‘Reminded of our calling’: National interfaith leaders gathered on MLK Day to herald a hopeful path forward  

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, prominent religious leaders from across the country filled the sanctuary of Healing Cathedral Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, with music and united visions of hope.

Many gathered in person, online, and at satellite sites around the country to participate in “For Such a Time as This,” a national worship service and mass meeting. The event brought people of faith together at a time of high emotions as the presidential inauguration took place on the day marked for reigniting King’s vision.  

And reigniting a vision was a clear message of the evening. 

Bishop William J. Barber II, president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, described President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office as one “symptom” of the kind of “sick society” King referenced in his final speech. 

“We gather today around the nation to be reminded of our calling and work — not just from MLK, but from God,” Barber said. “Our problem is not just because one person gets the title ‘president.’ Our calling exists no matter where or when we are in the nation, because the nation is still infected with the diseases of racism, poverty, and militarism. If we make it about one man in the presidency, we miss it.” 

Gathering to remember King should bring into clarity “who we are and whose we are,” he said. 

“We already have vision – the problem is following it. Maybe it’s time to work the vision rather than having to keep writing new ones,” he added. 

Together and forward

More than twenty interfaith leaders spoke at the the event which was developed from the vision of United Church of Christ General Minister and President Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson.  

As she addressed the crowd, Thompson spoke about the crucial need to unite around an inclusive vision and “our ability to come together and say ‘no more’ to injustice.”  

“We are here to say we are going to work together for the people whose lives will be disrupted by the policies of this government. We are here to say that the love of God by many names brings us together and moves us forward for such a time as this,” she said. 

Comments from many of the evening’s speakers drew up brighter possibilities for the future.  

“Love is the answer we keep hearing over and over,” said the Rev. Terri Hord-Owens, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). “My friends, I call us to imagine a new world. A world where all of us are working together to make real the vision of the holy, each in our own way. It can happen.” 

Rev. Shane Claiborne, co-director of Red Letter Christians, offered a message by video describing the “counterfeit peace and obnoxious unity” that King criticized, which comes from ignoring the injustice and oppression of other people.  

“Our silence means complicity,” Claiborne said. “Let’s pray against the counterfeit peace, the obnoxious unity, the façade that everything is okay when things are not okay. We pray for our country to be revived, to be moved by love rather than fear.” 

‘The movement is alive’

Several Memphis leaders brought the conversation to the local level, mentioning many challenges the city faces, including the police killing of Tyre Nichols last year.  

“In spite of all these challenges, the movement remains alive in Memphis,” said the Rev. Gordon Myers, retired pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church and local advocate. “But if we work together, there’s so much more that we can get done.” 

Local pastor of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church and founding member of Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope, the Rev. Rosalyn Nichols encouraged people to “not forsake the assembly of yourself. Find ways to continue believing that we will receive power. We must gather and believe that right now Pentecost will come.” 

Leaders from differing religions highlighted messages of justice and compassion shared across their traditions. 

Between speakers, the sanctuary was filled with the lively music led by Yara Allen, director of theomusicology and
cultural arts for Repairers of the Breach, with the North Carolina Freedom Singers. The in-person crowd swayed, clapped, sang, and offered exultations along to the songs and the speeches.

Prophetic listening for the inauguration  

Earlier in the day, a crowd that included many of the same faith leaders gathered for a time of prophetic listening during the broadcast of the presidential inauguration. The screen to watch it was set in front of a serene view overlooking the Mississippi River at Church in the River in Memphis. 

Leaders from Repairers of the Breach guided people in engaging with prophetic listening, a spiritual practice of “deeply attuning oneself to the divine, the voices of marginalized people, and the call for justice and compassion in the world.”

Following the broadcast, the Rev. Alvin O’Neal, national faith convener, and the Rev. Hanna Broome, national director of religious affairs, moved the group into moments of silence, breathing, singing, and reflection. 

“The community gathering meant we were not alone in confronting a vision placed before the nation that invokes fear, creates a false narrative of division, and stokes seeds of despair,” Thompson reflected. “We listened together and, in some way, found hope with each other in knowing that we are not alone.” 

Rev. Cecilia Eggleton, moderator of Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church, offered gratitude for the breath practices following the inauguration and being guided to “breathe in love” and “breathe out compassion” collectively. 

“Hope is found in a Holy Spirit who is still dancing upon the earth and is in the midst of the challenges we face with love, justice, and beauty. Hope is knowing we are called for such a time as this, because, if not us, who will do God’s work in the world?” Eggleton posed.  

The events of “For Such a Time as This” offered a model for emphasizing connection between people at the outset of Trump’s presidency, because, as the Rev. Dr. Soni Cantrell-Smith, president of Centers for Spiritual Living, said, “We got a hell of a lot of work to do today.” 

“Beloved,” she added, “the work we have ahead is not easy, but it is holy.” 

The full recording of “For Such a Time as This” is available for viewing, and video highlights from the event will be coming soon.  

---

Content on ucc.org is copyrighted by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ and may be only shared according to the guidelines outlined here.