The Rev. Dr. William W. “Bill” Menzies, 80, longtime Assemblies of God educator, went to be with the Lord on Aug.15, 2011, in Springfield, Mo., following a three-month illness.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; his father and mother William E. and Sophie B. Menzies; a brother Dr. Paul Menzies; and sister, Grace Swartzel. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Glen and Donna Menzies of Minnetonka, Minn., and Dr. Robert and Joanne Menzies of Kunming, China, as well as by four grandchildren: Samuel and Lucas Menzies of Wheaton, Ill., and Minnetonka, Minn., respectively, and Jessica and Sarah Menzies of Springfield, Mo. Bill loved family gatherings, and he was an avid fisherman and camper.
For more than 50 years, Bill served as a professor and administrator at the college and graduate school level. He taught at Central Bible College (1958-1970), Evangel University (1970-1980), and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (1980-1983). After serving as Interim President at the Far East Advanced School of Theology in Manila (1984-1985) and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at California Theological Seminary in Fresno, Calif. (1985-1987), he served as President of Asia Pacific Theological Seminary in Baguio City, Philippines (1989-1996). From 1996 until his death he served as President Emeritus and Chancellor of APTS. Although he excelled in the classroom, Bill’s students remember him as much for his encouragement and wise guidance as for his teaching.
In 1970 Bill, along with Vinson Synan and Horace Ward, organized the Society for Pentecostal Studies, an academic society that regularly attracts hundreds of scholars to its annual meetings. Bill served as the first president of SPS and the first editor of its journal, Pneuma.
Bill earned a BA in Bible from Central Bible College (1952) and a second BA and an MA in Theology from Wheaton College (1953, 1957). While studying at Wheaton, Bill met Doris Dresselhaus whom he married in 1955. At Doris’ passing on May 28, 2011, they had been married for nearly 56 years.
In 1968 Bill earned a Ph.D. in American Church History from the University of Iowa. His Ph.D. dissertation formed the basis of his influential history of the Assemblies of God, Anointed to Serve.
An ordained minister of the Assemblies of God for 55 years, Bill was the author of nine books and dozens of articles. In addition, a Festschrift, Pentecostalism in Context, was written in his honor. He spoke at many international conferences and consultations. Yet Bill will be remembered, above of all, as one who had a missionary’s heart. After spending many summers teaching in Bible schools across Asia, he and Doris moved to the Philippines where they served as missionaries from 1989-1996. Bill’s kind and compassionate spirit endeared him to students and colleagues around the world.
Although Bill traveled the world, Springfield was his home and Central Assembly of God was his home church. He and Doris were members there for more than half a century.
In place of flowers, friends may wish to send memorials to either North Central University, 910 Elliot Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404, or to the China Training Network, 2087 S. Celebration, Springfield, MO 65809. Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at Greenlawn, North in Springfield. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Central Assembly of God, 1301 N. Boonville, Springfield.