Shepherding the Ministry of Chalcedon
Christian Reconstruction is not something that can be accomplished in one lifetime. But steady progress in being made as more of R. J. Rushdoony's material is accessible today than ever before to anyone in the world with internet access.
- Mark R. Rushdoony
People have periodically asked me if being left to shepherd the ministry of Chalcedon and my father’s work felt like a burden. The answer to that is not easy, because the work is, in fact, overwhelming, in that Christian Reconstruction is not something that can be accomplished in my lifetime; the church is still largely behind closed doors debating whether it is even necessary. In that sense, I feel a burden. My work is more then I can envision being undertaken, much less brought to completion.
On the other hand, my work was laid out for me; I did not have to struggle with uncertainty in my vocation. I have plenty to do. Sometimes I wish there was a little less on my plate, perhaps, but there is a very real joy knowing your calling.
When my father passed away sixteen years ago it was clear that I could not fill his shoes and that I would have to preserve and further the work in ways different than his. Much of that responsibility was to make both his and Chalcedon’s material available. Many of his books were out of print, many of his manuscripts unpublished, and much of Chalcedon’s material, such as his newsletter and magazine articles, no longer available.
We have made major progress in these areas. We have published many of his manuscripts with several still in the works. More of his material is available today than ever before. We have also just launched our all-new website, chalcedon.edu, which will continue to expand its archival content of my father’s material to anyone in the world with internet access. The past twenty years of Chalcedon Report/Faith For All of Life are available. We will eventually plan on having every issue going back to 1965 available, all easily searchable. Even all the issues of the Journal of Christian Reconstruction are on our new site. When our anthologies of my father’s magazine articles and Position Papers are published, they will be available online as well.
So yes, there is tremendous responsibility involved in the work and that can be daunting, but there is also a real joy in being involved in so important a work. For fifty-two years it has been those who give regularly, who have enabled this work. We do not have an endowment and depend on the support of our readers. We are grateful for their partnership in helping us help others to apply the Christian Faith to all of life.
- Mark R. Rushdoony
Mark R. Rushdoony graduated from Los Angeles Baptist College (now The Master’s College) with a B.A. in history in 1975 and was ordained to the ministry in 1995.
He taught junior and senior high classes in history, Bible, civics and economics at a Christian school in Virginia for three years before joining the staff of Chalcedon in 1978. He was the Director of Chalcedon Christian School for 14 years while teaching full time. He also helped tutor all of his children through high school.
In 1998, he became the President of Chalcedon and Ross House Books, and, more recently another publishing arm, Storehouse Press. Chalcedon and its subsidiaries publish many titles plus CDs, mp3s, and an extensive online archive at www.chalcedon.edu. His biography of his father will be published later this year (2024).
He has written scores of articles for Chalcedon’s publications, both the Chalcedon Report and Faith for all of Life. He was a contributing author to The Great Christian Revolution (1991). He has spoken at numerous conferences and churches in the U.S. and abroad.
Mark Rushdoony has lived in Vallecito, California, since 1978. His wife, Darlene, and he have been married since 1976. His youngest son still resides with him. He has three married children and nine grandchildren.