A Time for Burning is a 1966 American documentary film that explores the attempts of the minister of Augustana Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, to persuade his all-white congregation to reach out to "Negro" Lutherans in the city's north side. The film was directed by San Francisco filmmaker William C. Jersey and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature in the 1967 Academy Awards.[1][2] The film was commissioned by the Lutheran Church in America.
A Time for Burning
Directed by
William C. Jersey
Produced by
William C. Jersey
Starring
Rev. L. William Youngdahl, Ernie Chambers, Ray Cristensen
Cinematography
William C. Jersey
Music by
Barry Kornfeld
Production companies
Quest Productions Avernus Productions
Distributed by
Lutheran Film Associates
Release date
1966
Running time
56 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
The film is shot in "cinéma vérité" style. It chronicles the relationship between the minister, L. William Youngdahl (1927-2012), and his white and black Lutheran parishioners. Youngdahl was the son of former Minnesota governor and federal judge Luther Youngdahl. The film includes a meeting between Youngdahl and a black barber, Ernie Chambers, who tells Youngdahl that his Jesus is "contaminated." At one point another Omaha Lutheran minister, Walter E. Rowoldt of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, says, "This one lady said to me, 'pastor', she said, 'I want them to have everything I have, I want God to bless them as much as he blesses me, but', she says, 'pastor, I just can't be in the same room with them, it just bothers me'." Rowoldt and other ministers also discuss the concern that blacks moving into white neighborhoods will decrease property values.
The attempt to reach out does not succeed and Youngdahl resigns as minister of the church.
Chambers completed law school and was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1970. He served as Nebraska's 11th District's representative until 2008, when a new term-limit law was implemented. He was reelected in 2012 and served until 2021. Chambers is the longest-serving state senator in Nebraska history.[5][6]
A Time for Burning essay by Daniel Eagan in [2] America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, A&C Black, 2010 ISBN0826429777, pages 621-622
A Time for Burning is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
January 01, 1970
time, burning, 1966, american, documentary, film, that, explores, attempts, minister, augustana, lutheran, church, omaha, nebraska, persuade, white, congregation, reach, negro, lutherans, city, north, side, film, directed, francisco, filmmaker, william, jersey. A Time for Burning is a 1966 American documentary film that explores the attempts of the minister of Augustana Lutheran Church in Omaha Nebraska to persuade his all white congregation to reach out to Negro Lutherans in the city s north side The film was directed by San Francisco filmmaker William C Jersey and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature in the 1967 Academy Awards 1 2 The film was commissioned by the Lutheran Church in America A Time for BurningDirected byWilliam C JerseyProduced byWilliam C JerseyStarringRev L William Youngdahl Ernie Chambers Ray CristensenCinematographyWilliam C JerseyMusic byBarry KornfeldProductioncompaniesQuest ProductionsAvernus ProductionsDistributed byLutheran Film AssociatesRelease date1966Running time56 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish The film is shot in cinema verite style It chronicles the relationship between the minister L William Youngdahl 1927 2012 and his white and black Lutheran parishioners Youngdahl was the son of former Minnesota governor and federal judge Luther Youngdahl The film includes a meeting between Youngdahl and a black barber Ernie Chambers who tells Youngdahl that his Jesus is contaminated At one point another Omaha Lutheran minister Walter E Rowoldt of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church says This one lady said to me pastor she said I want them to have everything I have I want God to bless them as much as he blesses me but she says pastor I just can t be in the same room with them it just bothers me Rowoldt and other ministers also discuss the concern that blacks moving into white neighborhoods will decrease property values The attempt to reach out does not succeed and Youngdahl resigns as minister of the church In 2005 A Time for Burning was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as culturally historically or aesthetically significant 3 4 Chambers completed law school and was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1970 He served as Nebraska s 11th District s representative until 2008 when a new term limit law was implemented He was reelected in 2012 and served until 2021 Chambers is the longest serving state senator in Nebraska history 5 6 See also editCivil rights movement in popular culture List of American films of 1966 Timeline of riots and civil unrest in Omaha Nebraska Racial Tension in Omaha NebraskaReferences edit NY Times A Time for Burning Movies amp TV Dept The New York Times 2011 Archived from the original on 2011 05 21 Retrieved 2008 11 11 The 40th Academy Awards 1968 Nominees and Winners oscars org Retrieved June 1 2019 Librarian of Congress Adds 25 Films to National Film Registry Library of Congress Retrieved 2020 05 13 Complete National Film Registry Listing Library of Congress Retrieved 2020 05 13 Carter Ed A Time for Burning PDF Library of Congress Facts and figures from Ernie Chambers time in Nebraska Legislature Omaha World Herald Omaha NE 2020 08 09 External links editA Time for Burning essay 1 by Ed Carter at National Film Registry A Time for Burning essay by Daniel Eagan in 2 America s Film Legacy The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry A amp C Black 2010 ISBN 0826429777 pages 621 622 A Time for Burning at IMDb nbsp Augustana Lutheran Church website A Time for Burning is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A Time for Burning amp oldid 1181560383, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
