Obituary: The Rev. Theodore E. Wilde

The Rev. Theodore Edward (Ted) Wilde passed into the more immediate presence of the Savior, August 4, in Arlington, Mass., of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Vancouver, B.C. on August 16, 1938, to the Rev. Edward and Mrs. Margaret Weingarth Wilde.  Ted attended elementary school in North Dakota, high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and graduated summa cum laude from Moravian College (Bethlehem, Pa.) in 1960.  He continued studies at Moravian Theological Seminary; was a student pastor at the United Church, Linden, Guyana; and completed a Master of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary, in New York City.  Union is where he met Margaret Dickey, also studying for an M. Div., and they were married in 1964. 

During seminary, Ted served as supply pastor of the Trinity congregation, New Dorp Beach, Staten Island, N.Y.. He completed a M.A. degree in international relations at Yale University in 1967, and served as Director of Prince George County’s (Maryland) Community Action Agency. 

Ted was ordained a deacon November 26, 1973, in Barbados, Eastern West Indies, after working in Bridgetown, Barbados with Christian Action for Development in the Caribbean.

In August 1983, Ted began serving as Executive Director of the Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church (North America). From the start, he worked to expand the Moravian Church’s definition of “world” and of “mission.”  He accepted the call to become pastor at Prince of Peace Moravian Church, Miami, Fla., in August 1995, and retired from active service under call in 2001. 

A private burial service was held in Oxford, Pa. on August 25; a memorial service was held at Prince of Peace Moravian Church, Miami, Fla. on the same date. Ted is survived by his wife, Margaret, his son Parke, daughter Rachel and their families.