[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF REV. WILLIAM SLOANE COFFIN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the life of an 
American patriot, the Reverend William Sloane Coffin Jr. As a prophetic 
mouthpiece for God, Reverend Coffin spoke truth to power. He trumpeted 
the call to America to live up to its moral ideals by remembering the 
plight of the poor and oppressed at home and abroad. Reverend Coffin 
was a peace maker around the world, encouraging America and nations 
alike to pursue peace over war; ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they 
will be called children of God.''
  Reverend Coffin fought for civil rights and was a staunch opponent of 
the Vietnam war in the 1960's. In Montgomery he was arrested in protest 
of segregation in the South; he was a disciple and advocate of civil 
disobedience. He believed civil disobedience could bring social and 
political change in the world pervaded with inequality and injustice. 
As an ordained Presbyterian minister he adhered to a strong sense of 
call to social activism. He was in the early 60s the senior minister at 
the historic Riverside Church in my congressional district.
  His ministry focused on a variety of social and moral issues facing 
humanity. He drew attention to the plight of the poor, political and 
military power, nuclear disarmament and interfaith understanding. 
Reverend Coffin exemplified tremendous courage in standing up for what 
he believed was just and fair. He would often say that ``courage is the 
first virtue, because ``it makes all other virtues possible.'' Reverend 
Coffin was indeed courageous in his fight against genocide in certain 
parts of the world, particularly in Bosnia.
  ``Every minister is given two roles, the priestly and the 
prophetic.'' He would often remind his interviewers of this theological 
claim to help America and the world understand why a minister was 
concerned with social-political affairs. In the tumultuous years of the 
Vietnam war he was outspoken in opposition to the war along side 
another prominent minister, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He led major 
demonstrations in protest concerning the grave injustice and moral 
wrongness of the Vietnam war which garnered him international 
recognition. His prophetic role mandated Reverend Coffin to challenge 
the status quo on an international level.

  In addition to serving as a senior minister, Reverend Coffin also 
assumed the chaplaincy post at Yale University. At Yale, during the 
Vietnam war, he counseled and encouraged students to protest the draft 
by returning their draft cards to the Justice Department. He infuriated 
the Johnson administration but he stood courageous and firm. Students 
at Yale respected him for his genuine and sincere approach to ministry 
and were urged to become sensitive to social struggle around the world 
by championing the cause of justice and peace. He remained at Yale 
until 1976, when he began to work on world hunger programs.
  Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the life of Rev. William Sloane Coffin, 
his life reminds America that the voice of dissent is patriotism at its 
best. When he engaged in debate about American social policies and 
practices he would often characterize them as a partner engaged in a 
lovers' quarrel.

                          ____________________