Tom Matheny, longtime Judicial Council leader, dead at 67
8/31/2000
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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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