It would not be unusual to hear of a deacon in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church who aspired to the office of elder, but less often do we encounter a man who desires to switch office in the opposite direction. Yet, that is exactly what Len Miller wanted to do. The session of his church heard more than once this elder's wish to be allowed to serve as a deacon, and that shows something of the measure of the man. Regularly denying his request, his fellow elders understandably did not want to lose him from the session.

Dr. Leonard E. Miller, beloved husband of Frannie and father of Tom, Bess, Tim, and Jonathan, died of an apparent heart attack while at work on June 7, 2006, at the age of sixty-four. He was a member of Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland, for over thirty-seven years. He served as ruling elder in that congregation for thirty-two years, as clerk of its session for fifteen years, and, most recently, as clerk of the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic. Len would have been the first to insist that he served his Savior and Lord imperfectly in these and other capacities, but his colleagues would be equally quick to testify that he served faithfully and well.

As husband, father, churchman, engineer (he coauthored CDMA Systems Engineering Handbook, an important text on wireless communications technology), and friend, he is remembered with love and deserved admiration. But outstanding, in the mind of this writer, was Len Miller's servant heart and hand. Although eminently qualified to rule, teach, and lead in the church of Christ, it was still his first desire to take up the basin and towel. And take them up he did, even without being given the formal acknowledgement of that office.

Mr. Tyson is a retired OPC minister. Reprinted from New Horizons, August/September 2006.