City, clergy celebrate King's legacy

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
Members of the the East Orange Clergy Association and city officials last week joined in a service to celebrate the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The city’s secular and religious leaders engaged in a community service Jan. 16 inside the Calvary Baptist Church which honored the legacy of the slain civil rights leader. More than 100 residents and community members gathered, including those from the congregations that form the association.
“We never want to climb so high on the ladder that we forget from whence we came. So we gather to remember what Dr. King was about,” said the Rev. Dana Owens of Messiah Baptist Church. “Martin Luther King Jr. believed that we were all related and inter-related. He believed in equality for humankind, not just the rich or the poor. We don’t have to fight and compete among ourselves for members and souls to save because we’re all here for the same reason to serve God and our fellow man.”
Because of those beliefs, Owens said, the churches, congregations and pastors that make up the association can gather on King’s birthday to rededicate themselves to the dreamer and his dream.
“We must fight for those that don’t have equality because we’ve come a long way but there are still those who are being neglected,” said Owens. “The struggle has moved beyond just black and white so we have to recommit ourselves to the work and dream of Dr. King. We cannot be satisfied until all have a seat at the table.”
Those in attendance heard the service’s preacher, Elder Azinor Blue, assistant pastor at Faith Temple No. 1 OFW Baptist Church, preach about the reasons why King’s struggle for people of all races was part of a continuum that is thousands of years old.
Blue commented that Owens’ remarks about making sure that any and everyone who can get a ‘seat at the table’ does get one, coincided perfectly with a sermon in the Bible.
“I believe each generation makes its own milestone for that generation. Even though there was a civil rights movement in the 1960s, we still have our own different struggles and challenges to face today,” Blue said. “In the 21st century, we see we obviously don’t have as many issues as they had, but we see our issues for our generation that we need to overcome. The elder generation can say they made it but the struggle still goes on.”
Minister Isis Harris, pastor of Christ Resurrection Missionary Baptist Church and who serves as the association’s president also spoke. “As soon as we individually answer our particular call or mission or purpose, then maybe we can get to a place where we feel like we have overcome. In the meantime, we all are soldiers, whether we call ourselves Christian soldiers or anything else; whatever your particular mission or battlefield is,” Harris said. “President Obama showed us that when people come together and pick up their own individual crosses, then amazing things can change and people’s mindsets can change. I think we all have the obligation to be optimistic.”
The service was presented through the clergy group and the city’s Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs.