The Progressive Religious Coalition (PRC) of Augusta, GA, held its first meeting in December of 2004. Several community voices coalesced to form the PRC. Initial organizing interests were certain progressive clergy, women’s rights activists, and individuals invested in fostering greater moral, ethical, and spiritual governance. The actual defining and formal organizing process for the PRC was not undertaken until 2012.
From its inception, spiritual concerns have been at the forefront of the PRC’s mission. While not restricted to professional clergy, membership in the PRC has consistently had significant leadership from religious professionals and clergy.
The PRC has historically judged its “primary mission” to be about impacting the “common good” concerns of, but not limited to, the Augusta community. The PRC holds, however, that its scope can have regional, national, and international import. The PRC and its members have had viable influence through contributions to publications, organized symposia, media exposure, worship, teaching, political activism and advocacy, and various consciousness-raising efforts on personal levels.
An annual event in the Augusta area that has garnered impressive community response and media attention has been the PRC-sponsored “interfaith” Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute worship service. Along with the unique opportunity for multi-faith dialogue and co-worship, this event has showcased several notable progressive religious keynoters since its inception January 15, 2008.
Past Keynote Speakers from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Interfaith Service
| 2008 | Mike McCullen |
| 2009 | Mike Wynn, News Editor, Augusta Chronicle |
| 2010 | Rev. Otis Moss, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta |
| 2011 | Omar Neal, the mayor of Tuskegee, Ala. |
| 2012 | Rev. Raphael Warnock, Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta |
| 2013 | Congressman Rev. Emanuel Cleaver |
| 2014 | Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas Gandhi |
| 2015 | Dr. Cornel West |
| 2016 | Rev. Veronica Goines |
| 2017 | Rev. Dr. William Barber II, Moral Monday Movement |
| 2018 | Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley |
| 2019 | Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers |
| 2020 | Rev. Dr. William Barber II, President, Poor People’s Campaign |
| 2021 | Dr. Peniel Joseph, LBJ School of Public Affairs |
| 2022 | (Cancelled due to COVID-19) |