We have received the sad news that Lonnie Valentine passed away on June 19, 2023. Lonnie was a member of FAHE, served on the Executive Committee in the past, presented frequently at our conferences and helped organize them when hosted by Earlham, and was editing the Quakers and Future of Peacemaking volume of our Quakers in the Disciplines book series. Here is further information from the Earlham School of Religion, where he was Professor Emeritus of Peace and Justice Studies:
Submitted by April Vanlonden (ESR Class of ’04 and Joint Seminaries Registrar – Earlham School of Religion):
With hearts broken that carry an abiding sense of gratitude, the Earlham School of Religion (ESR) community shares the passing of Professor Emeriti of Peace and Justice Studies, Lonnie Valentine, on June 19, 2023, during treatment for Primary Cerebral Lymphoma. Lonnie retired from ESR at the close of the 2021‐22 academic school year.
Lonnie earned a B.A. from Raymond College, University of the Pacific in 1970, a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion, University of California, Irvine in 1975, an M.S. from Loyola College, an M.A. in Religion from Earlham School of Religion in 1983, and a PhD in Constructive Theology from Emory University in 1989.
Lonnie returned to teach at ESR in 1989 and was part of the creation of the area of emphases in the MDiv program. His broad training and experience enabled him to teach Ethics, Interfaith Dialog, Moral and Faith Development, Spirituality and Peacemaking, Liberation and Process Theologies, and Biblical Violence and Non‐Violence. Lonnie was known for his personal history of tax resistance and other justice actions, leading students on trips to protest the School of the Americas and accompanying groups of students to Friends Committee on Legislation Annual Conferences. A strong advocate for the student, Lonnie led educational trips to India and shepherded the numerous international students who came to study at ESR. Towards the end of his career at ESR, Lonnie designed and implemented the new Master of Arts in Peace and Social Transformation, a program that continues to attract students. Lonnie served as the clerk of the ESR faculty and as Academic Dean in his 33 years at ESR.
Widely published, Lonnie’s works are in The Oxford Handbook of Quaker Studies, Quaker Religious Thought, Friends Association of Higher Education publications, among others. Always willing to pitch in, Lonnie offered countless presentations at National Peace conferences, Yearly Meeting annual sessions, Church of the Brethren gatherings, American Academy of Religion, Friends World Committee for Consultation, the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, individual monthly meetings, churches, and to anyone willing to join with him in the pursuit of peace.
An accomplished academic and sought‐after presenter, Lonnie was loved by the hundreds of students he taught at ESR and Bethany Theological Seminary and as well as those throughout the wider Quaker community. After Lonnie’s passing, messages flooded in, relating stories of the impact Lonnie had on the students of ESR and Bethany, and how this impact guides their work throughout this world. Lonnie was a ready participant in student activities, gatherings, meals, and endeavors of ministry, willing to lend a hand if any called or simply join in the various celebrations of their lives.
Lonnie is survived by his wife, Genevieve Baird, daughter Cady (EC ’05‐’07), son Ben (EC Class of ’09), grandson, Sovann, and the countless who go forth in his ministry. As Lonnie would say, “Carry on.”
To honor Lonnie for his many years of service, teaching, and care for his community, ESR will be raising money for a restricted fund for the Peace and Justice Program in Lonnie’s name. If you are inclined to make an early start and contribute to the yet‐to‐be‐named fund please send a check to ESR or go to the ESR website and indicate your gift is ‘in memory of Lonnie Valentine’. Thank you!
Submitted by April Vanlonden (ESR Class of ’04 and Joint Seminaries Registrar – Earlham School of Religion)
Friends Association for Higher Education 