History of the Foundation for Contemporary Theology

The Foundation for Contemporary Theology was founded in 1987 by Wes Seeliger, an Episcopal priest, and Charles “Rebbie” Gregg, a lawyer. They had met in the Faith and Life Community at the University of Texas in Austin, and were inspired by its leader, Joe Mathews. Having had the opportunity to sit down at meals with people like Paul Tillich, Reinhold Neibhur, Edward Hobbs and other prominent progressive theologians, Wes wanted that same kind of close relationship available for lay people in the churches. He also hoped to include theologians from other religions, but soon realized that the Christians needed to understand their own religion/faith before much significant dialogue could be had with other religions. So he concentrated on Christianity, because of the problems he saw there.

The first major theologian sponsored in 1990 by the Foundation was Charles Hartshorn, a Process Theologian. It was held at St. John the Divine Episcopal church in Houston, TX. 1994 brought Bishop John Shelby Spong for the first of what has become eight lecture series. Marcus Borg soon followed, along with Matthew Fox and later John Dominic Crossan, all of whom have had multiple appearances with the Foundation. A host of other theologians, many from the Jesus Seminar, have brought contemporary theology to those having difficulties with the theology of their childhood, those who have left the church and become part of the ‘church alumni association’, and even atheists.

In the mid-1990’s, the Luncheon Lecture Series was initiated. Bill Lawson of the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and Pittman McGehee of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Houston were two of our first speakers. Since then, there have been eight Luncheon Lectures a year featuring prominent theologians and scholars from Houston area colleges, universities and progressive churches, and occasionally from Austin or San Antonio. Speakers from other disciplines who are theologically astute have also offered us provocative lectures on science, psychology and sociology, for instance, and have discussed the interconnection of those disciplines with theology.

The Foundation for Contemporary Theology has made a difference in the community as witnessed by other organizations and churches now sponsoring some of the same theologians that we introduced years ago. Our mailing list has increased from a rousing one hundred to almost two thousand. Our logo is the wedgeblade, signifying our being on the cutting edge of non-literal, non-dogmatic Christian thinking. We are ever alert to new theological perspectives coming from the scholastic world and from those around us. As our founder, Wes Seeliger, said “Onward through the fog!”