THE REV. ROBERT P. LAWRENCE, who had previously served churches in Little Compton, Fall River and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, was recently presented the Community Member Civic Leadership Award from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Lawrence’s 60-plus years of service include sponsoring gun-buyback programs in Fall River and providing local students scholarships through his involvement in Scholarship for America. Lawrence also served as chaplain in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and previously received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service from then-President Barack Obama. UMass Dartmouth has named a hall, faculty service-learning fellows program and lecture series at the school in Lawrence’s honor.
What initially drew you to become involved in the community to help others beyond the church? The communities’ needs to see that there is a world outside of Fall River drove me into tangible service beyond the church and into the community. Taking the spiritual need beyond the church’s bounds [has] opened doors that I could never imagine. It allowed me to influence many through a speaker series bringing in folks [such as] Dr. Benjamin Spock, Coretta Scott King, Willie Shoemaker and Rosa Parks, to name a few.
What was the experience to serve as chaplain in the Olympics like? Serving as chaplain at the Olympics was wonderful. Many of the athletes are not only dedicated to their sport but to daily reflection and prayer. It is inspirational to be around such people. One of the biggest things I noticed was that the athletes struggled with being away from home so much. They spend so much time away from home that they miss friends and family. We all need a support network of people who love and care for us.
How gratifying was it to receive the honor from President Obama? The lifetime community service award from President Obama was a wonderful tribute later in my life. However, honors and awards were never the motivation to serve. The motivation has always been to help others in need. That said, the presidential recognition was the highlight of my life.
You have sponsored successful gun-buyback programs in Fall River. How vital are those programs now given the recent public push for gun control? When Fall River police officer Thomas Gunta was killed in the early 1990s, I requested the support of the Fall River Council of Churches [to start the program] but it was voted down. I decided that this action was too important to not respond to. Hence, I started the gun-buyback program myself. The program is usually done just before Thanksgiving and we give gift certificates for food in exchange for weapons.
Are you still involved in the community? I am chairman of a committee for the development of the Fall River waterfront, with a focus on improving economic and tourist opportunities on the waterfront, and a member of the executive board of the USS Massachusetts Memorial. I am also publishing a book on the 718 obituaries of veterans killed in World War II from Greater Fall River.
