Foundation for Traditional Values

The Foundation for Traditional Values is a Lansing area group connected to Citizens for Traditional Values that describes itself as “a non-profit corporation whose mission is to restore and affirm the Judeo-Christian values upon which America was established.” It was formed in 1993 by James Muffett and aims to “educate citizens about their God-given liberties by informing them of the true historical role these values have played in the founding of America” with the belief that this will equip citizens to “take a more active part in their communities, helping to restore our spiritual heritage and traditional morality in our schools and other public and private institutions.” The group conducts seminars and distributes publications and videos as part of its educational work. One of its key projects was a seminar called “The Greatest Story Never Told” that teaches participants that the United States was founded and begun as a Christian Nation but that it must now be put back on course through political action. The Foundation for Traditional Values’ first event featured D. James Kennedy, a member of the Council for National Policy, pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries, an influential member of the religious right (Kennedy has been linked to Christian reconstructionism).

At FTV’s first event they distributed the book America’s Providential History, a book published by the Providence Foundation and co-authored by contributors to Marantha‘s newspaper and reflected Marantha’s theocratic ideology. In the book, the authors praise the “Godliness” of the south, and while they oppose slavery, they condemn the “ungodly” forces behind the Fourteenth Amendment that provided legal equality for all citizens after the Civil War. Like the FTV, the book calls on readers to become politically involved, although most of the groups listed as resources in the book are tied to Christian Reconstructionism. Similarly, FTV’s November 1994 fundraiser at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel featured Peter Marshall, a Reconstructionist writer from Massachusetts.

The Foundation for Traditional Values has received funding from the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation and the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation.

Activities in West Michigan / Michigan

Leaders, Members, and Others Associated with the Organization

  • James Muffett, the leader of CTV, was a leader of the far-right shepherding/discipleship cult Maranatha.
  • Betsy DeVos was the “honorary chair” at the FTV’s first event in 1993 at which D. James Kennedy spoke (Bellant, The Religious Right in Michigan Politics). She and Dick DeVos also contributed to a 1994 FTV dinner (through their Windquest Group company) as part of Christian Heritage Week.
  • Richard DeVos sponsored the 1994 FTV dinner with a $5,000 contribution.
  • Peter Cook, through Mazda Great Lakes, contributed to the 1994 FTV dinner.