Rev. Dr. Paul E. Larsen, seventh president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2026, in La Quinta, California. He was 92.
Paul was born on October 5, 1933, to devout parents David and Myrtle Larsen in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the middle child, born between older brother David (also an ordained Covenant pastor) and younger sister Mary Elizabeth. His early years were spent in Edina, Minnesota. He committed his life to following Christ at the age of seven. Later, as part of the youth group of Park Avenue Covenant Church in Minneapolis, he responded to a challenge by Wesley Nelson to offer himself for ministry, a sense of call that sustained him throughout his vocational service.
Following high school, the Larsen family relocated to Los Altos, California. Paul subsequently graduated from nearby Stanford University (working as a lumberjack during the summers), as well as earning a master of divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and eventually a doctorate from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He also completed orientation requirements for Covenant ordination.
Paul served in a variety of roles in California Covenant churches: youth pastor at Eagle Rock Covenant Church, founding pastor of Orangevale Covenant Church, and senior pastor of both Pasadena Covenant Church and Peninsula Covenant in Redwood City, where he was the childhood pastor of current president Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim.
While at Pasadena Covenant, he was set up with one Elizabeth Taylor (no, not the movie star) and was instantly smitten. Paul and Elizabeth were married on March 19, 1966. They became grateful parents to two beloved daughters, Kristi and Kathleen.
Paul served on Covenant and conference boards and committees too numerous to mention. Notably, he was on the Committee on Covenant Doctrine, which authored Covenant Affirmations in 1976, material that is uniquely important in articulating, nurturing, and transmitting Covenant identity. He also served on the executive boards of both the Covenant and Pacific Southwest Conference.
Paul served as president from 1986 to 1998, elected to three four-year terms. His tenure coincided with many important advances that continue to reverberate today. His organizing rubric was “Renewing Our Covenant…,” and then attaching strategic initiatives. For example, “Renewing Our Covenant to Church Planting” led to a church planting initiative that greatly accelerated new church development and resulting evangelistic and multiethnic growth. Of particular importance was Renewing Our Covenant to Multi-Ethnic Ministry. This extended priority, emanating from the Los Angeles Rodney King riots, cemented the Covenant’s intent to be a mosaic of churches more reflective of the breadth of the kingdom of God.
Of that emphasis, Dr. Don Davenport, chair of the African American Ministers Association at the time, said, “Paul was a friend. He was a man who believed in justice and reconciliation. This paved the way for the Covenant to pivot into bold new pathways.”
Paul also championed the establishment of the Compassion, Mercy, and Justice division of Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, which, under his successor, Rev. Glenn Palmberg, became what is now the Love Mercy Do Justice mission priority of the Covenant.
Another notable initiative was “Living Is Giving,” a multi-million dollar fundraising effort that helped to stabilize the finances of North Park University while generating additional resources for reaching into new regions at home and new countries around the world.
Rev. Evelyn Johnson, who served as executive minister of Christian education and discipleship on Paul’s Council of Administrators, said of him, “Paul was a leader of leaders. He called forth, equipped, and empowered his team. His care and compassion touched many lives around the world. He was God’s gift to the Covenant, and to me.”
Paul also found time to author several books, including Wise Up and Live: Wisdom from Proverbs (1974); The Mission of a Covenant (1985); and Flourishing in a Small Place (autobiography, 2019), along with numerous articles and keynote speaking engagements.
Paul remained active after retiring, settling in the California desert. Globally, his passion became India, to which he traveled nearly 20 times. He was the founding chair of the William Carey Foundation of India, which established the first doctoral-level seminary training in the country. He also served on the board of Truthseekers International, with a focus on the burgeoning Christward movement among marginalized communities. Locally, he was a charter member and adult Sunday school teacher at Mission Hills Covenant Church in Rancho Mirage, California.
Dr. Rob Johnston, dean of North Park Theological Seminary during Paul’s presidency, was integrally involved with those India initiatives, as was Sunil Sadar. Rob said, “Whether speaking before large crowds or dialoguing with key cultural and political leaders, Paul concentrated his gifts and energies on the world church.” Sunil added, “His bellowing laughter is still with me. He was a best friend whom you can trust with anything. What a life!”
Rev. Timothy Ek, who served as Paul’s vice-president, summarized Paul’s overall legacy this way: “He was the smartest person I have known. But more than that, he was a great Pietist who really loved Jesus and the work of Jesus in the world. He pushed us all, knowing, as we used to say, that God wants lost people found and hurting people helped.”
Paul was preceded in death by his daughter Kathleen.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth; his daughter, Kristi Baldwin; and his granddaughter, Cassidy.
Service details will be forthcoming.
Memorial gifts may be made to Truthseekers International.
The Covenant church gives thanks to God for Paul’s faithful life. Peace be to his memory.
