Rev. Bob Graetz, friend of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., has
criss-crossed the country, preaching and teaching, including in the
heartland of America, the Midwest, which is mis-touted by some as a bastion
of conservatism that is purported to condemn and freeze-out anyone who doesn't
conform to a narrow principle.
But, no one informed The Gateway-St. Louis Chapter of Lutherans Concerned,
and other churches and convocations which have invited pastor Rev. Graetz to
be celebrant at services. Rev. Graetz is author of the book A White Preacher's
Memoir: The Montgomery Bus Boycott. He was the only white pastor who openly
participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and 1956 with Martin
Luther King, Jr. and other black pastors and church people. His family's
house was fire-bombed twice for his and his family's public stand.
More so, Rev. Graetz and his wife have served as instructors at The
Soulforce Institute for Nonviolent Change, also held in the supposedly
'closed' Midwest.
Soulforce is an interfaith movement which uses the nonviolent principles
of M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. to end spiritual violence
perpetuated by religious policies against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered people.
Among other instructors of Soulforce: Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma
Gandhi; Dr. Rodney Powell, who helped lead the Freedom Rides and lunch
counter sit-ins; and Rev. Dr. Mel White, author of Stranger at the Gate: To
Be Gay and Christian in America.
Soulforce conducts "Twenty-four Hours of Justice" projects which attempt to
bring truth and justice to other members of society, religious groups in
particular, through marches, vigils, media events, direct action, and
possible civil disobedience.
Soulforce has sponsored their events to take place in proximity to national
conferences of Southern Baptists, United Methodists, Presbyterians,
Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, as well as ELCA.
See more here: www.soulforce.org
~ Source ~
By Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
8 Nov 2007
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