Ronald J. Sider

Ronald James Sider, 82, of Lansdale, PA, passed away on July 27, 2022 from cardiac arrest. He was predeceased by his parents, James and Ida Sider. He is survived by his wife, Arbutus Sider; his son, Ted Sider, married to Jill North; his son, Michael Sider-Rose, married to Randi Sider-Rose; his daughter, Sonya Smith, married to Ben Smith; and his seven grandchildren.

Born on a small farm outside Stevensville, Ontario, Ron grew up in a tightly-knit, rural Brethren-in-Christ community. The first in his family to attend college, he then went to graduate school at Yale University, studying church history with the renowned scholar, Jaroslav Pelikan. After earning a PhD, he first taught at Messiah College, helping to launch a new urban campus, and then at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University. He also founded Evangelicals for Social Action (now Christians for Social Action), published numerous books, and spoke around the world.

But what he would most want to be remembered for is this: He tried to follow Jesus.

He read Jesus' teachings on laying your treasure in heaven and wrote a book called Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger . He read Jesus' teachings on loving enemies and founded the Christian Peacemaker Teams. He read Jesus' teachings on body & soul and wove together evangelism and social justice in everything he did. And he believed, in his core, that Jesus rose from the dead—and that that made all the difference.


He prayed—scribbling a record of petitions in a notebook only he and God could read. He followed Christ with his mind, reading widely, debating fiercely, and listening for what he might have missed. He formed firm convictions, and put most to pen, but often spoke of his finitude—he was one person, at one moment in time, in one place, seeing dimly.


He loved deeply—his parents, his siblings, his children, and especially his wife. Married one month shy of 61 years, he spent part of the last hour of his life holding his wife, Arbutus, while they both sat in his favorite chair at home.


He embodied integrity. He made the city his home. He got his clothes from thrift stores, lived in a patched-up duplex, and drove old cars. For years, he heated his house with a hand-me-down stove fueled by fallen branches he dragged from the neighborhood park. He was the only one on the block with a chainsaw.

And he delighted in the goodness of life. He turned speaking engagements into cross-country family camping trips. He stole away for fishing trips. He loved sports and a hand of bridge—especially when he won. And the kitchen was always stocked with ice cream and Miracle Whip, which he ate by the gallons.

Ron Sider died on July 27, 2022—in the hope of the resurrection, that in Christ all shall be made alive. Amen.


A public memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 28th, 3:00PM at Plains Mennonite Church,  50 W Orvilla Rd, Hatfield, PA 19440. If you are unable to attend in person, you may view the service at the following Youtube link: https://youtu.be/Kl39G8u5z1Y

Arrangements are by the Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Lansdale.