CALUMET PARK, IL (July 26, 2011) – A funeral service for M. Randolph Thompson, 55, senior pastor of Community Covenant Church, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.
Visitation and viewing will be observed at the church from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. A wake will be observed from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday, when the service begins.
Thompson died Thursday night. He was born November 14, 1955, in Chicago.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas; a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago; a Master of Theological Studies degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois; and a Doctor Of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago.
“Words cannot adequately express our sense of deep sorrow,” said Evangelical Covenant Church Executive Vice President Donn Engebretson upon learning the news. “Pastor Thompson was a great leader in the Covenant Church who had a significant impact in many areas of ministry.
“As president of the African American Pastors Association, he gave great leadership not only to the Covenant’s African American community, but also to the growing diversity of the Covenant as a whole. His work with the Central Conference Ministerium and his voice in the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence leadership team have broadened ministry and blessed the work of Christ though the Church in profound ways. He was a great colleague, but also a friend, and he will be deeply missed. We pray for his wife, Barbara, and the many family members and friends of Commuity Covenant Church as they mourn this great loss.”
Thompson married Barbara Peoples on June 18, 1994. She survives.
In addition to serving at Community Covenant, Thompson was chair of the Central Conference Ministerium and served as the regional coordinator of the Sustaining Pastor Excellence Program for the Central Conference.
Prior to entering ministry, he served in variety of roles in the mental health field, public schools and correctional institutions.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Ebonee M. Thompson and Danielle M. Peoples.
