Passing Of A Prophet - Rev. William Sloan Coffin, Jr.

United Church of Christ minister and prominent peace activist William Sloan Coffin died April 12 at age 81. I remember him best for his fiery speeches during the 1970's against the Vietnam War. He had already made a name for himself as an advocate of civil disobedience during the Civil Rights Movement. He was a Freedom Rider and helped organize bussloads of activists to challenge segregation laws in the South.

His voice in the church, for tolerance, peace and justice rang clear and his influence on American culture was profound. When defending the recent television campaign of the UCC he said about fundamentalists, "The UCC properly implied that millions of American Christians are at odds with the Christian Right. In reality, there are no biblical literalists, only selective literalists."

It is my hope that other voices with the clarity and strength of Coffin's will take up the struggle and continue to work for peace and justice in our country and the world.