Presbyterian Minister Harry Reeder Dies in Car Accident

Remembering the Life and Ministry of Pastor Harry Reeder

A Legacy of Faith and Service

On Thursday morning, the Christian community mourned the unexpected loss of Pastor Harry Reeder, a beloved minister at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. At 75 years old, Reeder had dedicated his life to serving the Lord and spreading the gospel to all who would listen.

Reeder’s impact on the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) cannot be overstated. As a senior minister at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, he played a key role in the formation of the denomination and was widely regarded as a successor to the generation of southern ministers who led the departure from the theologically liberal Presbyterian Church USA.

A Life Cut Short

Tragically, Reeder’s life was cut short in a car accident on Thursday morning. He was pronounced dead on the scene after his vehicle collided with a dump truck that had stopped to make a turn. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, as well as three children and several grandchildren.

Despite the shock and sadness of his passing, the Christian community takes comfort in the knowledge that Reeder is now with his Savior. As Bruce Stallings, executive pastor at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, said in a statement posted on social media, “we do not grieve without hope because we know our pastor is with his Savior and has been received by grace with ‘Well done My good and faithful servant.’”

A Life of Service and Faithfulness

Reeder’s impact on the Christian community was profound, and his legacy will live on for generations to come. As Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote in an article for WORLD, “To know Harry Reeder was to know his infectious love for Christ and his passion to see the church reach out through evangelism and simultaneously influence the culture.”

Reeder’s commitment to the gospel and his love for the church were evident in everything he did. As Alabama Republican State Senator Dan Roberts, a ruling elder at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, recounted, “He loved to be a part of the presbytery and to spend time with other pastors at general assembly. Harry was committed to the regulative order of corporate worship. Harry loved the church as much as any pastor I’ve ever had the privilege to be around.”

A Life Remembered

As the Christian community mourns the loss of Pastor Harry Reeder, we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now with his Savior. We remember his life and ministry with gratitude and admiration, and we pray for his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

• Harry Reeder served as a pastor at Christ Covenant Church from 1983 to 1999
• He accepted a call to become senior minister at Briarwood Presbyterian Church
• The Presbyterian Church in America launched in 1973 from Briarwood Presbyterian Church
• Reeder was educated at Covenant College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Reformed Theological Seminary
• He had planned to lead a tour of Israel with Westminster students scheduled to depart next week

Reeder’s passing comes just one day before the death of another veteran PCA minister, Tim Keller, who served for decades at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Both men, beyond their zeal for the gospel and their labors in preaching and teaching, consistently served at their churches for decades and remained faithful to their families.

May we all strive to live lives of faithfulness and service, just as Pastor Harry Reeder did.

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