Trinity United Church of Christ is a Christian community that serves the spiritual needs of people from all walks of life. We have high school drop outs, recovering drug addicts, and ex felons sitting side by side in worship with judges, doctors, pilots, and dare I say it... POLITICIANS. I received a very interesting comment today and under current circumstances I feel it appropriate to share :)
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So glad to be back with Trinity. I tried to tune in last week only to find your broadcast not aired. I regret the public scrutiny your congregation has been under, unjustifiably. I found myself defending your church and your pastor to the uninformed in my community. Ive attached my observations:
Allow me to respond to the controversy surrounding Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright. As someone who has frequently visited and continues to participate in services for Trinity UCC via the Internet, I can view Rev. Wright from another lens. As the faith leader for a large congregation, he brings his leadership and guidance to the African-American community coupled with a love for his country. That has led to his passionate disapproval of American government under the Bush administration. I have listened over the years to scathing attacks of President Bush put into the context of religious scripture "Its in the Word"). The parallels can be drawn due to his perceived dismissals of tending to the needs of the poor and downtrodden, views that many of us share. While the sound bites being aired through the media have been edited to espouse the view of a man obsessed with hate and disdain for his country, nothing could be further from the truth. The beauty of Rev. Wrights Sunday messages has been his ability to weave a story pulling from the context of past injustices and making the connection with present day turmoil. When only a sound bite is presented, one is left to fill in the gaps with their own interpretations.
I'm sure Senator Obama was drawn to Rev. Wright as he recognized the mans intellect, his eloquence, and his passion for moving our country in the direction of justice and equality. He doesn't hesitate to admonish his predominately African-American congregation for its foibles and call them to task when their behavior proves counter productive. He is multilingual and has traveled extensively to foreign countries.
Now let me tackle another part of the argument. When questions were raised as to why Senator Obama did not openly object to inflammatory statements there might be a perfectly innocent reason. My daughter attended Trinity church for a number of years and she never saw Senator Obama or his family in the congregation. I recently read an article about Presidents and government officials discussing how they tend to be affiliated with a church, however, they may not attend church on a regular basis. When Senator Obama made the statement that he wasn't there when the statements were made, you can believe that because it fits his pattern.
13 comments:
I am amazed at how much FOX News wants to talk about Rev. Wright's sermon, calling him unpatriotic and worse, yet never raised a peep about these quotes:
""I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say: 'You helped this happen.'"
- Rev. Jerry Falwell, on the September 11th attacks
"Well, I totally concur."
- Rev. Pat Robertson, asked to comment on Falwell's statement.
I give credit to Rev. Wright for putting Sept. 11th into a global, foreign policy context. Its an honest opinion, held by many academics and foreign policy experts. Bin Laden's chief complaint, after all, was the permanent stationing of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia.
Falwell and Robertson on the otherhand, were using 9/11 to score cheap political points. Blaming the ACLU was crass and absurd. I mean, here's a group who's sole mission is to defend the Bill of Rights.
This is so true. Rev Wright speaks truth to power!
-All the Praise
Rev. Wright is right! The reality is that he is a pastor teaching the truth and not just the pretty truth but the good, bad, and the ugly truth as it relates to broken lives and disparities in the bible. But Barack has absolutely nothing to do with what his pastor preaches!!! He is an independent thinker. We could learn alot from him.
Trinity is a wonderful church and a wonderful community with wonderful leaders. Thank God for Trinity United Church of Christ! My pastor is one of the most educated, consciencious and concerned individuals I know. I am sick and tired of these uncle toms on CNN and Fox stating that this is not what we need. I don't know what those ridiculiously tan individuals are thinking. Other ministers can place the blame for this country's failures on everyone elses but those who are peddling at the foot of the cross. These attacks are senseless and baseless. I have heard or seen anything that these pontificators have done for any community, let alone the Black community. Black liberation theology is necessary, is vital to our survival as a people from a contextual standpoint. I pray for the strength of Rev. Wright and Rev. Moss in the midst of this demonstration of a lack of journalistic integrity and the ethical demise of the media. There is much work to do. I am sure that Trinity will continue to be at the fore of getting this work done in our communities. We all must speak up and let these characters know that we have a jewel in our midst and it will continue to shine! Praise God for Trinity United Church of Christ!
