NAPLES, FLORIDA; The Reverend Doctor William Burton Lawson, a resident of Naples, Florida and Upton, Massachusetts died on August 25, 2011.
Dr. Lawson was born on October 14, 1930 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lawrence and Mabel Lund Lawson.
He was ordained an Episcopal Priest in 1955. Dr. Lawson served parishes in Duluth, Minnesota; Bloomfield, Connecticut; Natick, Massachusetts and Lynn, Massachusetts. In retirement, he served as the interim Rector at St. Andrew’s, Framingham, Massachusetts. HE was a member of the Natick Rotary and the Yale Club.
Dr. Lawson received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota. He also received a Masters of Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Yale Divinity School for his work in ecumenism. He was a member of the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations of the National Episcopal Church, and a member of the Anglican Roman Catholic Dialogue. He was a delegate from the Episcopal Church to the National Council of Churches. He was also involved in the forming of the Lutheran Episcopal Dialogue that was finalized thereafter. He was a guest of Pope John II for six weeks, along with 12 other leaders of the Episcopal Church to discuss the future of Anglican Roman Catholic Relations at the Vatican.
Dr. Lawson was the founder of the United Parish of Natick, an innovative experiment in parish ministry involving the Episcopal, Congregational, Baptist and Lutheran Churches. In Naples, Florida he was instrumental in the founding of an ecumenical seminary that provided theological education to the community.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Grace Dickson Lawson, his son, William L. Lawson and his wife Jill of Upton, four grandchildren, Brooke of Amelia Island, Florida, Jacqueline, Brett and Spencer all of Upton, one brother Thomas Lawson of Falmouth, six nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Baxter Lawson in 1991.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, August 29, 2011 at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 39 East Central Street (Route 135), Natick, MA 01760.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Dr. Lawson’s memory may be sent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland,