Jeremiah Wright lauded by UCC leadership

[kwassa]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080314/ap_on_el_pr/obama_pastor

Also Friday, the United Church of Christ issued a 1,400-word statement defending Wright and his "flagship" congregation. John H. Thomas, United Church of Christ's president, lauded Wright's church for its community service and work to nurture youth. Other church leaders praised Wright for speaking out against homophobia and sexism in the black community.


"It's time for all of us to say no to these attacks and to declare that we will not allow anyone to undermine or destroy the ministries of any of our congregations in order to serve their own narrow political or ideological ends," Thomas said in the statement.

[ProSense]

1. Excellent! Let the media start a war with a church. n/t

[EFerrari]

13. The Clinton campaign is at bottom suicidal.

Let them bury themselves attacking churches.

[Rageneau]

17. The Clintons have NOTHING to do with this!

It is a lie and a sin and a slander and hateful thing to accuse people of crimes they are not connected to. (If we consider telling the truth about Obama to be a crime.)

Might be different if you had some proof, but your only 'proof' of this wild accusation is a flimsy illusion created in the paranoid mind of someone suffering from Clinton Derangement Syndrome.

[EFerrari]

20. Right. They have nothing at all to do with this. It came out of the ether

where all political attacks come from.

[Maat]

2. Yes, Rev. Wright came out strongly in favor of marriage equality ...

http://www.nbjcoalition.org/about/supporters.html .

[ProSense]

3. See this is being ignored! n/t

[kwassa]

4. more on Wright.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/us/politics/15wright.html?ref=politics

Mr. Wright, 66, who last month fulfilled longstanding plans to retire, is a beloved figure in African-American Christian circles and a frequent guest in pulpits around the country. Since he arrived at Trinity in 1972, he has built a 6,000-member congregation through his blunt, charismatic preaching, which melds detailed scriptural analysis, black power, Afrocentrism and an emphasis on social justice; Mr. Obama praised the last quality in Friday’s statement.

His most powerful influence, said several ministers and scholars who have followed his career, is black liberation theology, which interprets the Bible as a guide to combating oppression of African-Americans.

He attracts audiences because of, not in spite of, his outspoken critiques of racism and inequality, said Dwight Hopkins, a professor at University of Chicago Divinity School, in an interview last year.

But Mr. Wright’s blistering statements about American racism can shock white audiences.

“If you’re black, it’s hard to say what you truly think and not upset white people,” said James Cone, a professor at Union Theological Seminary and the father of black liberation theology, who has known Mr. Wright since he was a seminary student.

[kwassa]

5. What Trinity UCC has become under Jeremiah Wright

http://www.wfn.org/2008/03/msg00098.html

Located in the heart of Chicago's impoverished Southside, Trinity UCC's vast array of ministries include career development and college placement, tutorial and computer services, health care and support groups, domestic violence programs, pastoral care and counseling, bereavement services, drug and alcohol recovery, prison ministry, financial counseling and credit union, housing and economic development, dozens of choral, instrumental and dance groups, and diverse programming for all ages, including youth and senior citizens.

(jump)

Many, including Gray, point with appreciation to Trinity UCC's generous support of denominational and ecumenical ministries. From 2003 to 2007, Trinity UCC gave more than $3.7 million to Our Church's Wider Mission, the UCC's shared fund for connectional mission and ministry.

(jump)

"There have been two major sins in the Black church that many Black churches will not address - homophobia is one and sexism is another," Samuel says, "and Jeremiah Wright has been one of the articulate, courageous voices that has not been afraid to address these critical issues. If he can do that and still maintain his close connectivity to the Black community, and stay grounded in the Black ethos, that's what has inspired me."

[mzmolly]

8. I hope this controversy will give him an even greater

voice.

[geek tragedy]

10. The Swiftboating by Republicans and Clinton backers

of these good people will NOT be forgiven.

[democrattotheend]

22. There's no evidence of Clinton involvement in this

This looks and feels like a right wing smear. Even Wolfson declined to criticize Obama for it.

[geek tragedy]

27. I'm talking about her supporters on the Internet.

Their decision to throw in with Hannity while he bashed a progressive community of color makes them KKK in my view.

[mzmolly]

6. I love the UCC but Obama did the right thing in distancing himself from

various comments.

[grantcart]

7. k and r

[theboss]

9. You know what. It's past time to counter-attack.

This man's reputation should not be destroyed for this nonsense.

[Rageneau]

18. Counterattack WHAT -- the Truth?

[EFerrari]

24. Counter attack the race baiting fearmongering.

AKA to you, the "truth".

[theboss]

25. The truth is: black churches have been a bulwark against white dominance since their inception

That is why they exist.
That is why the civil rights movement emerged from them.

Black churces are the most radical instution in the history of the nation.

So don't act surprised that a radical is preaching in them.

What do think has been going on behind those storefront windows for 100 years?

[kwassa]

11. More of Wright's accomplishments at Trinity UCC

http://www.wfn.org/2008/03/msg00098.html

The Rev. Steve Gray, the UCC's Indiana-Kentucky Conference Minister, describes Trinity UCC as a "jewel."

"It's everything a Christian community is supposed to be," says Gray, who has been working with Trinity UCC for the past three years to develop a new UCC congregation in Gary, Ind. "Trinity has given well over $100,000 in support of its partnership with us, and in 15 months of regular meetings with Jeremiah Wright, we always found him to be a man of gracious hospitality, humor, generosity, who paid attention to detail but also a man who does not call attention to himself."

Trinity UCC has been involved in planting more than 15 new congregations, according to the UCC's Evangelism Ministry in Cleveland.

(jump)

"I think it's very interesting that a minority group within a denomination can have the largest church, support the most ministries and give the largest number of OCWM dollars," Brown says. "That speaks well for us as an accepting, open and affirming denomination. Especially, as a justice-oriented church, sets a standard for all the denomination that all are welcome."

[EFerrari]

12. Good! Finally, someone who knows how to stand tall.

[K Gardner]

14. Thanks God. I knew somewhere in Chicago, thousands of people had to be livid over this.. and all

across America, UCC members will be reacting and last but not least, the ENTIRE black community in America.

We have yet to even begin to see the wholescale reaction to this attack.

[EFerrari]

15. That's exactly right. The geniuses at the Clinton campaign forgot

they were insulting real people.

[K Gardner]

19. Real people, an entire denomination, an entire race, etc, etc..

[kwassa]

16. kick before bedtime

[EFerrari]

21. Good night, kwassa.

[kwassa]

23. goodnight to you and all.

Now, don't stay up too late arguing!

[writes3000]

26. Wright spoke out AGAINST homophobia and sexism?

But, but, but I thought the man only preached hate?

K&R!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

28. Can OPRAH help by exposing on her TV show the racist "Fox" attack on her pastor?

And how can those who read this thread TAKE ACTION to help make such Oprah TV shows happen?

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5091705 .

[kwassa]

29. morning kick for the misrepresented Jeremiah Wright

[Texas Hill Country]

30. I am not saying Wright is bad, or even wrong about some stuff... I am saying it kills electability