The following audio reflections were recorded in April 2008, on the fortieth anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We offer them again this year as a tribute to Dr. King, his faith and his vision for all mankind.
Introduction by Dr.
Stephen R. Haynes
Several years ago I
was asked to lead a discussion of Martin Luther
King Jr.'s "Letter from
Birmingham Jail" for business executives in one
of my college's continuing
education programs. Having taught the letter
to undergraduates for years, I
agreed, certain that this teaching
assignment would not require much
preparation.
I later learned
that the program had its own curriculum that
introduced a series of classic
texts by relating them to the challenges
faced by business people in
contemporary America. A worthy goal no
doubt, but one that, in King's case at
least, was purchased at a steep
price. For in applying the struggles of the
civil rights movement to
the experiences of women in corporate America, the
curriculum chose to
ignore the religious dimensions of King's legacy. Read
More
REFLECTIONS
BY
JOHNNY RAY YOUNGBLOOD | mp3
Named one of the “ten most
influential” New Yorkers by the New Yorker magazine,
Dr. Youngblood and
his vision have led to the tremendous growth and
extensive ministry of St. Paul
in Brooklyn, NY. Born in the state of
Louisiana and reared in New Orleans’ Lower
Ninth Ward, Dr. Youngblood
has a strong commitment to spiritual healing, racial
parity, social
justice, and economic equity for all people.
MARCUS BORG
| mp3
With the highest of national and
international credits, renowned “Jesus Scholar” and author Marcus Borg’s deep
concern for God’s justice is reflected in all of his published works and
lectures. His remarkable memory, love of travel, and sense of humor flavor the
presentation of his groundbreaking new approaches to traditional biblical work.
An extraordinarily thoughtful human being, Borg’s depth of knowledge and grasp
of spirituality and religion provides much to ponder.
MICAH
GREENSTEIN | mp3
Named by Memphis
magazine as one of the city's most significant leaders, Rabbi
Greenstein became
Temple Israel's eighth Senior Rabbi on September 1,
2000, after serving Temple
as Assistant and Associate Rabbi since 1991.
Former President of Memphis
Ministers Association, he is a board member
of the National Civil Rights Museum
and faculty member of Memphis
Theological Seminary.
GINA
STEWART | mp3
A model for many of women’s
leadership in the Church, Gina Stewart combines a passion for the
Gospel with
deep sympathy for people. Her gifted and spirited preaching
makes people want to
jump up and praise the Lord. As the first
African-American woman elected to
serve as pastor of a Baptist
congregation in Shelby County, Tennessee, Dr.
Stewart has led the
remarkable membership growth at Christ Missionary Baptist
Church in
Memphis. Dr. Stewart is currently enrolled at Interdenominational
Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where she is pursuing a Doctor
of
Ministry degree.
KENNETH ROBINSON | mp3
With his
bi-professional
background of a medical degree from Harvard and a
divinity degree from
Vanderbilt, the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Robinson, M.D.
brings unique leadership to the
St. Andrew AME parish in Memphis,
Tennessee, and the public sector. An
innovative leader of a progressive
church with many outreach programs, he was
named one of the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation's ten outstanding community
health leaders in
America.
ALVIN JACKSON | mp3
Dynamic
former Senior
Pastor of Memphis’ Mississippi Boulevard Christian
Church, Dr. Jackson became
Senior Pastor of Park Avenue Christian
Church in 2006. When he left MBCC in
1998, it had a participating
membership of over 7,800, making it the largest
Disciples congregation
in the U.S. and Canada. A forceful and inspiring
preacher, he has
provided courageous and energetic public vision and leadership
for all
of the congregations he has
served.
FRANK THOMAS | mp3
In demand as a preacher, speaker, lecturer, and
revivalist, Dr. Thomas, an ordained minister and pastor for 26 years,
is the
Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Church, Memphis. Dr.
Thomas regularly
shares his gift of preaching in the Master of Divinity
Program at McCormick
Theological Seminary in Chicago. His first
preaching method book, They Like
to Never Quit Praisin’ God: The
Role of Celebration in Preaching, was
printed in 1997. He also has
written What’s Love Got To Do With It? Love,
Power, Sex, and God:
The Workbook; Spiritual Maturity: Preserving
Congregational
Health and Balance; and many
others.
STEPHEN MONTGOMERY | mp3
The dynamic leader of Memphis’ largest PC(USA)
congregation, Dr. Montgomery is known both for his compelling preaching and his
commitment to engaging the church in “hands on” servant ministry and peacemaking
initiatives. Dr. Montgomery earned a Master of Divinity degree from Yale
Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from Georgia’s Columbia Theological
Seminary. He presently serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Inter-faith
Association and Columbia Seminary, and is an adjunct faculty member at Memphis
Theological Seminary, where he teaches Preaching and
Worship.
Recorded in Memphis, TN
in the Spring of
2008.
With thanks to the Calvary Episcopal Church
Lenten
Preaching Series, Memphis
Tennessee.
