Christian Ethics: `Who`s Alive in `95?
Twenty years ago The Christian Century editors worked up a short list of innovative leaders in the religious world of that day. Calling it "Who`s Alive in `75?", the list was interesting, provocative, stimulating. The idea has commended itself again today, although along a somewhat different line. Inclined to pursue it but not disposed to be unethical about it, a phone call was made to find out whether or not they intended to use the rubric again this year when once again the rhyme fits. The response was that yes, they had thought about it but no, they had not followed through on it. We were welcome, they said, to use the idea with their blessing.
Asking, "In Christian ethics, who`s alive in `95?" has been a lively conversation-argument starter with a wide variety of knowledgeable, opinionated, and sometimes headstrong individuals. Not surprisingly, however, there was a good deal of general agreement as the list took shape. Many have contributed to the fashioning of the list of twelve men and women here presented. The hapless editor, however, takes full blame for glaring omissions that you may very well see the minute you survey the list. Take heart; we have only ten years to wait until another piece can be done on "Who`s Alive in 2005?" Or better yet, you can do your own list right now without waiting. In fact, we have some more in mind ourselves.
In the meantime, here are a dozen designated heavy hitters, doers of the word.
Jimmy Carter. "Global Pastor" was the title given a recent editorial which James Wall wrote in The Christian Centu7y about this Baptist deacon and Sunday School teacher. An ethically sensitive social and political and religious activist, this world citizen is a peacemaker, a justice server, a house builder, a conflict solver, a public health champion, a children lover, a hope purveyor, and by his words and deeds a shining exemplar of Christian ethics.
Bill Moyers. Conscience of America`s media, this towering moralist`s Christian roots keep producing ethical fruits so that in an age of unprecedented media influence and power, he stands tallest in that arena in exemplifying moral virtues and in championing ethical ideals.
Millard Fuller. Led by Clarence Jordan at Koinonia Farm near Americus, Georgia to get his life together in the Lord and in practical service to needy human beings he gave away a fortune and started Habitat for Humanity which he has led to be a significant force for good at home and abroad.
Marian Wright Edelman. She has shaped the Children`s Defense Fund into an influential national organization for helping needy children; and as the daughter of God-fearing parents (her father was a South Carolina Baptist pastor) she has held true to her personal values and ideals while projecting them effectively into the larger social arena where she significantly influences national social policy and legislation.
Everett Koop. This former Surgeon General of the United States has used his stalwart Christian convictions, his professional medical expertise, his uncompromising commitment to human values, and his informed concern for the health and general welfare of all Americans to maintain a powerful and persuasive voice for Christian social ethics.
Ron Sider. Peripatetic and apparently inexhaustible Christian ethics activist, this teacher-writer-organizer keeps prodding his Evangelical constituents to match their doctrine with doing both personally and in society at large.
Al Gore. This ethically sensitive public figure has maintained an informed and responsible sense of Christian stewardship and has been particularly active and influential in supporting environmental concerns while also responding to the drive of his Christian social conscience to reach out to the whole human family with a variety of Christian ethical concerns.
James Dunn. As an energetic and innovative Christian ethics activist, he has maintained an effective focus on religious liberty and its corollary, separation of church and state, while continuing to support a broad agenda of issues related to public righteousness through the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs which he has courageously steered through extraordinarily stormy seas.
Charles Colson. With a burning commitment to personal and social values firmly rooted in Jesus Christ as Lord, this Templeton Prize winner has maintained a clear and internationally respected primary emphasis on criminal justice so as to be compared in this arena to Wilberforce whose concentrated energies helped abolish the pernicious institution of human slavery.
Harvey Cox. Teaching at the Harvard Divinity School has been the base from which this theologian-writer-doer has communicated his now widely influential convictions about the relevance of the Christian gospel to the secular city, the here-and-now dimensions of the kingdom of God.
Ken Sehested Highly motivated and clearly focused champion of peace and justice, he has made the Peacemakers organization the major stackpole for Baptists who have heard the call of the Lord to make peace even though it sometimes means also making waves.
Tony Campolo. Who makes more noise for Christian ethics than this prophetic preacher and charismatic teacher who tirelessly disturbs the status quo and vigorously rocks the boat for those who would much rather be left at ease in Zion? He consistently forthtells a relevant gospel that makes an impressive contribution on many Christian ethics fronts.
There you have it. And now we know why our friends at The Christian Century never undertook this task again after doing something like it 20 years ago. This list is too short. If it were extended as much as it ought to be, it would be too long. Let us hope that somebody will screw his courage to the sticking place and, in due time, allow as to "Who`s Alive in 2005?"
