MLK Day Altar Call to Action

Yesterday, the Presidential Inauguration Committee announced that the annual celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be an official part of the inauguration activities. They launched a new Web site, USAservice.org, as a hub for events around the country on January 19^th, the day before the inauguration. Groups around the country, including faith-based groups, are being invited to host a day of service and commitment. And people across the country are being invited to join those groups on the 19^th in their local communities.

I have been serving on advisory groups to the transition teams working on the role of civil society and faith-based organizations, one of which has focused on the MLK day of action. The emphasis has clearly been on more than a day of service, but also on commitment that lasts beyond the day. We're even calling it "an altar call" to take action in our own lives and families, our local communities, and in our nation on the big issues that we face. We have been exploring the possibilities of not just service but all kinds of civil action, including community organizing and advocacy on social justice issues. The president-elect will be giving a call to action on that day before he addresses the nation in his inaugural ceremony the next day.

I encourage all of the faith-based action groups and local churches in the Sojomail constituency to consider hosting one of these MLK events on January 19^th as a way of further reaching out to your local communities and involving more people in your ongoing work. Our work is never just for a day, but this day might be a good opportunity to introduce new people to your work and invite their commitment and involvement beyond a day of service. And I would encourage all the people on our Sojourners list to consider joining in one of these events in your community. Everyone is invited to go to the Web site to either host or join in an event.

Sojourners has been invited to put a link on USAservice.org to help people find resources and links to local and national groups in the faith community that they can connect with. Look for that update soon.