Lawson: Pastors, Not Civil Rights Leaders

Photo of Rev. Jason Carson Wilson — Rev. Jason Carson Wilson poses at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on April 4, 2018 during the United to End Racism March and Rally./ Photo by Rev. Jason Carson Wilson

We were just pastors.

Rev. James Lawson bristled at both he and the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Being called civil rights leaders during a Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.

“You called King and myself civil rights leaders, Lawson said. “ The better term for us, by far, was the term that we used — we were pastors. We were pastors, who insisted that the gospel of Jesus encompassed all humankind and that the other side of love was justice.”

Owning his preferred adjective resonated with me. This United Christ minister and policy advocate is a Black same-gender-loving man who is a pastor dedicated to my denomination’s mission — creating a just world for all.

I pondered his words during a silent march from the MLK Memorial to the National Mall during yesterday’s event commemorating the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination, ACT Now! Unite To End Racism rally. Acknowledging King’s influence on my life happened too.

King’s legacy and work allow me to enjoy a healthy portion of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Pursuing happiness includes earning my Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary and serving as a fellowship in the United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries’ D.C. office in the shadow of the U.S. Supreme Court and Capitol.

With that said, my spiritual social justice warrior, Bayard Rustin, helped shape his legacy and create the perfect platform for King’s iconic I Have A Dream speech. Rustin was a Black same-gender loving man, whose Quaker roots spurred his commitment to creating a just world for all. Rustin’s had a great influence on King’s embrace of nonviolent tactics.

Standing beneath King’s towering figure and gazing across the Potomac River struck me with irony. The pastor — and civil rights leader — is staring directly at the Jefferson Memorial, an homage to a slave-owning president.

In spite of our slave-owning history and White supremacist present, King, Lawson and Rustin (among others) helped create a world in which I can minister, and Barack Obama can be president. They also created space for ministers to share prophetic messages in so many ways.

Image of Rev. Julian DeShazier — Rev. Julian DeShazier, also known as J. Kwest, shares some prophetic words with attendees of the Unite to End Racism Rally on April 4, 2018, on the National Mall. DeShazier is senior minister of University Church (United Church of Christ/ Disciples of Christ congregation) in Hyde Park, Chicago./ Photo by Rev. Jason Carson Wilson

They were made for Rev. Julian DeShazier, senior minister of University Church in Chicago (Hyde Park), who can prophetically preach and rhyme. DeShazier is also known as J. Kwest. In full disclosure, the minister and rapper is my pastor and has supported my ministry journey. I’m thankful for his ministry and witness.

Our ministry and witness were made possible, in part, by King’s decision to answer God’s call and live into the ministry commitments that came with the call. Living under those commitments would ultimately cost King his life. My opportunity to do ministry and fight for a just world is part of his legacy.

I’m dedicated to living in the social justice ministry commitments, which I’ve made to God and my fellow people.

Finding diverse ways to answer this question drives me.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?

— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.