Rev. G.I. Williamson, 97, Called Home to Glory

Rev. Williamson served almost 71 years as a minister of the gospel in Reformed churches in the U.S. and New Zealand, 47 of which were in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Written by Archibald A. Allison | Thursday, April 13, 2023

He was converted after the war while a professional saxophone player, attended Hope College, graduated from Drake University and Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary, where he was blessed by the teaching of Dr. John Gerstner, was ordained in the United Presbytery Church of North America on June 1, 1952, and served almost 71 years as a minister of the gospel in Reformed churches in the United States and New Zealand.

On April 12, 2023, the Lord called his servant the Rev. G. I. Williamson into his presence, where, with all the saints who have gone before, he now beholds the face of God in light and glory and rests from his labors.

He was born on May 19, 1925, in Des Moines, Iowa, grew up in the United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPCNA), and served in World War II.

G. I. married Doris Short on May 3, 1944, and they were blessed with three daughters and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren in more than 73 years of marriage until her death in November 2017.

He was converted after the war while a professional saxophone player, attended Hope College, graduated from Drake University and Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary, where he was blessed by the teaching of Dr. John Gerstner, was ordained in the United Presbytery Church of North America on June 1, 1952, and served almost 71 years as a minister of the gospel in Reformed churches in the United States and New Zealand.

Rev. Williamson served for 47 years as a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), including the last 39 years in the Presbytery of the Dakotas. Throughout the years of his ministerial service, he nurtured a generation of Orthodox Presbyterians in their comprehension of and devotion to the doctrinal standards of our church.

He mentored the officers of our church toward a deeper appreciation of our Presbyterian way of life through his 14 years as editor of Ordained Servant. He ministered to our covenant youth in his labors as theological editor for Great Commission Publications and service on the Board of Trustees for 16 years. He served for 23 years on the Committee on Christian Education and the Subcommittee on Ministerial Training.

G. I. served for 17 years on the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations. He represented the Orthodox Presbyterian Church at meetings of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod and the International Conference of Reformed Churches, and he delivered ecclesiastical greetings to many of our sister churches throughout the United States and in many other countries.

Williamson carried on extensive correspondence over many years with servants of Christ all over the world. He is the author of numerous books, including study guides to the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the Heidelberg Catechism, several of which have been translated and published in other languages.

Give thanks to the Lord for his great grace, mercy, and love to his church in giving such a faithful servant of Christ and gifted minister of the gospel, who contended earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Pray that the Lord will comfort his family, and all who love him by his Spirit in our loss, with the words of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26); and “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

“As it is written: For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:36–39).

Funeral arrangements will be sent out as soon as they are finalized.

Rev. Archibald A. Allison is the Stated Clerk of the OPC Presbytery of the Dakotas.

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Obituary Source: G.I. Williamson, 97, Called Home to Glory (theaquilareport.com)

Photo Source: G.I. Williamson Author Biography – Banner of Truth USA