From the Pulpit: Remembering Bishop John Walker

On what would have been Bishop John Walker's 100th birthday, Canon Rose Duncan said Walker's life reflected Scriptural lessons on public advocacy rooted in intimate prayer.

Bishop Walker was the first Black bishop of Washington, and he cut his teeth in the civil rights movement. He was the first Black graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, started as Canon Missioner at the Cathedral, then served as bishop and dean before he died unexpectedly in 1989, just one year before the building was finished.

Rose said Bishop Walker’s life shows what the Scriptures demand. Recalling his speech from 1977:

He wrote, “The church, like its Lord, must stand firmly at the point where the church and the world meet, and the church must address the issues of the day.” Bishop Walker tirelessly advocated for social justice, uniting diverse individuals under the banner of understanding. His advocacy also included speaking out against apartheid in South Africa, and his arrest, his life, demonstrated the church’s role in transforming the world through acts of love.

A true family man, we all benefited by his family sharing so much of him with us. Bishop Walker’s legacy continues to inspire and impact lives through Africa, the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys and the John Walker Learning Center. But that legacy also compels us to actively challenge injustice, to build bridges of understanding, empower the marginalized and envision and work towards a more equitable future for all. This is indeed as much needed now, if not more than during Walker’s life. Like him, we are called to embody Jesus Christ by declaring and enacting a kingdom of righteousness and peace, especially among the vulnerable and outcast, the poor, the immigrant, our trans and siblings, and those whose human rights are systematically being withdrawn and repealed.

My dear siblings in Christ, we are called to examine our hearts for any complicity in systems of oppression.

Called to work for racial reconciliation and justice.

Called to use our voices to support policies that promote equality and dismantle discrimination.

Called to remember that every human being bears the image of God and deserves dignity and respect.

May we pray with persistence, act with courage, and strive for justice.