A SYMPOSIUM ON KEITH WATKINS: "CHRISTIANTHEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, INDIANAPOLIS: A HISTORY OF EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY"

Encounter, Autumn 2002

That the school would be socially as well as theologically progressive is described in Watkins's well-named chapter 8, "The Liveliest Place in the Area." And here I would like to add several anecdotal experiences of that period. I came to the faculty in 1965, the beginning of a remarkable decade. And indeed it was a "lively place." The Indianapolis establishment was ready for a new and ecumenical voice in the community, and community leaders were happy to speak here and serve on the Board of Trustees. One was Tom Binford, for many years the most trusted spokesman for that establishment. I recall his speaking in a community forum to a packed Common Room on "Who Runs Indianapolis and What Do They Get Out of It." Other speakers were Julia Carson and Virginia Blankenbaker, candidates for the state legislature. Richard Lugar joined our faculty at one of our weekly luncheons.

The Urban Intern program, as Watkins points out, was developed in cooperation with these leaders in the city. Bob Beckman from Mayor Lugar's staff joined us in inviting a group from the political and business communities to launch the program. For twenty hours a week, the students worked in their offices and met regularly on campus in an action-reflection seminar to study how issues of justice might be brought to the attention of influential decision-makers.

Protests against the war in Vietnam brought us face-to-face with the world out there. CTS became what I called a sanctuary. At least a dozen men enrolled as an alternative to the draft and all were superior students. Then there was Kent State, and when the seminary planned a commemorative response, President Norris got a call from the Indianapolis Police Department urging him to call it off, saying there would be plainclothesmen in the audience. They were unnoticed in the crowded auditorium. The seminary responded to the Louisiana State massacre with an outdoor public memorial service in the CTS courtyard. Twice Cassius Fenton and I went to court with CTS students who were detained because of their participation in peace demonstrations.

The presidential race of 1968 brought about the involvement of many of the faculty and students. Al Lowenstein, advance man for George McGovern, invited a small group from the community, including two seminary faculty, to explore with us the chances for a peace candidate in the city and state. Faculty and students were soon assisting McGovern's campaign offices in the Claypool Hotel. Robert Kennedy's late entry was resented by many who thought him opportunistic. But, when Kennedy campaigned in the city, he spoke to a full house in Shelton Auditorium. Noting an audience of clergy and students, he spoke of the contributions of churches to the movement for civil rights.

Race relations came to the seminary's doorstep. The faculty contributed to a fund to support Richard Hatcher in his race for mayor of Gary. When about thirty Shortridge students walked out of an assembly and sat on the steps singing freedom songs, the police were soon there and took them into custody. Dean Pellet opened the door and students came to CTS for tutoring until the charges were dropped. The students published a collection of their writings while at CTS. Our faculty unanimously petitioned the court to dismiss charges. A few days later, the "chief inspector" of the police department asked if he might talk with Richard Hudson, Rabbi Murray Saltzman, and me. We met with him in the rabbi's study where we were advised that the Black protest groups were pawns in a Communist plot.