By BJC Staff Reports
James M. Dunn, the firebrand Baptist who led the Baptist Joint Committee for nearly two decades, died on July 4 at the age of 83. Known for his stalwart defense of religious liberty, colorful turns of phrase and ubiquitous bow tie, Dunn will be remembered for his contributions throughout Baptist life, including his leadership of the BJC from 1981-1999. He fought for a strong Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause while simultaneously shepherding the organization through a tumultuous time in Baptist denominational history.
“The 20th century had no greater champion of religious freedom – of conscience – than James Dunn,” said Oliver “Buzz” Thomas, who served as BJC general counsel from 1985-1993. “Like Roger Williams, John Leland, George W. Truett and the other great Baptist leaders before him, James understood the dangers of civil religion.”
In his first column for Report from the Capital, Dunn wrote, “To translate the revealed message of God’s love into public policy is a massive and sometimes tricky undertaking but our generation is not the first to try. God’s children have been bringing morality to public life for centuries.”
Believing government intrusion was a violation of soul freedom, Dunn consistently led the BJC in its commitment to the Baptist tradition of religious liberty. Some of the organization’s greatest legislative accomplishments — including the Equal Access Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act — were during Dunn’s tenure.
“Comfortable in his own skin and serenely secure of who he was at his core, James surrounded himself with talented people who brought their best energies to the task of protecting and enhancing religious liberty in the most religiously diverse nation on Earth,” said Stan Hastey, who worked with Dunn at the BJC for almost a decade.
After retiring as executive director in 1999, Dunn served as the president of the BJC’s endowment and taught at the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. His legacy continues on campus with the James and Marilyn Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies, which provides an ongoing Baptist studies faculty presence at the school.
Despite his many accomplishments, Dunn is maybe best remembered for his personal touch and willingness to elevate the needs of others above his own, as well as his commitment to the next generation.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn.
Click here to read a longer version of this tribute to James Dunn.
Read tributes from Brent Walker, Larry Chesser and Kenny Byrd in this edition of Report from the Capital.
From the July/August 2015 Report from the Capital. Click here to read the next story.
