The close of 2024 saw the loss of some esteemed figures in our field and in our world who will be sorely missed. We'd like to take some time today to honor their life and legacy.
Jimmy Carter passed on December 29 at the age of 100, making him the longest-lived U.S. president in history. He served as Head of State from 1977-1981. I actually attended Jimmy Carter's inauguration in January 1977. I was 5 years old, and I carried a giant, inflatable porpoise far larger than my small self, named Smiley. We were pressed right up against the barricades beneath the podium, and I could see his face clearly. And in it, I saw Hope. So, aware of the pain and struggle in the world even at an early age, in his face, in his smile, I saw goodness and light and Hope for a different future with someone who I could see and feel actually cared about even a small child like me. I remember his smile well, and I've always wondered if he ever glanced down that day and saw a small girl holding a large green sea creature, smiling back up at him.
His environmental concern and work, both during his presidency and far beyond, has left a lasting legacy. This included many key pieces of early environmental protection legislation, the first bills that required fuel standards on cars, the clean up of toxic waste sites, and massive expansion of the National Park System. Even though much of what he enacted was reversed during the Reagan administration, it had legitimized these ecological concerns and helped lay groundwork for environmental discussions for decades to come. This NPR article provides a look at how his position on the environment paved the way for the climate policies of today, and this short video gives a brief overview of his concern for the environment:
Though he made some headway on the issues during his tenure in the presidential office, in his post-presidential period he truly made a tremendous impact on our world. A shining example of what an elder statesperson can accomplish, the 33 years after his presidency were devoted to peace and humanitarian work, involment in key diplomacy issues, support for and work with Habitat for Humanity, and championing of women's rights, among many other important issues. This plenary panel titled “The Role of Religion: Climate Change and Equality for Women: from the 2014 American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting addresses some of these key concerns. In it, Carter is interviewed by our own Mary Evelyn Tucker and Steven Kepnes of Colgate University:
Carter has always been, and will always remain a symbol of Hope and light for me.
John B. Cobb passed on December 26 at the age of 99. He was a theologian who taught for many years at Claremont University, and most know him for his decades of work on Whiteheadian process thought and theology. Our founders and directors, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim offer these reflections of him:
He founded, or was involved in the founding of: The Center for Process Studies; Progressive Christians Uniting; Institute for the Postmodern Development of China; Process Century Press; Pando Populus; the Institute for Ecological Civilization; and the Claremont Institute for Process Studies; and The Cobb Institute. He was indeed prolific. He authored and edited dozens of volumes, including the seminal works Is It Too Late? A Theology of Ecology and For the Common Good: Redirecting the Economy Toward Community, Environment, and a Sustainable Future, as well as Sustainability: Economics, Ecology, and Justice, part of the Orbis “Ecology and Justice” series. For an overview of his life and work, watch this episode of Homebrewed Christianity, where Tripp Fuller is in conversation with Cobb's close colleague, Philip Clayton, about his life and legacy:
His work on Ecological Civilization was particularly inspiring and of interest to us here at the Forum. He authored and edited many volumes in the Process Century Press “Toward Ecological Civilization” series. See this panel on “Becoming an Ecological Civilization: Visions to Generate Transformation” from last May, featuring Cobb. You'll find more videos of him in our Ecological Civilization multimedia section.
Though I cannot claim to know the mind or heart of either man, what seems evident by how they lived their lives is that they both truly cared about making the world a more kind, just, and mutually-flourishing place in which to live. And neither man ever gave up on the world, no matter what ugliness came forth from it. The faults and flaws of humanity and society only seemed to fuel their fire to find a better way to live and be and flourish together. They were–and continue to be–a shining example of our theme for 2025: Beacons of Light. I know I will be thinking of both of them in the months and years to come. When things seem bleak, and I want to give up on it all, I will try my best to ask: what would Carter and Cobb do? And I will do my best to keep loving and embracing the world, as they did. We honor and offer up our gratitude for their work, their commitment, their legacy, and their lives.