CalChurches
Our nation is in turmoil, and it was thus the greater sorrow when we learned last Friday night of the death of John Lewis, Congressman from Baltimore, MC
Many of us remember Mr. Lewis as a young man, beaten and broken on the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma. He may have been gravely harmed, but he was unbowed, and he rose to continue the fight for justice, racial equality, and the dignity of all people everywhere. He stirred us to action, claimed our attention with his gentle but powerful leadership and challenge to do right.
Taken from us by cancer, he nevertheless was able in his last days, to join the “Black Lives Matter” marches near his home. He said not only did the numbers today vastly exceed those of the civil rights movement but the diversity of those raising their voices heartened him enormously. This was the work of all the people now. That was due in no small part to his impact on us.
We have been given permission by the author to link you to the New York Times commemoration of Congressman Lewis’ life and work. In that long and beautiful tribute lies another link that touched us – the reminder that one of our own, Rev. James Lawson, helped bring both Mr. Lewis and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the practic of non violent demonstrations. As the former pastor of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, he unites us at the Council with the work of the ages by those courageous and dedicated souls in an earlier time.
To read this excellent tribute please go here
To read Rev. Lawson’s tribute, click here or on his photo below.
Mr. Lewis was well known for urging us to confront injustice at all points and to create “good trouble”to achieve what is right and good in our world. Now we are again in the struggle for human equality and fairness as our nation promises but rarely delivers. It is then in their honor that we urge both the non violence of Rev. Lawson’s teachings and the “good trouble” of Congressman Lewis’ last charge to us. We cannot be idle. We must be wise. We face perilous times but yes, we shall overcome if we keep the faith and the heart of our past and present. In Congressman Lewis’ memory, we can do no less.
Peace.
