Christopher Dalton Berry

Rev. Christopher D. Berry, age 70, of Bellingham, WA, passed away at home, surrounded by family, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Chris was born in Fresno, CA on April 10, 1953, to Iris Bordwell and Doyle Berry.

A graduate of Selma Union High School, Chris continued his studies at Fresno State University where he also served as lay campus minister, sparking his passion for campus ministry. He then attended the University of Chicago and Wartburg Theological Seminary for graduate school.

Chris and Deenie, his wife of 46 years, met at the Lutheran Student Movement National Conference in 1976.

Chris began his work in parish ministry in Joliet, IL at Theodore Street Lutheran Church before moving to Grace Lutheran Church in Melbourne Beach, FL. In 1993 Chris accepted a call as the Lutheran Campus Pastor at the Shalom Center at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, where he served for 19 years. During that time, he also served as interim Pastor at several churches in and around Whatcom County. After leaving campus ministry, Chris served parishes in Sacramento, Oakland, Salt Lake City, Vancouver, and Boulder as an Intentional Interim Pastor.

Throughout his life and career, Chris held a passion for languages and translating ancient biblical texts, and he lectured and consulted at various universities and research centers around the world. His work included translations of Genesis 1-11 with an emphasis on the creation narratives, as well as examining the misuse of sacred texts to perpetuate sexism and violence against women in Western society, and oppression of LBGTQ+ communities.

Chris was most proud of his work as co-chair of the legislative team that advocated for policy changes in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) that allowed for full inclusion of LBGTQ+ clergy. Chris also worked with a number of organizations developing and implementing bullying prevention and violence prevention programs, prejudice reduction and community building programs, and conflict resolution programs that impacted thousands of participants across the country.

Through his sons, Chris became actively involved in the soccer community. Beginning as a referee, Chris became an assessor, instructor, and assignor. Over the years, Chris stepped back from actively refereeing and focused on assessing and mentoring. He had a passion for helping referees better themselves on and off the field and rise in their careers. Through his mentoring, Chris had an impact on countless referees around the country.

Chris had a passion for photography. During his later career, if he wasn’t in his office or on the soccer field, he could most likely be found on a trail somewhere in the southwest, finding and photographing ancient petroglyphs and pictographs. He was able to combine his love for hiking and backpacking with his passion for ancient cultures.

Chris also loved to fish, especially with his four sons. He built his own fishing rods and taught all his sons to tie the flies they used for fly fishing. Some of his fondest memories were fishing with his family at Trout River Lodge in Ontario or secluded on the river with one or two of his sons and grandchildren fly fishing.

Chris could never be found without either a book or his Kindle nearby. He was an avid reader and he tried to impart that passion in everyone he came across. From The Hobbit to books on Ancient Near East Philology, he always had at least one book in progress and another dozen lined up.

Chris is survived by his wife, Deenie; their four sons and their wives (who he considered his daughters): Jonathan (Jessica), Micah (Jessie), Jadon (Rachel), and Timon (Irisha); seven grandchildren, Rasul, Ezekiel, Kobie, Isaiah, Sunflower, Tommi, and Jack; his mother, Iris; his brother, Jeffrey; and sister, Katrina.

While Chris has left us physically, his spirit lives on in the hearts of everyone he impacted. Please join us as we celebrate Chris’ remarkable life on Friday, April 12th at 2:00p.m. at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Bellingham, WA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity ( https://rwi.wwu.edu/giving ), or ReconcilingWorks ( https://www.reconcilingworks.org/ ).