Urantia pioneer
Emma Louise Christensen was born on January 29 1890 in Gem Township,
Brown County, South Dakota, the sixth of eight children born to Neils
and Thora Rosalie Nana Bald Christensen. She attended high school in
Aberdeen, South Dakota. Her friends affectionately called her
"Christy." Her university studies in English included Carleton College,
Northfield, Minnesota, and the University Minnesota at St. Paul. She
worked for two years as office manager of the United States Bureau of
the Comptroller of the Currency at the Minneapolis office. She
transferred to the Chicago office where she was Office Manager of the
National Bank Examiners of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank Seventh
District for 28 years until her retirement. Emma L Christiansen came to the City of Chicago in November 1922. Through an automobile accident in a taxicab she because acquainted with Drs William and Lena Sadler during her hospital care in July 1923. Though not formally adopted she became an accepted a member of the family; once she identified herself to an inquirer as their "foster daughter." On 22 Sep 1928, at 38 years of age, Christy traveled with the Sadlers and their son Bill to Europe where Dr Lena Sadler was doing post graduate work in Paris. In the 1930 census, Christy lived at 288 Surf Street, Chicago, eventually moving into the Sadler residence until her death. She faithfully took care of Dr William Sadler in the last years of his life in which he suffered four heart attacks.
Christy was a member of the Contact Commission and mostly notably helped in preparing the Urantia papers for publication by typing the manuscripts for publishing and in helping with proofreading for the first printing and subsequent printings in spite of the rapid change in printing technology during these early years.
Christy was one of the founding Trustees of Urantia Foundation in 1950 and appointed Secretary. She retired in 1971 to the position of Trustee Emeritus, while continuing as Secretary until her death. She was a founding member of the General Council of the Urantia Brotherhood,1955. She served as Chair of the Miscellaneous Activities Committee 1955 to 1963, member of the Education Committee 1969 to 1976, President from 1963 to 1967, April 1973 to August 1973; and Vice President 1967 to April 1972, August 1973 to May 1982. She was also active in the local society serving as President, Vice President, Membership Chair, and Program Chair. In honor of her service she received the VAN award, the Brotherhood’s highest honor.
Dr Sprunger described Christy in this way "She was a true and loving friend to all of us; a warm, loving, and supportive person; a peacemaker and unifier. She had sound, balanced judgment and wisdom; she was a loyal and dedicated worker; and she had a joyful, radiant personality."
Through her letters and words she spoke encouragingly to new and old readers alike. "You who hear this message are the men and women who have been called to take the first steps in offering the new light to a frustrated church and a distracted world. You are the salt of the Urantia revelation, the first light to illuminate the path of deliverance from the chaos, confusion, and darkness of the present planetary dilemma."
"May you all become valiant soldiers of the
circles—wholeheartedly enlisted in the solid ranks of those mortals who
shall go forth in this coming battle for truth against error under the
unfaltering leadership of the might Seraphim of Progress." Christy enjoyed robust health and a life of vitality right up until her last days. She passed away in 02 May 1982. Her memorial service was conducted by Rev Meredith Sprunger on 22 May 1982 at the Union League Club in Chicago.
Sources:
* United States Census Year: 1920; Census Place: Minneapolis Ward 8, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: T625_836; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 168; Image: 417
* United States Census Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 485; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 1618; Image: 597.0.
* Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1928; Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_4347; Line: 25
* South Dakota Births, 1856-1903 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2003. Original data: South Dakota Department of Health. South Dakota Birth Records With Birth Dates Over 100 Years. South Dakota Department of Health
* History of the Urantia Movement, Marian Rowley, 1960, Urantia Brotherhood, Chicago, IL
* Urantia Brotherhood Bulletin "Emma L Christensen 1890—1982, The Torch is Passed." Spring 1982; Vol 2 No 19, @1982 Urantia Brotherhood, Chicago, IL