The Benjamin Elijah Mays Induction Crown Forum

36th Annual

Martin Luther King Jr. College of Ministers & Laity and Rededication of the Chapel

Benjamin Elijah Mays

Induction Crown Forum

Thursday, Oct. 13. 2022 at 11 a.m.

“Saving Democracy While Thriving in the Wake of Cosmic Trauma”

[] Benjamin Elijah Mays Induction Crown Forum

The Reverend Danté R. Quick, Ph.D.

The Reverend Danté R. Quick, Ph.D., was installed as the fourth senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) in Somerset, NJ on June 12, 2022.

Prior to joining FBCLG, Pastor Quick served Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo, California, for more than ten years. He began his pastoral ministry there on Aug. 1, 2010 and was installed as senior pastor on Aug. 7, 2011. After his arrival, the church had extraordinary growth, both spiritually and numerically. Only eight weeks into his tenure, Reverend Quick and the Friendship family were featured on the front page of the Times-Herald as “one of the largest African-American congregations in Vallejo.”

Pastor Quick was born and reared in Washington, D.C. He relocated to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a concentration in pre-law. While at Morehouse, he was one of the first recipients of the William H. Cosby Grant for Landmark College’s gifted-dyslexic student program.

Pastor Quick accepted his call to ministry under the pastorate of the Reverend Dr. Aaron L. Parker of the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta. In response to his commitment to serve God, Pastor Quick received a Master of Divinity with a concentration in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ. He was the recipient of the Jean Anne Swope and James L. Mechem Prize in Christian Ethics. He served as the president of the Association of Black Seminarians, an organization that represents all Princeton seminarians of the African Diaspora. Pastor Quick also served on numerous student/faculty committees and as a graduate chaplain for the African-American students at Princeton University. Pastor Quick published his first article entitled, “The Relevance of Race,” in the Princeton Theological Review and is a contributor to the African-American Lectionary.

Pastor Quick has served both the church and the academy in several capacities. In 2006, he was called to serve New Liberation Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, which experienced phenomenal growth in attendance and internal love. In addition, Pastor Quick served as a policy analyst for ITC/Faithfactor, a presidential initiative of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. In that capacity, he developed and delivered training materials and programs to aid African-American churches and leaders in engaging in community development programming.

Secularly, Pastor Quick has served in the offices of Mayor Marion Barry, Congressman John Lewis, and Governor Zell Miller. He also served as the legislative representative for the Atlanta Board of Education. In these capacities, he has addressed audiences at the National Conference of Black Mayors, the World Conference of Mayors, and the National Conference of Black Men. He also served as the special programs administrator for the Fulton County district attorney in Atlanta.

Pastor Quick relocated to the Bay area to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophical and systematic theology, as well as African-American Studies, at the Graduate Theological Union, University of California at Berkeley. Upon his acceptance, he was awarded the President’s Award and the William Randolph Hearst Scholarship. His studies were focused on the theology of Howard Thurman and the political philosophy of Ralph Bunche en route to the construction of an African-American political theology. He was the first appointed Howard Washington Thurman Teaching Fellow at the American Baptist Seminary of the West where he was responsible for teaching constructive and systematic theology and ethics. Pastor Quick was also one of only 12 Ph.D. students selected as a Wabash/Teagle Religious Educator Fellow at the Graduate Theological Union. He also served as the student representative on the Graduate Theological Union Board of Trustees.

On September 8, 2017, Pastor Quick was conferred with his Ph.D. in philosophical and systematic theology with a focus on African American Studies. Pastor Quick is the proud parent of Alexander Danté and Kennedy Danielle.

preLude

processiona L

sounding of the shofar

Induction Crown Forum

The Reverend Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. Presiding Founding Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Religion

“Fantasia in G Major, BWV 572”

Johann Sebastian Bach “Now Thank We All Our God” Sigfrid Karg-Elert

ca LL to order

Dr. David Francis Oliver

“Trumpet Voluntary” John Stanley Dr. Oliver

Senior Rabbi Larry R. Sernovitz Mr. Jonathan Warner Temple Kol Emeth Marietta, GA

The Reverend Dean Carter Sr.

the Litany for r ededication of the chapeL Dean Carter

the r ededication prayer

The Right Rev. Robert Christopher Wright 10th Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta Atlanta, GA

the charge to the inductees

The Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown ’64 Senior Pastor, Third Baptist Church San Francisco, CA

2022 Class of Inductees

M artin L uther k ing J r . b oard of p reachers , s ponsors , and c o LL egiu M of s cho L ars

