Centenary United Methodist Church: founded in 1865, has a legacy of social justice. From its start after the Civil War to Rev. Jim Lawson, architect of the Civil Rights Movement, the church continues to live out its baptismal identity.

Centenary Methodist Church in Memphis was a crucial hub during the 1968 Sanitation Workers' Strike, serving as a meeting place and base for organizers like Rev. James Lawson, who led the strike committee from there, mobilizing support for better wages and conditions, and hosting key strategy sessions, including one attended by Martin Luther King Jr. just before his assassination, highlighting the church's pivotal role in this pivotal civil rights struggle.

Key Connections

• Meeting Point: Centenary Methodist Church hosted vital meetings for the striking workers and SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) leaders, as mentioned in accounts of MLK's final days.
• Leadership Hub: Reverend James Lawson, a key organizer and leader in the strike, was the pastor of Centenary and used the church as a center for planning and organizing the union's efforts.
• Support Base: The church provided a physical and spiritual space for the Black community to gather, strategize, and show solidarity with the sanitation workers demanding fair treatment and recognition as "I AM A MAN".
• MLK's Last Visit: On April 3, 1968, the day before his assassination, Dr. King attended a meeting at Centenary Methodist Church, underscoring the church's central role in the strike's momentum.

The Strike's Significance

• The strike began after two sanitation workers, Echol Cole and Robert Walker, were tragically crushed by a truck, highlighting dangerous working conditions.
• It became a major fight for economic justice, uniting labor and civil rights movements, and brought national attention to workers' rights issues.

Memphis is an active member of MICAH, Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope, a coalition of community and faith-based organizations joining together to give a more powerful voice for issues of justice in our city.