In an address to the Methodist Federation for Social Action Saturday night, Rev. Jeremiah Wright praised the group’s work on social issues and said their work “touches lives,” “fulfills scripture” but is “no where near finished.”

Wright was the keynote speaker for the Federation’s annual awards ceremony in Benton Auditorium in the Scheman Building, despite being ill with laryngitis. The Federation honored the work of Sol Varisco and Jeff Abbas in response to immigration raids in Postville last May as well as Sharon Malheiro for her role in the Iowa Supreme Court ruling supporting same-sex marriage.

Wright spoke about the experiences he had as a young pastor and shared stories from sermons he had heard other pastors give to drive home his message of social action.

“Jesus did not come to Earth to make heaven a better place,” Wright said. “He came to make Earth a better place.”

Wright said although the Federation’s work “fulfills the requirements of both books of the Bible,” there will always be causes worth fighting for.

“As long as politics are being played and policies are in place that demonize and dehumanize any part of God’s family…your work is not finished,” Wright said.  “So  I ask you to keep working.”

For more coverage of Wright’s keynote speech, see Tuesday’s Daily.