Eric Sandell 1887-1889

Transition Dean 

Eric Sandell played a critical role in overseeing a major institutional transition time. He helped Bethel move from the failed relocation to Stromsberg, Neb., back to its previous home in Chicago. He also was the transition figure between John Alexis Edgren, who founded the seminary and served as dean for 17 years, to Carl Lagergren, who was to serve Bethel as dean for 33 years.

Eric Sandell, like all the early leaders of the seminary, was born in Sweden. He came to the United States as a young man of 24 who had been a Christian believer for only one year. The fervor of the Swedish Christians in Moline, Ill., led him to commit himself to become a minister. He enrolled in the Swedish seminary that was part of the Baptist Union Seminary in Chicago, and in just a few years, at the age of 28, he graduated. He became pastor of the Second Swedish Baptist Church of Chicago in 1884.

In 1887, at age 32, Sandell left his church to become an instructor in the seminary and to serve as its transition dean. After Lagergren became dean two years later, Sandell continued to teach at the seminary until 1895.

Sandell was known for his careful thinking and his clear presentations. “In debate, few were his equal,” said Adolph Olson in his history of the seminary (Olson and Olson, p. 40). “He debated so famously against the Lutherans on the baptismal question, that in admiration of their opponent’s abilities, they conferred a D.D. upon him from Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, 1902.”

In 1895, after eight years at the seminary, Sandell resigned to become the pastor of Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis. From there he moved to the Fourth Swedish Baptist Church in Chicago before returning to the seminary a second time in 1907, where he taught until his death in 1918. Altogether he was dean for two years and a seminary instructor for 17 years.