Wilfred Bockelman

A passion for writing and a desire to serve the church started Wilfred Bockelman on a career that covers 44 years and five continents as a clergyman and writer – combining both talents to become a leader in the areas of business ethics and corporate social responsibility. After graduating from the seminary in 1945, Bockelman served as pastor of two American Lutheran Church congregations in Wooster, Ohio. Two years later he decided to return to school, this time to Columbia University to earn a master’s degree in journalism. He then worked as a writer and editor for the Lutheran Standard. This turned into a 38-year endeavor that sent him to Europe, Africa, Asia, Central America and New Guinea, reporting on various religious and missionary events. While these ventures kept him busy, he still found time to edit his own newsletter, The Eye of the Needle, an independent monthly that focuses on the responsible uses of wealth, power and position. He was commissioned by the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility to write a book titled Culture of Corporate Citizenship, which was published in 2001. He currently is working on another book, On the 8th Day God Created Money – The Interaction of Theology and Business. Bockelman also created a monologue presentation, “Tapestry,” which outlines the work of the church. He has presented this 88 times in 22 different states.