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R E S O L U T I O N
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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 |
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earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in divinity from |
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Concordia Seminary, a master of sacred theology degree from the |
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Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and a doctoral degree from |
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the University of Chicago; ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran |
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Church in America, he served as a pastor in Washington, D.C., |
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Maryland, and Illinois before joining the faculty of the University |
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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 |
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scores of books and thousands of articles and lectures, he |
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championed the concept of public theology, exploring the |
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intersections of faith, culture, and society; Time magazine |
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characterized him as "the most influential living interpreter of |
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religion in the U.S."; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his wit and tremendous kindness, as well |
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as his towering intellect, Dr. Marty was a mentor to countless |
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students; with one of his protégés, he codirected a milestone in |
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religious scholarship, the six-year Fundamentalism Project, which |
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examined the role of conservative religious movements around the |
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world; its five volumes of case studies and analytical essays |
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became the standard works in comparative political religion; among |
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myriad accolades, he received the National Humanities Medal, the |
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Distinguished Service Medal of the Association of Theological |
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Schools, and 80 honorary doctorates; the American Academy of |
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Religion established the Martin E. Marty Award for the Public |
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Understanding of Religion, and upon his retirement in 1998, the |
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University of Chicago Divinity School renamed the research center |
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he founded as the Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding |
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of Religion; as the Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor |
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Emeritus of the History of Modern Christianity, he continued to |
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write a weekly column for the Marty Center's newsletter and speak to |
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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 |
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society, and his far-reaching legacy will continue to resonate in |
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the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of Pastor Dr. Martin E. Marty and |
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extend sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and all who |
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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 this |
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day, it do so in memory of Martin Marty. |