January 4, 2005

The deaths of two political pioneers - Shirley Chisholm and Robert T. Masui-are bringing outpourings of praise for their faith and service to their country and to the United Methodist Church.

Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress and one of the first women to vie for presidency, was also a devoted United Methodist who "cared deeply for children." She died Jan. 1 at a nursing home near her home in Ormond Beach, Fla. She was 80.

U.S. Representative Robert T. Matsui (D) California, a former Japanese-American prisoner during World War II, died suddenly Jan. 2 following a rare blood disorder. Matsui was baptized in 1980 at Sacramento (Calif.) Japanese United Methodist Church. Though he lived on the east coast, Matsui and his family considered the Sacramento church their home church.

Chisholm had been a member of Janes United Methodist Church, Brooklyn, New York, since 1962. Longtime friend and fellow church member Chiquita Smith remembers her as "the best fund raiser we ever had, especially when the cause was for children."

Smith said Chisholm was always smiling and "welcoming people when she came into the church."

"She would have children from everywhere participating in events in the church," Smith said. "She was well liked by the United Methodist Women and was active where ever she could be active." Anytime she presented a bill in Congress, she always made sure someone from her church was there, Smith said.

Throughout her career, Chisholm fought on behalf of women and blacks. She also fought for the working poor, Haitian refugees, Native American land rights and poor mothers. She once said one of her greatest achievements was the inclusion of domestic workers under the minimum wage law.

The Rev. Robert O. Simpson, pastor of Janes United Methodist Church, said plans are incomplete for a memorial service for Chisholm. Though he did not know her he said, "many people in the church have fond memories of her."

Congressman Matsui's death was announced Sunday morning at Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, where the Rev. Gary Grundman has pastored for the past six months. "We had not known of the congressman's illness. Once we confirmed he had passed, we announced it to our congregation, offering prayers for he and his family."

The Rev. Mark Nakagawa who co-pastored Sacramento Japanese UMC from 1985-94, remembered the congressman as a man of justice and compassion. Nakagawa says he saw that most vividly during the creation of the civil liberties act of 1988 which Matusi authored. The Civil Liberties act, signed by President George Bush authorized federal redress and reparations to Japanese Americans who were interred during World War II.

"Even though he was deeply scarred by the internment's impact on his family, Bob didn't allow those feelings to drive him. There's no doubt in my mind that his understanding on issues of justice and compassion, his theology, did that."

Matsui was just three months old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and he and his parents were shipped to the Tule Lake internment camp. Nakagawa recalled the importance Matsui, and other Japanese-American Congressmen placed on Japanese American church during that time.

Congressman Robert Matsui is survived by his wife, son and one grandchild.

The body of the congressman will lay in state beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6 in the State Capitol rotunda in Sacramento. There will be a public memorial service Jan. 8, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J Street, Sacramento. The event is open to the public, subject to limited seating. An interfaith funeral service will be held Saturday at 12:00 noon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N Street, Sacramento. A private burial will follow the services.

United Methodist News Service
Jeanne Jones, conference communicator for the California-Nevada Conference, contributed to this report.