Today, January 16th is the 26th anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We join all Americans and the world in celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We also remember and honor the partnership, leadership and legacy of Coretta Scott King as well.
 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday and a national day of service. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act which encourages citizens to offer a day of service as volunteer in their local community on this day.

As More Light Presbyterians, we are indebted to the extraordinary civil rights work that Dr. and Mrs. King did that changed our nation and world. As Christians and Presbyterians we are called to lives of service. We are grateful for the service offered by churches in communities across our country.   
 
On the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King, April 4, 2008, then Senator now President Barack Obama said: "Dr. King once said that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice, but here is the thing: it does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own ways put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice."
 
A remarkable bending of that arc of the moral universe in our lives and Church is the passage of Amendment 10-A last year that opens the way for qualified LGBT Presbyterians to serve in ministry. We give thanks to God for all who prayed and worked to end discrimination in our Church and to create equality for LGBT persons and their families.
 
Akilah Boldern-Monifa whose parents worked with Dr. King in Alabama shares what this day means to her. In her blog she says, "I am a 54-year-old lesbian of African descent who grew up in Huntsville, Ala. My parents strategized and marched with King. I learned about civil disobedience and protests from them when I was 4 years old.
 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akilah-boldenmonifa/mlk-day_b_1205849.html

We encourage all Presbyterians to reflect upon the life, teachings and example of Dr. King and the inspiration this can bring to the justice-work before us in the Church and world.
 
with hope and for justice,
Michael
 
Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director & Field Organizer
More Light Presbyterians
www.mlp.org

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Ref: http://www.mlp.org/article.php/MLKDay2012