Local clergy reflect on Dr. King’s legacy

Religious officials remember King.

By: Al Wicklund
   Members of the clergy in Cranbury, Jamesburg and Monroe see a number of contributions at different levels made by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., during the campaign for civil rights from 1956 until his assassination in 1968.
   The life and achievements of Dr. King, a black activist who led a nonviolent national drive for equal rights for all citizens, will be celebrated with a national holiday Monday.
   As head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. King led a program of nonviolent, direct action that led to the end of laws and governmental policies that supported racial segregation.
   The Rev. Lawrence D. Fish of St. David’s Episcopal Church, Cranbury, said Dr. King’s greatest contributions would include not only the changes in law and in society, but also in the way he did things.
   "His protests were made in a peaceable manner. Much of the strength of his actions came from his dignity and restraint," the Rev. Fish said.
   He said the opposition to the civil rights movement suffered by comparison when violence was used against peaceful demonstrators and, particularly, when the contrast in styles was shown on national television.
   The Rev. Charles Scillieri of St. James R.C. Church in Jamesburg said Dr. King is to be remembered not just for the good he did for his people, but also "for the good he did for all people.
   Rabbi Ben Levy of the Congregation Etz Chaim-Monroe Township Jewish Center said it is appropriate that Dr. King is honored.
   "He changed the landscape of our thinking. He made significant changes in the hearts and minds of many of his fellow Americans," Rabbi Levy said.
   He said Dr. King’s contributions to the nation’s people are beyond measurement.
   "Dr. King made great advancements in social justice and in equality for all humans in a remarkably brief time," Rabbi Levy said.
   The Rev. Donald Maxam of the Rossmoor Community Church, an ecumenical church, said through most of his career he was a sociology teacher and, as such, was particularly focused on the civil rights movement and other movements of the times.
   "In many ways, Dr. King’s contributions meant more to me as a citizen than as a pastor," the Rev. Maxam said.
   He did say he was planning to include Dr. King in his next sermon.
   "I’ll be speaking of the prophets of the Old Testament and will cite Dr. King as one of our times’ prophetic voices," the Rev. Maxam said.