Bishop G.E. Patterson, Friend of Working People

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/03/29/bishop-ge-patterson-friend-of-working-people/

Bishop G.E. Patterson, Friend of Working People

by James Parks, Mar 29, 2007

Working families and people of faith who support workers are mourning the death of Bishop G.E. Patterson, who was presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the nation’s largest African American Pentecostal denomination with more than 6 million members.

Patterson, 67, died last week in Memphis, Tenn., where COGIC is headquartered. He was a strong supporter of workers’ rights and had spoken out in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act and the freedom of workers to join unions. Patterson also spearheaded COGIC Charities, which raised more than $1 million to help the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. In a letter to Patterson’s family, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney wrote:

It is my belief that there is an unbreakable bond that exists between the church and labor unions, one that remains undisturbed with the passing of time, and we are grateful to Bishop Patterson for strengthening that bond.

One of Patterson’s messages was building on faith to bridge cultural and racial differences. “I don’t know why we ever got stuck on that thing that we’re only supposed to give witness to black folks,” he told a 2005 church convention, according to The New York Times.

[Rydz777]

1. Thanks for the post

It is appropriate that the passing of this good man is noted here. I watched him on TV from time to time, and not only was he a powerful speaker, but he had a positive and uplifting message, one that brought people together. May he rest in peace.