Fifty years later, Christian Churches Together (CCT) has issued a
response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The
document was signed by representatives of CCT’s member communions and
presented to King’s youngest daughter, Bernice King, at a symposium
April 14-15 in Birmingham, Ala.
King’s famous letter on April 16, 1963, was written in response to an
open letter from a group of eight clergy--one Catholic priest, six
Protestants, and a rabbi--urging him to exercise restraint and call an
end to the nonviolent demonstrations.
As far as is known, the CCT document is the first response to the
“Letter from Birmingham Jail.” CCT issued a short statement two years
ago in Birmingham, and committed then to produce this detailed response
on the occasion of the 50th anniversary. The full statement is posted at
www.brethren.org/birminghamletter.
In the document, CCT calls member churches to repentance and
confesses the history of racism within its institutions. “Those of us
who lead predominantly white churches confess to our CCT colleagues of
other ethnicities that we would prefer to overlook the ways in which we
have replayed the role of the ‘white moderates’ who most disappointed
Dr. King.” A significant part of the paper is an appendix with separate
confessions from the faith families that constitute CCT.
The document elaborates on the key themes of King’s letter and the
challenges that face the church today. It also expresses commitments for
the future. “We proclaim that, while our context today is different,
the call is the same as in 1963--for followers of Christ to stand
together, to work together, and to struggle together for justice.”
The symposium featured addresses from clergy and from several key civil rights leaders who had worked with King.
Educator Dorothy Cotton, who was one of the highest ranking women in
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, cautioned against
regarding the civil rights movement as “Dr. King’s movement.” “When we
say that, we think we have to have some big leader, we disempower
ourselves.” That’s what is missing today, she said. “If you see
something that’s not right, you might have to start an action all by
yourself.”
Congressman John Lewis recounted how a month earlier he had received a
formal apology from the Montgomery police chief for failing to protect
him and other Freedom Riders in 1961--evidence of “the power of love,
the power of the teachings of Jesus.” He challenged the church “to make
some noise, to get into some good trouble.”
Baptist minister Virgil Wood emphasized the economic face of racism
today and reminded listeners that King had focused as much on the
“beloved economy” as on the “beloved community.”
In her remarks, Bernice King said she appreciated the emphasis on her
father’s Birmingham letter, which she felt conveyed much about who he
was. “He has been described as a great civil rights leader,” she noted,
“but most of all he was a minister and a man of God.”
The Church of the Brethren was represented by Stan Noffsinger,
general secretary; Nancy S. Heishman, moderator-elect; and Wendy
McFadden, a member of the CCT steering committee and president of the
Historic Protestant family of CCT. Also in attendance was Bill Scheurer,
executive director of On Earth Peace.
Christian Churches Together in the USA is the nation’s broadest
fellowship of Christian communions, representing African-American,
Catholic, Evangelical/Protestant, Historic Protestant, and Orthodox
churches, as well as several national organizations.
-- Wendy McFadden is publisher of Brethren Press.
Source: 4/18/2013 Newsline
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