CSU remembers trustee Dr. Bill Park

The Clarks Summit University family extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr. Bill Park, a longtime member of the CSU Board of Trustees, who passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Dr. Park was born on January 19, 1941. He married his wife Betty Jean on June 25, 1965, and together they had five children, Brenda (’91), Jamie (Latshaw, ’90), Karis (Gendreau, ’97), Joshua (’00) and Jared (’00), and a quiver full of beloved grandchildren.

The Parks have lived a life dedicated to Christian ministry. Over the years, they helped remodel and build Christ-centered camps in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. The camps provide a place for people of all ages to learn the truths of God’s Word and apply them to their lives. They also worked to help rescue and revive hurting churches that were without a pastor.

Dr. Park served as a senior pastor at High Point Baptist Chapel from 1960 to 2003. He also started High Point Camp and Conference Center and High Point Baptist Academy and planted churches in the USA and internationally.

In addition to his service as a CSU trustee, Dr. Park taught expository preaching at Baptist Bible Seminary in the 1990s. He worked as an adjunct professor for Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary, where he taught church planting and missions, trained pastors and led international mission trips.

Dr. Park was a general council member with Gospel Mission of South America from 2003 to 2012. He recruited new missionaries, helped in missionary training, encouraged the missionary team in South America, spoke at various mission functions and helped build and remodel Christ-centered camps in South America.

Over the years, Park was a faithful contributor to the CSU mission of training young people to go out and serve the Lord. He was specifically passionate about working to further the impact of Baptist Bible Seminary. Dr. Jim Lytle, university president, said, “Dr. Bill Park was not an alumnus of CSU, but when he joined the Board of Trustees, he adopted us. Bill was the biggest cheerleader on the board for Baptist Bible Seminary. Its programs, staffing and funding were always at the forefront of his creative mind.”

He continued, “Bill believed wholeheartedly in the power of God to change people. His consistent example of helping people to know Jesus and become like Him was powerfully motivating to me.”

Board Chairman Matt Calderon worked alongside Dr. Park on the Board of Trustees for many years. He said, “Throughout Bill Park’s longtime service as a CSU trustee, his love for preparing people to serve Christ throughout the world never waned. He was particularly interested in supporting the efforts of our seminary. With the heart of an evangelist, he also wanted to make sure our outward testimony to business partners and the community at large was impeccable. He was a straight shooter who did not mince his words, and he proactively shared salient information he came across to assist the board and the president in considering the best path forward.”

Calderon continued, “Aside from that, it is clear that he loved his wife, Betty Jean, and their children; he loved the ministries he was involved with; and he loved his Savior. He was a great example to all of us, and I will miss his presence and influence at our board meetings.”

John Greening, a longstanding board member who served with Park, said, “Bill was a strong advocate for the seminary. He cared deeply about seeing pastors and missionaries knowing and consistently communicating the Word of God.”

He continued, “He championed the church planting program as a practitioner who modeled church multiplication in his own ministry. He left his mark on many pastors through his personal mentoring. His voice and example on the board will be missed.”

On Sunday, December 3, from 3–5 p.m., all are welcome to attend a reception with refreshments at the High Point Camp Pavilion, 200 Chapel Rd., Geigertown, Pennsylvania. A celebration of life service will be held afterward at 6 p.m. at High Point Baptist Church. The service will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person.

Find more information here.