{"id":104529,"date":"2025-09-26T22:24:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T22:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/?page_id=104529"},"modified":"2025-11-12T19:36:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T19:36:46","slug":"murray-archive","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/murray-archive\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray Archive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\n A Force for Positive Social Change\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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The Rev. Dr. Cecil Murray (1929-2024) was exemplary for his compelling preaching and his leadership within and beyond the four walls of his church.<\/p>\n

His commitment to civic engagement and community development continues to inspire the work of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.<\/p>\n

We invite you to learn from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n \n\n Sermon Archive \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
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\n A Life of Faith and Service\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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Rev. Murray served as pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles (FAME) for 27 years (1977-2004).<\/p>\n

His captivating preaching and service to the wider community helped him transform FAME from a congregation of 250 members into an 18,000-person church. Rev. Murray played an instrumental role in healing a fractured metropolis after Los Angeles’ 1992 civil unrest<\/strong>.\u00a0FAME brought jobs, housing and corporate investment into South Los Angeles neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

In addition to leading major initiatives to address the social and economic inequities, Rev. Murray was known for his pastoral care for individuals and his mentoring.<\/p>\n

At USC, Rev. Murray trained more than 1,000 faith leaders in community development and civic engagement. Today, the 5 M\u2019s of the \u201cMurray Method”<\/strong> of church leadership remain applicable to congregations and faith organizations with the desire to thrive and serve others. He taught leaders to pay attention to their organization’s mission<\/em>, membership<\/em>, money<\/em>, maintenance<\/em> and morale<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Watch a video profile of Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n
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\n Learn more about Rev. Murray’s life and impact\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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\n\n \n \n \n\n Video: Memories of Rev. Murray \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray Sermon Archive<\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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With the participation of First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME), the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture and the USC Digital Library has created a digital archive of the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. \u201cChip\u201d Murray\u2019s sermons and interviews in order to capture how Rev. Murray has been a force for positive social change in Los Angeles for more than four decades.<\/p>\n

More than 450 pieces are available through the USC Digital Library.<\/a> Select sermons, including sermons from notable historical events and ordinary Sundays, are available on YouTube and in a sermon workbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

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\n Sermons by Rev. Murray\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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Watch sermons by the Rev. Cecil L. Murray at First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

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\n May 3, 1992: “Making You an Offer You Can\u2019t Refuse”<\/span>\n Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray<\/span>\n On the 1992 Civil Unrest<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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\n September 16, 2001: “Above the Madness”<\/span>\n Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray<\/span>\n On the 9\/11 Terrorist Attacks<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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\n October 1, 1995: “Healing First, Hugging Second”<\/span>\n Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray<\/span>\n On Social Inequities and the OJ Simpson Trial<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
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