Coffin's Credo

When I was a graduate student at Columbia University, I was a member of the Riverside Church in Manhattan. It was then led by the Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., an ordained a Presbyterian minister, who served as senior minister of this United Church of Christ church, from 1976 to 1987.

I spent many Sunday mornings listening to his thought-provoking sermons. From the pulpit, he promoted peace, advocated for nuclear disarmament, protected the environment, and struggled to end poverty and homelessness. Rev. Coffin was one preacher who firmly believed in afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Now he is dead, passing away at the age of 81 on April 12. Those who want to attend his memorial service on April 20 at 4:00 p.m. can do it online through the Riverside Church's webcast.

Rev. Coffin left behind hundreds of sermons, speeches, and a couple of books. Fortunately, he compiled excerpts from this body of work into a handy book, Credo. I picked up a copy at the 216th General Assembly, in Richmond, VA.

As I re-read it earlier tonight, I was struck at how his words are still relevant today, especially as we face divisive issues during the 217th General Assembly. He writes:

"Rules at best are signposts, never hitching posts...We have to come up with love as an answer to legalism on the one hand and lawlessness on the other. Love hallows individuality. Love consecrates and never desecrates personality. Love demands that all our actions reflect a movement toward and not away from nor against each other. And love insists that all people assume their responsibility for all their relations."