Call to Conscience: Forward to Action (A Recap)
TCR Staff Report
A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is an excellent book that should serve as an insightful introduction to the writings of Dr. King. Composed of his most famous speeches,A Call to Consciencenot only serves as the latest edition of his speeches, it successfully brings Dr. King from martyrdom to a reachable, once walked the earth, man. Thus, it was very appropriate for the AME Church to entitle the rally “Call to Conscience: Forward to Action.”
TheRally was held on Thursday, September 6 in Washington, DC, at Lafayette Park across the street from the White House. On Wednesday, September 5, invited denominational and judicatory leaders, clergy, and laity joined leaders of the wider church for a strategy and briefing session. In the afternoon, many of them met with Congressional leaders and visited the offices of our senators and representatives. While the Call was issued by the AME Church, the anticipation was that other faith communities would join as well as representatives of leading Civil Rights and social justice organizations and general citizens who are guided by their consciences to seek justice and promote God’s kingdom on earth.
The church has a moral obligation to lead the charge for prophetic action in times like these. Just as Esther was called to stand up and advocate on behalf of her people to the king of Persia, we too are called to stand up and advocate with and on behalf of our communities to government leaders in Washington, DC.
After the rally, Bishop Jackson, the president of the Council of Bishops, started a press conference held at Metropolitan AME Church, “The National Cathedral of African Methodism.” He noted that the AME Church has called the Black Church together because of the nation’s peculiar and stridently unjust behavior.
Like Esther, we must meet the challenges before us and speak truth to power. Mordecai reminded Esther that she could not remain neutral. Action was needed and she could use her position of influence to change the fate of her people. We cannot be silent in this challenging time.
Bishop Jackson highlighted such critical matters as the DREAM ACT, immigration, income inequality, and Congress’s failure to check the president on his shattering of relationships and proper order, potentially even unto outright abuse of power. Seated along with him in common witness were Senior Bishop McKinley Young; BishopE. Anne Henning-Byfield; the Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, the pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church, and the Rev. Sam Green, the pastor of Heard AME Church in Roselle, New Jersey.
In calling the country to its conscience, the AME Church—along with other Black churches and denominations—challenged not only the American people but also Congress and the White House for the effrontery of reactionary policies and legislation that are unjust and damaging to the fabric of our democracy. The fight and the struggle continue.
