Henlee Hulix Barnette facts for kids

Henlee Hulix Barnette (August 14, 1911 – October 20, 2004) was an American professor, minister, and writer. He was known for his work in Christian ethics, which involves studying how Christian beliefs guide people's actions.

Barnette was also a social activist. He supported civil rights and worked for peace. He even marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and met with Nikita Khrushchev, a leader of the Soviet Union. His first book, Introducing Christian Ethics, became a very important book in his field.

Early Life and Education

Henlee Barnette was born on August 14, 1911, in Taylorsville, North Carolina. He left school when he was in the sixth grade. In 1925, his family moved to Kannapolis, North Carolina.

When he was 19, Barnette became a Christian. His pastor, Wade Jones, encouraged him to go back to school. At age 22, he returned to his studies. He graduated at 26 and then went to Wake Forest College. He graduated with honors in 1940.

After Wake Forest, Barnette studied at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. There, he earned a Master's degree and a PhD. He also studied at other famous universities like Harvard University and Columbia University.

Teaching Career

Barnette started his teaching career in 1946 at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He taught sociology there for a year. Then, he taught at Stetson University in Florida from 1947 to 1951.

In 1951, he joined the faculty at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He taught there for 26 years, until 1977. For a few years, from 1956 to 1959, he was also the acting dean of the School of Theology. After leaving Southern, Barnette taught psychiatry at the University of Louisville Medical School from 1977 to 1992.

Books and Writings

Barnette wrote many books and articles about Christian ethics. He was especially interested in medical ethics, which looks at moral questions in healthcare. His 1961 book, Introducing Christian Ethics, was widely used in universities.

He also wrote a book about New Testament scholar Clarence Jordan in 1992. This book was based on a lecture Barnette gave called "Clarence Jordan: A prophet in blue jeans." Before he passed away, he finished a book about his own life called A Pilgrimage of Faith: My Journey. In total, he wrote fifteen books.

Barnette was a committed Baptist for most of his life. He became a minister in 1935. While in graduate school, he led the Haymarket Mission in Louisville for three years. People there called him the "Bishop of the Haymarket."

Working for Social Change

Barnette cared deeply about social issues, especially race. In 1946, he helped start the Interracial Baptist Pastors Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1954, he spoke to a committee in Congress. He told them that the United Nations should have a stronger role in the world.

In 1957, Barnette met with Nikita Khrushchev in the Kremlin in Moscow. They worked together to create a program for college students to exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Barnette was a strong supporter of civil rights. In 1961, he marched for civil rights. He also invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to speak at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. King gave important lectures there. Barnette also marched with King in Frankfort, Kentucky. Because of his meetings with Khrushchev and his connection to King, the FBI watched Barnette from 1957 to 1974. In 1971, he helped create a program for Black Church Studies.

Family Life

Henlee Barnette was married twice. His first wife was Charlotte Ford. They had two sons, John and Wayne. Charlotte passed away in 1953.

In 1956, Barnette married Helen Poarch. They had a daughter, Martha, and a son, James. His oldest son, John, served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. His second son, Wayne, moved to Sweden during that time. Barnette himself was against the US involvement in the Vietnam War.

His daughter, Martha Barnette, is also a writer. She hosts a weekly radio show called A Way with Words, which is about language. His son, James, has taught as a professor of religion at Samford University.

Henlee Barnette passed away on October 20, 2004, in Louisville, Kentucky. His funeral was held at the Crescent Hill Baptist Church. His papers are kept at Wake Forest University for researchers to study.