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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 710
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In Memory |
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of |
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Martin Marty |
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WHEREAS, Renowned theologian and religious historian Martin |
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E. Marty passed away on February 25, 2025, at the age of 97; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Emil and Anne Louise Marty, Martin Emil |
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Marty was born in West Point, Nebraska, on February 5, 1928; he earned |
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his bachelor's and master's degrees in divinity from Concordia |
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Seminary, a master of sacred theology degree from the Lutheran School |
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of Theology at Chicago, and a doctoral degree from the University of |
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Chicago; ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he |
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served as a pastor in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Illinois before |
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joining the faculty of the University of Chicago Divinity School; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Marty's academic career was marked by both |
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rigorous inquiry and extensive outreach to a wider audience; in scores |
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of books and thousands of articles and lectures, he championed the |
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concept of public theology, exploring the intersections of faith, |
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culture, and society; Time magazine characterized him as "the most |
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influential living interpreter of religion in the U.S."; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his wit and tremendous kindness, as well as |
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his towering intellect, Dr. Marty was a mentor to countless students; |
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with one of his protégés, he codirected a milestone in religious |
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scholarship, the six-year Fundamentalism Project, which examined the |
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role of conservative religious movements around the world; its five |
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volumes of case studies and analytical essays became the standard |
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works in comparative political religion; among myriad accolades, he |
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received the National Humanities Medal, the Distinguished Service |
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Medal of the Association of Theological Schools, and 80 honorary |
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doctorates; the American Academy of Religion established the Martin |
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E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion, and upon his |
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retirement in 1998, the University of Chicago Divinity School renamed |
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the research center he founded as the Martin Marty Center for the |
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Public Understanding of Religion; as the Fairfax M. Cone |
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Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of the History of Modern |
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Christianity, he continued to write a weekly column for the Marty |
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Center's newsletter and speak to the public and the media; and |
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WHEREAS, Martin Marty influenced generations of scholars and |
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helped shape the public discourse on religion and its role in society, |
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and his far-reaching legacy will continue to resonate in the years to |
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come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Pastor Dr. Martin E. |
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Marty and extend sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and |
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all who mourn his passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns |
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this day, it do so in memory of Martin Marty. |
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Hughes |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on June 1, 2025, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |