My first CPE was at Georgia Regional Hospital, Atlanta, with Jasper N. Keith and Wm. R. Phillips. "Jap" was a Baptist, but became a Presbyterian and taught at Columbia Theological Seminary. Bill had completed a Th.M. there. At the time, Thomas McDill was the Professor of Pastoral Care. Sometime early in my training, which later included John Patton, O.L. (Zeke) DeLozier, Cal Kropp and J.D. Chelette, Dr. Oates visited Columbia Seminary for a series of lectures.

I think I will always remember how he described his wife as the "guardian of my solitude" who enabled him to write. Then there was his first sermon in a psychiatric setting:

I wanted to preach something meaningful, but which would not 'put anyone over the edge.' Finally I decided to preach on how parents should love their children and do good things for them.

It seemed to be going pretty well, and I was on the home stretch, having decided I was going to make it when a woman stood up in the back of the congregation, "That's all very well and good, what you're saying, preacher, but what if you just ain't got it in you to do that?"

As I stood there, trying to figure out how I was going to recover this and go on, I realized that she had put her finger not only on the weak point in this sermon, but generally the weak point in most sermons, "How do you do what you agree that you ought to do when you just don't 'have it in you to do it"?

About that time, the woman sitting next to the questioner, reached over, tugged decisively at her skirt and said: "Sit down, you damn fool, or we'll never get out of here!" She never said whether she meant the service or the hospital, but I finished my sermon.

He shared that there had at some point been labor unrest, and the management of the thread mills had wanted to bring in machine guns to be mounted on the roofs of the factories to be sure that no rioting or damage of their facilities occurrred.

He explained carefully how, even though it might be objectively inaccurate, people who feel oppressed and desparate feel they have nothing to lose, and may engage in destructive acts out of frustration, anger and rage. "Desparate people are dangerous because they feel they have nothing to lose, no matter what happens." It helped me understand the destruction during "race riots" and other civil disturbances of the 60's and 70's and since.

I appreciated what I perceived as his penetrating analysis, his warmth of spirit, and his willingness to share in a vulnerable fashion.

During this past year, after one of his son's died, even though I knew Dr. Oates only at a distance through this visit to Columbia Theological Seminary many years ago, I wrote him a brief note of condolence. I was touched to receive back a note, and even more touched when I opened it to discover it was a hand-written note from him, remembering not only his son but his visit to Columbia. What a kind, decent, loving, gentle man.

I give thanks for his life and work and pray for comfort for his family in the loss of the ability to have him bodily in relationship. He spirit will continue to inspire many for years to come.