David Augsburger
David W. Augsburger was an American Mennonite pastor, author, theologian, counselor, and educator, known for his influential work in pastoral care, cross-cultural counseling, and conflict mediation.
Early life and education
Born in Delphos, Ohio, and raised on a farm in Elida, he was the youngest of six children. His parents were Clarence and Estella Augsburger. He earned degrees from Eastern Mennonite College and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and completed a Ph.D. in Personality, Theology, and Psychotherapy at Claremont School of Theology in 1974.Career
Augsburger began his career with Mennonite Broadcasts, where he hosted the Mennonite Hour radio program and sang with the Mennonite Hour Quartet. He was ordained in 1963 and served as pastor of Trissels Mennonite Church in Virginia until 1971. He later held faculty positions at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary, where he taught pastoral counseling from 1990 until his retirement in 2012.Throughout his career, Augsburger led workshops worldwide on reconciliation, forgiveness, cross-cultural conflict, and interpersonal relationships. His major publications include Caring Enough to Confront, Conflict Mediation Across Cultures, The Freedom of Forgiveness, Dissident Discipleship, and Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures. His Caring Enough series remains widely used in counseling and ministry settings.
A devoted pacifist and peacemaker, Augsburger was known for his compassion, deep listening, and ability to confront injustice with grace. He co-pastored Peace Mennonite Fellowship in Claremont, California for many years until his death. Augsburger was a minister of the Mennonite Church and a diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
Personal life and death
Augsburger was married to Leann Elrich Augsburger Augsburger, and had three children. His brother Myron was a prominent Mennonite Church author, evangelist, and theologian. Augsburger died at home in Claremont, California on October 30, 2023, at age 85.Legacy
Throughout his career, Augsburger was widely quoted in the media on a variety of topics related to spirituality and pastoral care. He was often cited for his memorable quote about the importance of listening in a relationship: "Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable."Selected publications
Caring Enough to Confront:How to Understand and Express Your Deepest Feelings Toward OthersThe Freedom of ForgivenessCaring Enough to Forgive—Caring Enough Not to ForgiveCaring Enough to Hear and Be Heard: How to Hear and How to Be Heard in Equal CommunicationConflict Mediation Across CulturesDissident Discipleship: A Spirituality of Self-Surrender, Love of God, and Love of NeighborPastoral Counseling Across CulturesWhen Caring Is Not Enough: Resolving Conflicts Through Fair FightingHelping People ForgiveWhen Enough Is Enough Anger and Assertiveness in Pastoral CareThe New Freedom of ForgivenessBe All You Can BeCherishable: love and MarriageHate-Work: Working Through the Pain and Pleasures of HateCommunicating Good NewsHow Dare You be a Pessimist!So What? Everybody's Doing itSustaining Love: Healing & Growth in the Passages of MarriageMan, Am I Uptight!Life or LimboBeyond AssertivenessA Risk Worth TakingWitness is Withness: More Showing Than TellingFrom Here to Maturity- ''Sustaining Love''