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Ralph Hamburger Collection of the Berlin Fellowship
CFT00024
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Title: Ralph Hamburger Collection of the Berlin Fellowship
Dates: 1950-2012
Collection Number: CFT00024
Creator/Collector:
Hamburger, Ralph (1922-2018)
h (1922-2018)
James, Walter E.
Extent: 6 Boxes, 2.29 linear feet
Repository:
Fuller Theological Seminary-David Allan Hubbard Library Archives
Pasadena, California 91182
Abstract: The Hamburger Collection of the Berlin Fellowship, 1950-2012 documents the history of a Christian work-camp program called
World Deputation, which gave birth to the Berlin Fellowship.
The collection consists of correspondence, minutes, team reports and other documents involved in the ministry. Copies of the
book Tumbling Walls by Walter James detailing the story of the Berlin Fellowship are also included. The collection also contains
correspondence between Walter James and Berlin pastor, Alfred Schroeder.
Language of Material: English
Supervised use only. Scholarly use within parameters of copyright law.
All rights reserved.
Ralph Hamburger Collection of the Berlin Fellowship. Fuller Theological Seminary-David Allan Hubbard Library Archives
Gift, c. 2003-2006 by Ralph Hamburger from California, USA.
Biography/Administrative History
During the Cold War (1947-1991), several Presbyterian churches in Southern California
developed a relationship with Protestant-Evangelical congregations in Berlin and East Germany,
in order to encourage them spiritually and materially as they recovered from the devastation of
WWII and experienced the challenge of an oppressive communist regime.
These relationships were an outgrowth of the World Deputation program (1950s) for short term
missions for youth begun at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, under the auspices of
the denomination’s Foreign and National Boards and the World Council of Churches, and later
joined by other congregations in the area.
The first team to go out, advised by Corrie ten Boom, was led by Louis Evans Jr. and included
Colleen Townsend, Ralph Hamburger and Walter James. Over the years, the program grew from
youth work-camps into a regular visitation ministry to East-Germany by pastors and lay people.
The group came to be known as the “Berlin Fellowship,” or BF. Berlin Fellowship ran from
1961-1996
Scope and Content of Collection
The Hamburger Collection of the Berlin Fellowship, 1950-2012 documents the history of a
Christian work-camp program called World Deputation, which gave birth to the Berlin
Fellowship.
The collection consists of correspondence, minutes, team reports and other documents involved
in the ministry. Copies of the book Tumbling Walls by Walter James detailing the story of the
Berlin Fellowship are also included. The collection also contains correspondence between Walter
James and Berlin pastor, Alfred Schroeder.
Materials directly related to Reverend Ralph Hamburger include his autobiographical sketch,
"Eternally Grateful," his correspondence with J.B. Phillips, and a talk he gave entitled “The
Extended Hand of God.”
Missions
Missionaries
Church organizations
James, Walter E. ( -- 2001)
Hamburger, Ralph (1923-2018)
Mears, Henrietta C. (Henrietta Cornelia)
Phillips, J.B. (--1982)
Hollywood Presbyterian Church (Hollywood, Calif.)
Berlin (Germany) -- Religion -- 20th century
Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) -- Religion