A Methodist minister for more than 50 years, Rev. James Lawson served as pastor of Holman from 1974 until his retirement in 1999. He remains active with preaching and teaching engagements throughout the country along with conducting nonviolence workshops locally and overseas. He leads his nonviolence workshop every fourth Saturday at Holman.
Rev. Lawson is also internationally recognized as the leading strategist and trainer in the principles of nonviolence to 1960s Civil Rights leaders as well as being a confidant of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Time Magazine listed Rev. Lawson as one of seven icons of the civil rights movement who paved the way for President Barack Obama’s historic election. In addition, he had held professorships at several institutions including Vanderbilt University, Harvard University, CSU Northridge, and UCLA.
Some of Rev. Lawson’s significant work can be explored by clicking on the following links:
James Lawson: Reflections on Life, Nonviolence, Civil Rights, MLK