March 15, 2025
Sylvester Turner had a remarkable life. He grew up in acres homes, at a time when it was considered to be the largest African-American community in the southern United States. Even after graduating as valedictorian, even after going to Harvard, even after serving in a high-power law firm and then starting his own, even after serving as a state senator, even after becoming mayor of Houston, even after serving as a U.S. representative, he continued to live in the community that nurtured him. He never forgot his roots.
I experienced him to be self deprecating, humorous, a careful listener, a bridge builder, and a challenger. We ended up together at numerous events. He would call faith leaders together to listen to us, and then to focus us on issues that mattered to the community. I enjoyed hearing him let his guard down at the Black Heritage Society Gala. We would see each other at the Martin Luther King parade. He presented me with award for the work of the 30,000 kids that came to Houston with the ELCA youth gathering, for the work they did in the community.
He was staunchly opposed to family separation and detention.
At the candlelight vigil in June 2016, following the pulse nightclub shooting, he said,
“If we are going to conquer hate, we are going to have to do it together…
“For those 49, the music will go on. We will dance for them. We will speak for them…
“We may be the most diverse city in the US, but diversity is just a word. We are also inclusive. We recognize in this city that every person’s life has value. Every person’s life has meaning…
“In this city we say no to hate. We say no to discrimination. We say no to terrorist activities. We say no to anyone who would divide us. We stand as one…
“What will we do to keep their lives active, so that their deaths will not be in vain? We have to push back our hate. We can’t come together tonight and go home tomorrow like its business as usual…
“When one person in our society is impacted, we are all impacted. On Sunday, every one of us was diminished…
“So tonight in this city, we come together to remember and not forget, that in the midst of all these tall buildings, and city hall lit up in many colors, we stand here tonight in this city to say we are rededicating ourselves to this city that is so diverse… We are not going to make anyone second-rate citizens.”
“We’re gonna dance for them and make this city better than it’s ever been…”
—Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
Houston Candlelight Vigil
Last week, after attending Trump’s speech at the joint session of the two houses of Congress, he went home and died in the early hours of March 5.
The funeral today
Over 20 members of Congress took the time to come, Republican and Democrat that speaks volumes.
I sat with fellow clergy. My friend Pastor Harvey Clemons from Pleasant Hill Baptist, with whom I walked the Edmund Pettus Bridge. (I preached at PHB once…) Rev. John Ogletree of First Metropolitan Church, with whom I have served in various committees. Pastor Joel Osteen and his mother Dodie. I first met Dodie when I preached at the week of prayer for Christian unity service at Lakewood Church. Joel and I met when we were both presented awards by Mayor Turner (ours for the work of the ELCA youth gathering in Houston). The Rev. James Dixon of The Community of Faith Church, who faithfully shown up anytime there is a disaster, need, or tragedy in the community. So many faces over the last two decades, faces I will miss.
No one knows how to express lament and celebration together like Church Without Walls. Joy and sorrow. Laughter and tears. Historic black gospel music is a gift to the world, too often left unopened. Passion and pathos borne out of a trail of tears.
I am thankful for Sylvester Turner. He was passionate, kind, visionary, and hopeful.
