DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD GOES TO FINNEY

Rev. Dr. Leon Finney
Rev. Dr. Leon Finney

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD GOES TO FINNEY

CHICAGO – As a theologian whom one colleague said is able to join “Jesus and justice,” the Rev. Dr. Leon Finney, Jr., is well deserving of the Distinguished Alumni Award presented by the McCormick Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago.

He was honored on Thursday, October 20, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. at the alumni luncheon, which was held in the Common Room at the seminary, located on 5460 S. University Ave. Dr. Finney also addressed the gathering.

Dr. Finney, one of the most noted black theologians in Chicago, has made a lifetime of helping others and of fighting for their civil rights over the past 50 years. He began in the social and racial strife of the 1960s and still remains viable and relevant a half-century later as sadly, some of same social unrest we saw back then remains in front-page news in 2016.

Dr. Finney was honored because he’s “made a great contribution as a local activist, a church leader and a community organizer,” said Dr. David Daniels III, a Henry Winter Luce professor of World Christianity with McCormick Theological Seminary.

“Dr. Finney has a done a great job of combining an understanding of Jesus and justice. It provides theological depth to his political involvement, his social activism. He’s committed to social justice his entire adult life,” Dr. Daniels said.

“Dr. Finney has remained committed to the plight of the poor."What makes Dr. Finney special is that many of those in the civil rights movement stepped away in the 1970s, but Dr. Finney did not,” Dr. Daniels said.

“He remains committed. That is unique.” Dr. Finney, who was honored to receive the award, chose to study at McCormick because of its distinguished faculty and tradition of preparing its graduates to work in diverse communities and to work in an interdenominational and interfaith context.”

“I went to McCormick because I wanted to use what I learned there to teach others. It’s my theological understandings that help much of the work I currently do, in the church as well as outside. I have worked in social justice ministry in Korea, in Israel and, of course, with Mr. Nelson Mandela of South Africa,” Dr. Finney said.

“I’m grateful for the preparation and theological foundation that forms a base for the social justice ministry of not only my church, but other churches in our city, state and nation,” said Dr. Finney, who believes organized religion has historically helped to civilize humankind.

Dr. Finney recently was called in by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to provide some advice and counsel for addressing the response to the release of the Laquan McDonald tape.

Over the past five decades, he has been at the table several times to bring about change in the city. Little has changed, he said. In fact, he still has the Metcalfe Report for police reform that he worked on in the early 1970s.

He has not forgotten his roots, either, and remains dedicated to Chicago and his congregation of the Metropolitan Apostolic Church, working with Urban Broadcast Media and the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation.

“Dr. Finney is one of the most thoughtful and authentic leaders who has a vision,” added Dr. Byron Brazier, of the Apostolic Church of God.

Dr. Finney served in the U.S. Marines and was honorably discharged in 1966. He currently is convener of the Metropolitan Faith in Action Conference, a coalition of community based organizations.

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