10 notable Christian leaders, influencers who died in 2025
Clifton Kirkpatrick – Jan. 18
Clifton Kirkpatrick, a former stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and head of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, died at the age of 79.
A native of Harlingen, Texas, Kirkpatrick held positions in other Christian organizations, including the Dallas Council of Churches, the Fort Worth Council of Churches, the Houston Metropolitan Ministries and the World Council of Churches.
Kirkpatrick was elected president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which later changed its name to the World Communion of Reformed Churches, in 2004, serving until 2010.
In a statement, WCRC Interim General Secretary Setri Nyomi said Kirkpatrick was “a dear friend whose leadership and pastoral gifts were very inspirational in my ministry and ecumenical engagement.”
“We met for the first time in 1996 when the small team commissioned by WARC to put together the document ‘Reformed Self-Understanding’ met in Louisville,” said Nyomi.
“We were warmly welcomed by the then new stated clerk of the PCUSA. That was before my time as general secretary of WARC. Since then, Cliff made a mark on me. I saw him as an insightful theologian and ecumenical leader committed to justice.”
