In
many discussions of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it is forgotten
that he was by training and avocation a preacher and a theologian. While his reputation
rests largely on his accomplishments in the field of civil rights, his inspiration
flowed from a well informed faith. The sermon, "Our God is Able," was
one of his best. Our version was re-written by Charles Henderson to eliminate
language and certain references that would make its content seem dated when, in
fact, it is still most pertinent more than thirty years after it was first delivered.
The discussion of the legacy
of Martin Luther King available here is based on talks given by Vincent Harding
and Clare Gaudiani in April 1996 at the Boston Research Center for the Twenty-First
Century. The papers were published by the journal CrossCurrents
in the fall of that year.
Ebenezer
Baptist Church King's role as a national leader began here. It was
at age five that he first joined the church. At 19, King received that call to
Christian Ministry and was ordained at Ebenezer. Dr. King preached his first and
last sermons from the pulpit at Ebenezer, where his father and grandfather had
pastored.
Letter
from a Birmingham jail Aside from the "Dream" speech,
this may be the second most important document in undertanding Dr. King and his
life's work. Written from his cell in the Birmingham jail, he answered a
group of clergy who had criticized his tactic of non-violent action.
Martin
Luther King, Jr. Directory This site includes all sorts of material
by and about the slain civil rights leader. Contributers include the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University and The Martin Luther King, Jr.
Center in Atlanta.
If you want to talk with someone in person, please feel free to call 917-439-2305
The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here. God and Science (Hypertext Edition,
2015).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion: Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2017).
Charles also tracks the boundry between the virtual and the real at his blog: Next World Design, focusing on the mediation of art, science and spirituality in the metaverse.