Clergy ponder King's enduring impact

Before the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. became an international icon for civil rights, he was simply a Baptist pastor.

It was his faith in God that undergirded his life's work and his core belief that in God's eyes, there is no difference between black and white, Jew and gentile, the enslaved and the free. He believed in reaching across religious denominations and other barriers to achieve social justice.

The Bee asked local religious leaders to comment on how King's life and words have affected them, and whether -- as anticipated by King in his "I Have a Dream" speech -- we are working, praying, struggling and standing up for freedom together, crossing denominational, religious and racial lines.

Here are excerpts from the responses:

Step up and reach out

Racism is one of the things I really had a problem with before I became a Christian. Dr. Martin Luther King preached that we have to step up and reach out to one another. That was one of my goals, to carry out his dream.

I think that's happened in our community, especially to a lot of our churches. Not all churches, of course. Many of them have not integrated their staff, but they at least speak to one another and have services with one another. I do find a lot of pastors are open to communication -- white pastors are open to black pastors -- which is good.

-- Charlie Crane, chaplain at Hospice House in Hughson Ahead of his time

Dr. King was a fearless agent of change, and change is an integral part of any evolving organization. In my current work, I am asked to promote and implement change, and yet even the mention of change can bring out the worst in people. Dr. King led with vision and passion that defines great human beings and made him a personal hero to myself and to many others. His ecumenical and interreligious call to action in his "I Have A Dream" speech was far ahead of its time and an inspiration to many of us who work for Christian unity.

-- Tom Ciccarelli, Catholic deacon and chief executive officer for United Way of Stanislaus County Inspired not to waste pain

What I appreciate the most about Dr. King's speech was that his life behind his words was a message to the world; despite all the challenges to bring reformation and peace to America, he didn't stop. Dr. King advanced through adversity. His life and message inspired me through my own personal trials not to be a "pain waster." Because of this, "I still have a dream."

-- Pastor Archie LeVias Jr., Seed of Joy Worship Center in Modesto Prayed for black brothers

I have often pondered his "I Have a Dream" speech. Truly, it is one of the most powerful, persuasive talks I've ever heard, especially the part where he longed for the day "when little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." I remember my young, blond, blue-eyed grandson quoting his speech in front of our predominantly white congregation.

Some years ago, it dawned on me that I had no African-American pastor friends. I asked God to bring some brothers of the darker hue into my life, where we could sit together, pray together, eat and fellowship together, and care for each other.

As I opened my heart and reached out in friendship, I have benefited many times over by the richness of new friends, the fellowship that bridges culture and the personal support in time of need. Dr. Martin Luther King was right. It's a dream all of us need to embrace, and when we do, we will be blessed.