The Rest of the Story
The Rest of the Story
In 1995 Foy Valentine developed a grand plan—a Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University. His vision combined three vital elements—a Journal of Christian Ethics, a Center for conferences and research, and a Director who would also teach Christian ethics at the new Truett Seminary.*
Foy named the journal Christian Ethics Today (CET) and began publishing it out of his own home, sending the first issue to a few hundred of his friends. By 1998, readership had grown to almost 2000, and plans for the Center at Baylor were developed and submitted to President Sloan of Baylor and the Regents.
The struggle began. First, the Baylor president wanted Truett to be a European-type seminary—small (no more than 100 students) and one that taught ethics as a part of theology—mainly theological ethics. (James McClendon derided this approach noting ethics “is always left until the last, and then usually left out!”). In addition, Foy was told some regents had read an article in CET which questioned the “free market system,” and they wanted Baylor to have no such publication on their campus.
Foy was frustrated. Yet, being a “practical-minded politician,” he decided half-a-loaf was his only choice, and so the Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor was born. Today it holds conferences, publishes a journal, and has a notable staff—however, the director teaches philosophy at the university—Truett still does not have a Christian ethics teacher, though it has grown much larger than originally planned!**
The directors of the Journal decided to continue publishing CET as an independent voice for Christian ethics by dissolving the former entity, electing a new Board of Directors, and finding a new editor.
I was in transition after early departure from the Baptist seminary in New Orleans (where I had taught Christian ethics for 15 years)—the first Board had interviewed me about the initial position that was nullified by Baylor leaders. I gladly accepted the new position.
It is important to note here (as is printed on the back page of every issue), that Foy insisted from the beginning that the Journal “should be sent free of charge to anyone requesting it” and continued “as long as money and energy permit” (can you see Foy’s wry smile as he adds this last phrase?).
The new Board wondered how long this unique arrangement would last. Yet, the early 2000 readers have grown this past decade to 6000 plus. Although most are unable to support the journal financially, about 900 readers each year give about $25-50, with a few dozen who are financially blessed able to give $500 to $1000, and a few a bit more.
Other publishers, struggling to survive, are amazed that CET has been able to not only continue to publish, but grow in numbers. Foy’s vision was not a pipe-dream!
NOW THE REST OF THE STORY. Was it providential that Foy’s original idea was nullified by Baylor officials back in the 90s? How often do we later look back at events and realize God was more in control than we realized?
My point: imagine with the present group of Baylor Regents and the new Baylor president, how severely restricted CET would be if we operated there under the control of the present Baylor administration. (My guess would be that many, perhaps most, of the articles (and certainly the editorials!) would never see the light of day!
So, despite the difficulties, the voice and vision of Foy Valentine lives on through this publication. It is indeed, as the Scripture he chose for the masthead reads, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’. (Isa 40:3; Jn 1:23)”
Now my personal pitch. If you are able to join this band of about 900 of our readers, to enable thousands of laity, ministers, educators, students, and educational institutions to receive Christian Ethics Today, any gift will be deeply appreciated. But, as I always say, our main goal is readers—not gifts.
Spread the word about CET. You, our readers, are our best advertisement!
Joe E. Trull, Editor Fisher Humphreys, Ch. Board of Directors
P.S. Remember for any gift of $50 or more we would like to offer our latest reprint—Calvin Miller’s classic work, The Philippian Fragment–or any of our previously published works: Maston’s Why Live the Christian Life?, Valentine’s Whatsoever Things Are Lovely, Minister & Politics Conference (Audio or Video), Issues 1-50 CD-ROM, and the Trull’s Putting Women In Their Place..
*Although to date Truett Seminary does not have a Christian ethics professor or even one course in their curriculum, the endowment fund for the Foy Valentine Chair of Christian Ethics at Truett has reached $800,000—only $200,000 short of a professorship and $700,000 from an endowed chair.
**A Christian ethics teacher was listed as the “Number One Priority” of a list of ten presented to a BGCT Committee (of which the editor was a member) a decade ago, if the Texas Baptists would increase funding to Truett Seminary. The convention did so, but the promise was never kept.
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