Reverend McGill Remembers Bishop Tutu and his Historic Visit to Fort Wayne
Tabitha Ervin
Ink Spot Contributing Editor
I was recently able to speak with Reverend McGill as he reflected on the great Archbishop Tutu and his time in Fort Wayne years ago.
In 2003 Archbishop Desmond Tutu came to Fort Wayne for the annual luncheon for One Church-One Offender, Inc led by Reverend Bill McGill. The organization run by the Rev. Bill McGill pairs non-violent offenders with local church congregations for mentoring and other support services.
The two originally met in Detroit in January of 1986 for an interfaith service and Reverend McGill stayed connected to Tutu and others dealing with Apartheid in South Africa.
When the luncheon came around that year in 2003, McGill reached out to him and his people to see if he could come and speak and he agreed.
The world was in a place of uncertainty as the Gulf War was going on and things were deteriorating around the globe, Tutu represented a nonviolent resistance similar to Dr. Martin Luther King, McGill recalls.
About 300 people attended the luncheon and heard Tutu’s message about the necessity of individuals,
South Africa in need of a peaceful resolution and how America is still fighting.
McGill remembers Tutu saying that one day South Africa would be free, it wasn’t a matter of how and why but when.
Tutu also stood on the ideals that the oppressed don’t become the oppressor.
He was South Africa’s Dr. King, says McGill and he always had one main message in his talks which were variations of the same message. Tutu always remained true to his moral compass.
There was a similar thread to Tutu’s stances as well as Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi, says McGill. In McGills reflection of them, McGill sees three steps forward and two back which has been marginal progress over long periods of time.
Good travels at a snail's pac. It takes a long time for change to happen.
McGill feels very privileged to have met and known him, he was a servant at heart. A gracious man, we are losing our great leaders.
