Sinkford Issues Call to See “Beyond Iraq”

Bill Sinkford speaks from the historic pulpit at Riverside Church, April 4, 2005. Photo by David Snedden

Rev. Jesse Jackson Photo by Virginia Wilber

Memorial photo of Rev. Dr. King at Riverside Photo by Virginia Wilber

April 6, 2005

On Monday April 4th, the Rev. William G. Sinkford and religious leaders from across the country gathered at Manhattan’s Riverside Church for a special service, “Beyond Iraq: Building the Beloved Community.” The service was attended by over 1200 people.

In his address, Rev. Sinkford recalled how King had inspired him and other UUs in the 1960s. He urged Unitarian Universalists to live up to their heritage: “Our need for a revolution is as deep today as it was in the 1960s. To be worthy of the legacy of Dr. King, we must not sleep through that revolution.”

April 4th marked the 38th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1967 prophetic sermon at Riverside Church, when he called on peace activists to see “beyond the Vietnam War” and build the “beloved community” so that peace and economic justice could support one another, both at home and abroad.

Sinkford shared the pulpit with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. James Forbes, senior minister of the Riverside Church, Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, and many other religious leaders. The speakers represented many faiths, including Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, and Catholicism.

A dozen metro-area UU ministers in clergy garb were joined by about 100 UUs in the pews. With deep satisfaction, Sinkford noted, “This is yet another example of how Unitarian Univeralism is assuming its rightful place at the interfaith table. UUs have much to offer the current struggle for peace and justice.”

The Rev. Susan Veronica Rak of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flushing described the profoundly moving event: “We were reminded of the promise and possibility of the Beloved Community – and that its creation and maintenance is in our hands.”

The service marked the official launch of “The Beloved Community: Building a Responsible Society,” a national campaign coordinated by the Clergy and Laity Network (CLN). The CLN has gathered a coalition of 50 leading progressive religious organizations, including the UUA and Starr King School for the Ministry. The service was also the official send-off for the “Break the Silence Bus Tour,” which will stop in 27 cities over the next few weeks.

More on this service:

• Full text of Bill Sinkford’s address
• The Drive Democracy website has a 10 minute video clip of the “Beyond Iraq” service.

Links:

• UUA Statements: The War Against Iraq
• Clergy and Laity Network
• The Riverside Church
• Peace Not Poverty

Congregational Actions on Iraq

• Congregational Social Justice Stories

Unitarian Universalist Association
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