Rev. Jonathan C. Nelson, 1958-2007

Jonathan Clarence Nelson was born on October 27, 1933 in St. Paul, MN, and died on July 24, 2011 at his Sand Lakes, MN, cabin. He was ordained as a Lutheran pastor and served Parishes in Olympia, WA, and Missoula, MT. He was a campus pastor at the University of Montana and the University of Washington, His last call was Central Lutheran Church in Seattle, WA, from which he was dismissed because his church was embarrassed by his involvement in the Trident submarine protest at Bangor, WA. Nelson is remembered as a leader in social justice and peace efforts. He did not hesitate to follow his words with actions, leading in some instances to multiple jail sentences for non-violent disobedience – the most notable example being the invasion of the Trident Submarine Base in Bangor, WA