Mt. Teman AME Hosts 41st MLK Interfaith Service (2026)
Mt. Teman AME Church Hosts Elizabeth’s 41st MLK Interfaith Service
Date: January 11, 2026
Location: Mt. Teman AME Church, 160 Madison Ave, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
On January 11, 2026, Mt. Teman AME Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey hosted the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Service, continuing a decades-long tradition of faith-led civic leadership and community engagement in the city.
Organized by the MLK Committee of Elizabeth, the service brought together Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith leaders alongside elected officials, educators, students, and residents. The gathering reflected Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community as a lived, local practice rooted in dialogue, reflection, and shared responsibility.
The keynote message was delivered by Rev. Dale G. Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor-elect of New Jersey, who challenged attendees to move beyond remembrance toward action. His remarks emphasized justice, education, nonviolence, and sustained civic participation as ongoing work in the present moment.
The significance of the service extended beyond the sanctuary, with statewide coverage by NJ.com, which documented the keynote message and Elizabeth’s continued role in shaping New Jersey’s civic dialogue.
The official service program documented the breadth of Elizabeth’s civic and interfaith life, featuring scripture readings from multiple traditions, a mayoral proclamation, a city council resolution, musical selections, political poetry, and a public pledge of commitment grounded in Kingian nonviolence.
The program also announced a companion public remembrance event — a wreath-laying ceremony held on January 15, 2026 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Monument at Winfield Scott Plaza outside Elizabeth City Hall.
Event Artwork & Program (Primary Source Materials)
The official event artwork and printed program serve as primary historical records, preserving how Elizabeth visually and publicly marked the 41st MLK Interfaith Service in 2026.
Download the program:
2026 MLK Interfaith Service Program – Mt. Teman AME Church