Sa’ed Atshan Marlon Bailey David Ballard II

Candice Marie Benbow

Joshua Brandon Bennett Regina N. Bradley Cornell William Brooks

Danielle L. Brown Thema Bryant Vernon Orville Burton Anthea Butler

Timothy Careathers

Sylvia Cook

Tori Cooper David M. Copeland

Claudette A. Copeland Vicki Crawford

Brandon Thomas Crowley James Earl Davis Tina Davis

Crystal Anne de Gregory Darrell Antonio Drumwright Cecil Andrew Duffie

Jerrolyn Sue Eulinberg* Joseph Evans

J. Louis Felton

Kenyatta R. Gilbert Jason Goulah Jaron Stephen Green Ahmad Tyree Greene-Hayes

Daniel G.P. Gutierrez Beverly Guy-Sheftall Renee K. Harrison Jodi Henderson Jessica Kendell Ingram Alicia Marie Johnson Deon K. Johnson Cory L. Jones Shonda Jones Elijiah Bernard Jordan

Axelle Karera Gail N. Kemp

Joel Bernard Kemp

Robert Wright Lee IV

Asa Jerome Lee Raquel S. Lettsome Velma E. Love

David Marriott Allison Mathews Marcyus McCullough

Joel Mitchell

Naomi A. Mitchell

Marshall Paul Hughes Mitchell Maurice Joseph Nutt Terry Ofori

T. Anansi Olajuawon LaVon Owens James Perkins Anthony B. Pinn Phillip L. Pointer Sr.

Dante R. Quick Sr. David Wall Rice Anthony Lamar Riley Floyd E. Rose Cassius Rudolph Michael Sawyer Eugene James Se’Bree* Larry R. Sernovitz Edward L. Thomas John Thomas III Darrell Tiller Priscilla Wilder Andrew James Wilkes Gabriella Elizabeth Cudjoe Wilkes

Reginald W. Williams Jr. Matthew Wesley Williams Shante Younger Marvin Clyde Zanders II

Benjamin Elijah Mays Induction Crown Forum

The Reverend Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. Presiding

Founding Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Religion

presentation of citations Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Morehouse College Glee Club

introduction of speaker

Wor Ld preMiere r ededication a ntheM

“See the Victory Before Us and Walk On” Words and Music Dr. Uzee Brown Jr. ’72

ser Mon “A House Is Not A Home: A Solomonic Phenomenology”

David A. Thomas, Ph.D. 12th President, Morehouse College

Morehouse College Glee Club

coLLege hy M n

The Reverend Dr. Dante R. Quick Sr. ’92 Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens Somerset, NJ

“A Salute to the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel” Ambassador Andrew J. Young

Former U.S. Congressman; First African American Ambassador to the United Nations; Former Mayor, City of Atlanta; Co-Chairman, Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games

“Dear Old Morehouse” J.O.B. Mosley ’29

Dr. David Edward Morrow ’80 Professor, Chair of the Music Department, Director of the Glee Club

Dr. David Francis Oliver Morehouse College Organist

Elijah Mays

Induction Crown Forum

L itany for the rededication of the M artin L uther king J r . internationa L chape L

DEAN LAWRENCE EDWARD CARTER SR.:

Because President Samuel Graves made Morehouse College a geographical memorial, engraving a moral imperative to sanctioning the Emancipation Proclamation for freeing American slaves and sustaining Reconstruction; a memorial honoring Blacks, who under the courageous leadership of Harriet Tubman, strengthened the Northern army and nobly gave their lives to preserve the Union, We, the inescapable we the people, rededicate the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on this hallowed ground to fulfill the spiritual ideal that all persons are created equal. We rededicate the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel to the healing of the omniverse as our sacred thriving home, and to breaking the colonial grip on the curriculum of the global academy in the wake of cosmic trauma.

CONGREGATION:

Because American slavery was a war against African culture and the structure of the African family, we rededicate the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel for the sake of peace as a fortress for humanity awakening to its spiritual magnificence, toward discovering the creative healing power of divine thoughts, and virtue-ethical technologies. Like Dr. King, we dream a world where every person discovers their own personal agency and ability to evolve an individual life working within the Cosmos, laboring, and achieving for everyone.

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel as an affirmatorium to illuminate the inner nature of human beings, and to inspire them to live and grow as one planetary family that respects and honors the interconnectedness of all life; that honors a world where this kinship with all life prospers and connects under the guidance of truth telling, inclusive ancient sacred wisdom, and moral cosmopolitan values.

CONGREGATION:

We rededicate the Chapel as nurturer of ancient world religions: Hindu-Buddhist-Judaic-ChristianIslamic love, light, life, and learning. We rededicate the Chapel to “a darkly radiant vision, the Black Social Gospel” tradition that Martin Luther King Jr. shadowed to envision the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice and joy.

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel to a world where personal accountability joins critical conscience in every area of environmental, political, spiritual, medical, corporate, academic, economic, and cosmic sectors, providing equitable structures to further the emerging universal consciousness.

CONGREGATION:

We rededicate the Chapel to being an intentional spiritual community, working for authentic inclusive security for our infinite dwelling, understanding that the key to a flourishing catholic future is the abolition of nuclear weapons.

