Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday in the United States, which honors Dr. King and his legacy of nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement.
Designated a federal holiday in 1986, it has been officially observed in all 50 states only since 2000. The campaign to create the holiday began in 1968, shortly after Dr. King's assassination.
According to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”):
The King Holiday should highlight remembrance and celebration and should encourage people everywhere to reflect on the principles of nonviolent social change and racial equality as espoused by Martin Luther King Jr. It should be a day of community and humanitarian service, and interracial cooperation.
Many seminaries and theological schools celebrate MLK Day through lectures, days of service, and special chapel celebrations. Listed below are a few of the celebrations taking place this week around the country.
- Claremont School of Theology will host its 37th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on February 10. The event will include a worship service, sermon, and lecture.
- Covenant Seminary is cosponsoring an event to Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Fuller Theological Seminary's Martin Luther King Celebration includes chapel services and a lecture.
- Luther Seminary is hosting a day of events to celebrate Dr. King, including plenary sessions, speakers, and discussion, in addition to chapel services.
- Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago presents its fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and Luncheon.
- Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will take part in the 31st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in Pittsburgh.
- Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology is cosponsoring the 24th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Prayer Service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Shaw University School of Divinity offers the Shaw University Martin Luther King Celebration, which includes music, a chapel service, and speaker.
- United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is hosting its 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast, which recognizes a “local or emerging legend.”
We’d love to hear from you. How is your school planning to celebrate, serve, or observe?
For more information about the history and celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, visit thekingcenter.org, wikipedia.org, and history.com.
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