wfn.org | Tom Matheny, longtime Judicial Council leader, dead at 67

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Aug. 31, 2000	News media contact: Joretta Purdue·(202)546-8722·Washington
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By United Methodist News Service

Tom Matheny, 67, a longtime president of the United Methodist Judicial
Council - the church's equivalent of the Supreme Court -- died Aug. 31 in
Baton Rouge, La., after a lengthy illness.

Reminiscent of TV attorneys Perry Mason and the earlier Ironsides character
played by Raymond Burr, Matheny was a lawyer in Hammond, La. A tall man,
with abundant white hair, he spoke softly and was skilled in logic, debate
and persuasion. His accounts of an earlier experience or memorable moment
entertained many individuals and groups. 

A dedicated churchman, Matheny was lay leader in the Louisiana Annual
(regional) Conference for 17 years. He was elected to the Judicial Council
in 1972 and was re-elected at the end of each eight-year term. Officers are
elected every four years. He was elected president in 1976 and served six
terms ending this year.  

Before serving on the Judicial Council, Matheny had been a delegate to
General Conference, the denomination's highest legislative body, in 1968,
1970 and 1972. He was a delegate to the world conference of the National
Association of Conference Lay Leaders in London, 1966; Denver, 1971; Dublin,
1976; and Hawaii, 1981.

In an article published in 1973 by the Audenshaw Foundation, a British-based
nonprofit organization, Matheny wrote words about power in the church that
might be said today:

"In fact, many laymen - and clergy too - feel hopeless in the present
situation, because they feel powerless. They feel that they are not listened
to as church decisions are made on pronouncements, programs and the
commitment of funds. They feel completely ignored."

After observing that the power of leadership sometimes corrupts and that the
power of the purse is not stewardship but manipulation, Matheny went on to
say that the church has power to influence society but too often has stopped
with making pronouncements on important subjects such as race, peace and
war, the death penalty and women's rights. Power and influence, he said, are
to be used to fulfill the Christian commitment.

"A true leader is not one who can con people into doing what is best because
of his charismatic personality, but one who can lead the people to discover
for themselves what is best," he said. He urged the power structure of the
church to share decision-making with the laity, beginning at the local level
and working up.

"There is no real place in our churches for a large degree of secrecy," he
said. " ... I think that a good strong church conference can survive good,
strong controversy on the conference floor."

Matheny received his bachelor's degree from Southeastern Louisiana
University in 1954 and his law degree from Tulane University in 1957. His
honorary degrees included doctorates awarded by Centenary College, DePauw
University, Oklahoma City University and Southeastern Louisiana University.

In addition to belonging to several bar associations, Matheny gave time to
organizations supporting college scholarships, mental health, family and
marriage therapy, prison reform and legal aid. Related to his dedication to
the church was his interest in and support of higher education. 

He was a member of the faculty of Southeastern Louisiana University and Holy
Cross College. He also lectured at Union Theological Seminary, the Law
Science Academy and the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Matheny was recently a trustee of Centenary College, Iliff School of
Theology and the United Methodist Foundation for Christian Education and
formerly of American University and the former Scarritt College. He has been
president of the board of directors of the Wesley Foundation at Louisiana
State University and of the board of trustees of the Lallie Kemp Hospital
Foundation.

He was a member of the committee on conciliation and mediation of disputes
of the World Peace through Law center.

Survivors include his mother, Lorraine Hammond of Hammond, La.; a sister, Jo
Alice Barrett of Ohio; and a brother, John Matheny, also of Hammond.

Funeral services for Matheny are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at
First United Methodist Church in Hammond. 

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United Methodist News Service
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