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel to a solar system in which resources are valued, cared for, and grown, and where there is generous, and continuous sharing of these resources internationally.

CONGREGATION:

We rededicate the Chapel to being a determined divine community, striving for sustainable cooperation as a metaphor for justice, integrity, and peace, by focusing on viable responses to the unmet human needs of perpetrators of physical and verbal violence, so all their days will unfold in serenity, strength, and happiness.

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel to be a culture where forgiveness and reconciliation are the norm, and where there are thousands of useful nonviolent ways to respond effectively to conflict, handle anger, stop violence, and anything that hurts, including interruptions, especially silence.

Benjamin Elijah Mays

Induction Crown Forum

L itany for the rededication of the M artin L uther king J r . internationa L chape L

CONGREGATION:

We rededicate the Chapel to being a mentoring environment committed to respecting the sacredness of life, to usher in a total dignitarian sociality, where we teach, preach, and reveal that the most important skill in practicing nonviolence is respectful and compassionate listening to what other people say to fully understand their real feelings.

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel to a galaxy that has renewed its emphasis on beauty and nature, through the resurgence of creativity, art, and aesthetics.

CONGREGATION:

We rededicate the Chapel to being wedded to a cosmic consciousness of solidarity rights by co-creating an axiologically-inclusive and healthy learning environment for all children and adults in schools and in society, reverential toward differences in people!

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel to a megaverse that is expanding for everyone and for all of God’s creation.

CONGREGATION:

We rededicate the Chapel to being the beloved economic, political, religious global community, committed to participating in and protecting the rights of all to finance, vote, and worship in ways befitting a democratic republic.

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel, not to perfection, but to a faithful spiritual practice, without judgment, because compassion, encouragement, and affirmation are far better motivators for staying on the path to wholeness. Our desire is greater empathy and connection with our souls, humanity, and the consciousness of God.

CONGREGATION:

We rededicate the Chapel to embracing the parliament of all the people, a United Nationscentered effort to overcome the climate crisis, and the consequences of American slavery.

DEAN CARTER:

We rededicate the Chapel to put human life on an ascending course to become stronger, better, and wiser; and by so doing, bless unborn generations with the harmony of diversity—maturity, and metropolitan value pluralism.

CONGREGATION:

Our North Star must be our shared obligation and responsibility, which check all personal, social, and religious freedoms to guarantee our being, knowing, and civilization.

We, the trustees, administrators, staff, faculty, alumni, students, and neighbors extend our profound gratitude to President Hugh Morris Gloster Sr., President Walter Eugene Massey, and President David Anthony Thomas, all of whom made this Rededication of the Chapel possible.

ALL:

We rededicate the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel to the call to Christ consciousness, to “Enough Love” and enough service to transform the world, so all may wear the crown! As Emmett Fox has said,

“There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer: no disease that love will not heal: no door that enough love will not open…

It makes no difference how deep set the trouble: how hopeless the outlook: how muddled the tangle: how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.

If only you could love enough you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world.”

So Be It! And So, It Is! Amen! by Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.+

Induction Crown Forum

See the Victory Before Us and Walk On!

Words by Dr. Uzee Brown Jr. ’72

1 Here we stand, surrogate voices— of those who have been silenced— by tragedy, indifference and time.

We stand amidst a world where deception freely roams, And integrity and truth are held as crime.

Refrain:

Yet reverently we stand the heirs of this great land, and lift our voices high with cheerful song!

Walk on by faith, walk on with hope, with renewed determination to press on sing praise to the God of all creation, the hope of every nation see the victory before us and walk on!

2 Here we stand, bearing witness, to nature’s aberrations. Where disasters, unpredictable plague the near and distant lands.

Oblivious to change, so many fail to heed—foreboding signs the universe commands.

Refrain:

Yet reverently we stand the heirs of this great land, and lift our voices high with cheerful song!

Walk on by faith, walk on with hope, with renewed determination to press on sing praise to the God of all creation, the hope of every nation see the victory before us and walk on!

3 Here we stand, champions of freedom, where courageous voices cry out, and fight for justice every day.

We have thrived amidst the threats that democracy may fail, as we face new jolts and struggles on the way.

Refrain:

Yet reverently we stand the heirs of this great land, and lift our voices high with cheerful song!

Walk on by faith, walk on with hope, with renewed determination to press on sing praise to the God of all creation, the hope of every nation see the victory before us and walk on!

See the victory before us and walk on! Yes, just walk on!

Dear Old Morehouse

Dear old Morehouse, dear old Morehouse, We have pledged our lives to thee; And we’ll ever, yea forever, Give ourselves in loyalty.

True forever, true forever, To old Morehouse may we be; So to bind each son the other, Into ties more brotherly.

Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Make us steadfast, honest, true, To old Morehouse, and her ideals, And in all things that we do.