November 12, 1999

CLEVELAND—A prominent figure in the American civil rights movement eloquently and passionately sounded a call for the nation to tackle five major societal problems and to reclaim the kingdom and will of God as it enters the 21st century. The Rev. James Lawson, Jr., led a forum on "Inclusiveness and Justice" at the National Council of Churches (NCC) 50th anniversary celebration here.

The Rev. Lawson, retired senior minister of Holman United Methodist Church, Los Angeles, told about 50 participants that America suffers five social plagues: racism, violence, sexism, materialism, and denominational and class differences.

Founder of the student arm of the civil rights movement and a nonviolent activist, the Rev. Lawson said America has failed to resolve these social issues because it has not carried out God’s word.

"The people of the United States stand as Jeremiah and Jesus did, facing the terrible alternative," the Rev. Lawson said. "If we let the status quo of the United States win out, we will die as faithful people." He challenged the country to reclaim the kingdom of God in the next century by emphasizing the will of God and reflecting the power and nature of God’s justice.

"We should make sure our children are children of God," the Rev. Lawson said. No one is to be disregarded. His vision for the next century is clear: "The issue is not trust. It is trust in God."

The Rev. Lawson told the group, "Justice is the highest form of love. Justice is how the people of faith apply passion."

The Rev. Lawson said it is no accident of statistics that 60 percent of prisoners are young first-time offenders who have no substantial previous record and are incarcerated for non-violent crimes.

Sexism is another issue the Rev. Lawson addressed. Some men continue to perceive women as simply possessions rather than people, he said. With this outlook, no real progress can be made, he said.

The Rev. Lawson said materialism is another substantial hindrance in society today. He chided, "the Bible states, The love of money is the root of all evil."

In another forum, the Rev. Dr. George Tinker talked about "Challenging Racism." The forum was designed to begin a discussion that will contribute to a new NCC policy statement on racial justice and reconciliation. Dr. Tinker is an author, theologian and professor of American Indian cultures and religious traditions.

Dr. Tinker addressed the plight of American Indians, who still have the lowest income rate of any minority group in the United States, suffer limited medical access and endure the culturally insensitive naming of sports teams.

Dr. Tinker said, "I’ve seen it on television. People in Cleveland and Atlanta, for instance, do this at sporting events. White men in the stands rooting for their team are wearing red paint all over their faces. If it were black face paint, people would be appalled. Because it’s red faced, it’s `fun,’ and they’re `just being men.’"

[This report was prepared by Josh Knight, Melissa Titus and Andrea Cole, students at Miami University of Ohio.]