The Old Testament warns that “where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs, 29:18). At the celebration for his 65th birthday, Ambassador Charles Stith reminded everyone of that certainty. Stith’s prior professional incarnation as a Methodist minister inspired him to rely on gospel.
When reaching the age of 65, most Americans are about to enjoy retirement. Not so with Charles Stith. Invitations for his celebration declare that “God ain’t finished with him yet!” And Ambassador Andrew Young, the guest preacher at the October 26 service at Union United Methodist Church, confirmed that declaration with the comment that Moses was not called to divine service until the age of 80.
Stith is now director of the African Presidential Center at Boston University. The noble objective of the center which Stith founded is to provide an opportunity for former presidents of Sub-Saharan African countries to continue their public service with a commitment to democratic principles. Stith is especially qualified for that role. As the former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, Stith developed an extraordinary diplomatic reputation when he represented the U.S. there after the terrorist bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam.
When introducing Andrew Young, the guest preacher, to the congregation, Stith indicated that America is blessed to have two groups of founding fathers. There is George Washington and the signers of the Declaration of Independence who articulated the concept of freedom, justice and equality. And there was another group, Martin Luther King, Andrew Young, and those who battled in the Civil Rights Movement to make that vision a reality.
Most African Americans remember Andy Young as the able and top confidant of Rev. Martin Luther King. That he was, but Young also has considerable other achievements as a prominent resident of Atlanta. He was the mayor of Atlanta for two terms and was also elected to Congress. During the administration of Jimmie Carter he was appointed the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In that capacity he became involved with economic development in the Caribbean and Africa.
Both Stith and Young are U.S. ambassadors, titles which they will retain for life, but as ordained ministers, they are also as the program asserts, ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). The vision they both sustain is the blessed assurance of the economic well-being of those in this country and Africa who are presently suffering from economic privation.
As a pastor in Boston, Stith founded the Organization for a New Equality (O.N.E.) to expand economic opportunities for minorities and women. He recognized the importance of access to banks for mortgages and commercial loans. Stith astutely focused on requiring more cooperation from banks through requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).
Stith worked with the then Comptroller of the Currency Eugene Ludwig to develop more effective regulations. The COC is the regulator for federal banks. Those regulations are still in force today and are periodically opposed by conservatives.
As mayor of Atlanta, Young attracted $70 billion in private investment and helped create one million new jobs. He is now concerned about the development of Africa, the remaining underdeveloped continent. He is concerned that progress should be environmentally sound. Young predicts that Africa will one day have the world’s largest middle class.
Now that major civil rights issues have become less challenging, it is important to note that the warriors of those conflicts have now directed their attention to other matters. Clearly, the new vision is for financial sophistication and economic success in the marketplace.
