Honoring Pauli Murray:

Celebrating a Trailblazer of Faith and Justice

“We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.”
—The Apostle Paul

On Sunday, June 22, at 5 p.m., St. John’s Cathedral will host a special liturgy to honor The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, a remarkable figure in American history and the life of the Episcopal Church. Her legacy reminds us of the breadth and depth of the Christian family story and the importance of faithful witness in every generation.

A daughter of the South, Pauli Murray spent much of her early life among extended family. Despite being rejected from institutions of higher learning due to her race and gender, she persevered. Murray became a lawyer, scholar, activist, poet, author, and in 1977, the first African American woman ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church.

Today, the Episcopal Church commemorates her life as part of its liturgical calendar of saints. The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice in Durham, North Carolina, welcomes visitors seeking to learn more about her extraordinary contributions. All collections received at the service—and any made online during the month of June—will be donated to the Center.

A Church That Reflects All God’s People
Our event on June 22 highlights an increasing awareness of the importance of the varied ministries of all the people of God and of the cultural diversity of the Episcopal church. The weekly liturgical calendar remembrances give us an opportunity to learn about those who have been “chosen vessels of God’s grace in their generations” and to be inspired by them. They challenge us to ask: What kind of witness is needed from us today?

When I think about a “cloud of witnesses,” I think about allies—those who stand alongside others, support their struggles, and share in their vision. Pauli Murray had many: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Thurgood Marshall, the Philadelphia Eleven, and her diverse faith communities. Her life was intertwined with theirs, just as ours are with those who walk with us in faith.

The Power of Allies
We need each other, especially when the road is hard and progress seems slow or receding. Some days it is hard to see the kingdom at hand as Jesus thought we should. The kin-dom of God is precious, and we gain strength when we come together as witnesses.

Join us on June 22 at 5 p.m. for a liturgy honoring Pauli Murray. Let us come together—across generations and stories—to celebrate the faith that sustained her, the courage that defined her, and the legacy that continues to inspire us.

Allies matter.
Sometimes, they make all the difference.

~The Rev. Dr. Linda Privitera