In 1961, Taylor gained national prominence when he, his friend and ally the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other black clergy members broke with the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. — America’s largest black Christian denomination — over its tepid support of civil rights and founded the Progressive National Baptist Convention, committed to social justice, desegregation and affirmative action. Mr. Taylor was its president from 1967 to 1969.
In 1980, TIME magazine called Taylor the “Dean of the Nation’s Black Preachers” and in 1996, Baylor University recognized his dynamic preaching ability as well. Various video clippings of Taylor’s sermons are viewed as masterpieces to this day. An author as well, Taylor wrote several books and authored over 2,000 sermons.
In 1993, Taylor preached a sermon at President Bill Clinton’s pre-inauguration event and in 2000, Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Taylor was 96. He is survived by his wife, Phillis, his daughter, Martha Taylor LaCroix and a step-grandson, Marcus LaCroix.
(Photo: Facebook)
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