his ministry. He founded UUs for Justice in the Middle East in the early 1970s, and chaired the organization from 1977 to 2003; he also founded the Palestine Education Network. When he received the award from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, his acceptance speech included these words:
“I consider working for peace and justice to be a primary — the primary — obligation of any religious person. Working to advance the idea of equal justice and human rights for all persons is — or at least should be — a primary political responsibility of every man and woman in our nation who subscribes to the principles and ideals and spirit embodied in our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and our Bill of Rights.”
David Douglas Van Strien was born on December 23, 1924 to John and Cornelia (Bouma) Van Strien. After high school graduation in Bayonne, New Jersey, he went on to earn a B.A. from Ursinus College in 1946 and a B.D. from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1954. He was married to Karin Fortun in May of 1959.
Although he grew up in the Dutch Reformed Church, Mr. Van Strien entered ministry in the Congregational Christian Church tradition (United Church of Christ after 1957). After ordination on June 6, 1954, he served the North Congregational Church of Middleton, New York from 1954 to 1957, and the Belleville Congregational Church of Newburyport, Massachusetts from 1958 to 1969. After Mr. Van Strien’s religious views became more liberal in the 1960s, he was received into UU ministerial fellowship in 1967. He accepted a call to the Peterborough (New Hampshire) UU Church in 1969 and served there until he retired in 1990 and was named Minister Emeritus.
During his twenty years of service in Peterborough, the Rev. Mr. Van Strien re-established the Monadnock Summer Lyceum, bringing well-known speakers to the greater community. He also dedicated much of his time to the wider UU movement, serving on the UUA Board of Trustees for nine years, as a Good Offices person for the UUMA; and as president, vice president, and Secretary of the New Hampshire Vermont UUMA chapter.
A memorial service conducted by the Rev. Dr. David Robins was held on July 14, 2014 at the Peterborough UU church.
David Van Strien is survived by his wife, Karin Van Strien; his brother in-law; four nephews and a niece; and many great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Notes of condolence may be sent to Karin Van Strien at 205 Rivermead Road, Peterborough NH 03458.