The man known as america s preacher, and prince of preachers, dr. gardner c. taylor. the civil rights icon passed away sunday at the age of 96. for 42 years, he preached to 14,000 at concord baptist church of christ in brooklyn. i knew him since i was a young boy. he lived across the street from my pastor. he mentored generations of preachers, including some of my childhood heroes. in 2000 president bill clinton awarded him the presidential medal of freedom for his life s work. he was more than a preacher. he was an influential civil rights leader. a trend setter. he and dr. martin luther king jr. founded the progressive national convention. it seems fitting and appropriate that after a long journey of almost 100 years, dr. taylor
Would go see the lord on resurrection sunday. i ve known and have been blessed to be around dr. taylor literally all of my life. when i received news he had passed, i talked to his successor at concord, gary simpson. as i hung up the phone, i wondered why was i so sad? someone in their 90s, you suspect they will not live forever, but i thought about how not only was i sad because we will not have him around anymore, but the likes of him we probably will never see again. a regal bearing, a silver tongue a fertile mind. integrity unquestioned. he represented and personified the real highest form of american preaching and experience of the black church. gardner taylor only happens every once in a while. i m glad this while i got to