Current:Home > InvestCecil L. ‘Chip’ Murray, influential pastor and civil rights leader in Los Angeles, dies -MoneyStream
Cecil L. ‘Chip’ Murray, influential pastor and civil rights leader in Los Angeles, dies
View
Date:2025-04-12 23:24:49
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, an influential pastor and civil rights leader who used his tenure at one of Los Angeles’ oldest churches to uplift the predominantly Black neighborhoods of South Los Angeles following one of the country’s worst race riots, has died. He was 94.
Murray died on Friday, according to an announcement from the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture. He died of natural causes, his son, Drew Murray, told the Los Angeles Times.
Born in Lakeland, Florida, in 1929, Murray spent 27 years as the pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. The church was small when he took over. But by the time he retired, it had grown into an 18,000-member mega church.
In 1992, the acquittal of four police officers who were caught on video violently beating Rodney King triggered an explosion of violence in the predominantly Black neighborhoods of South Los Angeles. Murray emerged as a calming presence and was a frequent guest on national television news shows. He used his connections with the city’s political and business leaders to raise money for recovery efforts, including loans for businesses and assistance for people displaced by the violence.
“While many famous preachers have roots in Southern California, Chip Murray is unparalleled in his ability to mobilize the city of Los Angeles to heal the inequities related to race and income inequality,” said Donald E. Miller, the Leonard K. Firestone Professor of Religion at USC and co-founder of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture.
During his time as pastor, First AME became a must-stop for prominent politicians, including former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton along with former California governors Pete Wilson, Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Under Murray’s leadership, the church worked to transform the community through a host of programs and initiatives, including job training, support for foster children and developing affordable housing units for low-income families.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Murray dedicated his life to service, community and “putting God first in all things.”
“I had the absolute honor of working with him, worshiping with him, and seeking his counsel,” Bass said. “My heart is with the First AME congregation and community today as we reflect on a legacy that changed this city forever.”
After retiring as First AME’s pastor, he joined the faculty at the University of Southern California as the Tansey Professor of Christian Ethics, where he trained about 1,000 faith leaders in the “ Murray Method ” of church leadership.
veryGood! (96)
Related
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Is Daisy Jones & The Six Getting a Season 2? Suki Waterhouse Says…
- Did You Know These TV Co-Stars Are Actually Couples in Real-Life?
- Lola Consuelos Supports Parents Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos at Live With Kelly and Mark Debut
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- The White Lotus Season 3 Will Welcome Back a Fan Favorite From Season One
- Emperor penguins will receive endangered species protections
- Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin Reveals Official Cause of His Collapse While Announcing NFL Return
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Climate Tipping Points And The Damage That Could Follow
Ranking
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Elon Musk Speaks Out After SpaceX's Starship Explodes During Test Flight
- When illness or death leave craft projects unfinished, these strangers step in to help
- How glaciers melted 20,000 years ago may offer clues about climate change's effects
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Why Olivia Culpo Joked She Was Annoyed Ahead of Surprise Proposal From Christian McCaffrey
- Why experts say you shouldn't bag your leaves this fall
- The Myth of Plastic Recycling
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Climate Change Stresses Out These Chipmunks. Why Are Their Cousins So Chill?
Climate change is making the weather more severe. Why don't most forecasts mention it?
Extreme weather, fueled by climate change, cost the U.S. $165 billion in 2022
Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
Come along as we connect the dots between climate, migration and the far-right
3 tribes dealing with the toll of climate change get $75 million to relocate
Why Rachel McAdams Wanted to Show Her Armpit Hair and Body in All Its Glory