I am a white, middle-aged woman. Yesterday I attended the evening service at Trinity, because I believe anyone participating in the discussion about Pastor Wright or in the conversation Senator Obama encouraged in his speech last week should know whereof she or he speaks. I loved my experience at Trinity, and awoke this morning wishing to return. I was warmly welcomed, the music and message were magnificent, and the tenor of every comment was absolutely inclusive of all persons. Among the large crowd of congregants I saw two, possibly three, other white people, and one Asian. Where are my ethnic counterparts who are so quick to speak and judge? I found no hint of racism, anti-Americanism, or any other "ism" of which Trinity has been disparagingly accused recently; indeed, if there was anything radical afoot there it was radical resurrection, redemption, and love. I would hope that is what Christian churches always have been about; on the basis of my visit I'd say Trinity does it with exceptional grace. Thank you, Trinity. I drove more than forty miles to visit you, and I shall return!
It's funny how folks who have *never* been to TUCC have all sorts of opinions of Jeremiah Wright. A few edited sound bites and now we know the man. No one is mentioning how hard he fights for those who are often left behind or forgotten, those with AIDS, the poor, sick, etc. The irony is that Rev. Jeremiah Wright has done more for Americans black and white than any of the people who are trashing him today. Before you judge him. please check out his actions - yes his ACTIONS and not just a snippet of something he said over 7 years ago.
Thank you for stepping up and speaking out. I recently started a webzine for African Americans and I have been keeping my readers updated on this story. I've been so disappointed by the media's portrayal of Pastor Wright, it's sickening. I've posted links to both the videos on youtube as well as this blog. There is power in truth! Be encouraged...you are making a difference and I am begining to see some changed minds about your pastor on many of the mainstream sites I visit. God Bless.
Some very interesting posts y'all have made. I have to say, having read the Bible numerous times, I highly doubt that the material and preachings used by this "holy man" Wright would ever be found in the sermons given by Christ himself. If you challenge this assertion, back it up with biblical references. My guess is I'll be waiting for a very, very long time...
I am amazed that supporters of TUCC and Rev. Wright just don't seem to "get it."
What Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson said was beyond pathetic. Just as what Jeremiah Wright has said is not only pathetic, but anti-American!
The difference is Falwell and Robertson APOLOGIZED for their remarks. Jeremiah Wright HAS NOT!
What is also very disturbing is the congreation who stood and cheered Jeremiah Wright's disgusting comments and those that defend him.
Trinity is a wonderful church. Rev Wright speakes the truth, and the truth hurts. Especially those living in denial.This is typical behavior, America is one of most hypocritical & jugdemental societies I 've ever know. We comdemn others without knowing the facts. This man is being targeted simply for being the minister of a black presidential canidate. This is dirty politics, doing whatever it takes to discredit Obama. We should educate ourselves on the history of UCC churches & the great accomplishments Rev Wright has made helping the less fortunate, HIV AIDS, ETC. Wake up America!! Thanks for posting this info regarding Rev Wright & the UCC churches. My prayers go out to the Wright family & UCC churches all over the country. Stay Strong!!
What is also very disturbing is the congreation who stood and cheered Jeremiah Wright's disgusting comments and those that defend him.
March 24, 2008 7:48 PM
No, what is most disturbing is how many people are content to form conclusions based solely on the media message of the day. What's disturbing is the lack of reasoning ability shown by millions of sheeple content to assume that the media is accurate and correct, when by definition the media takes almost everything out of context to suit its agenda. What's disturbing is how many sheeple believe their way of worship is the only, superior way, and anyone else with a different perspective is wrong.
Anon 7:48 --
I've looked everywhere for those apologies from Rev. Falwell and Rev. Robertson, and I just can't seem to find them.
While your looking, please dig up the apologies from Rev. John Hagee, part of the McCain campaign team, who had this to say about Hurricane Katrina:
"All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that."
Can't wait to hear back from you.
Well, we all know that the media is trying to discredit Senator Obama because they are threatened by the fact that he has gained so much momentum in this race. You would never hear so much about someone's Pastor as we've heard about this one. I have heard ministers talk about Hurricane Katrina being God's punishment because New Orleans was known for voodoo and Mardi Gras and a lot of other things of this nature. So What? I go to church to hear the word of God, and it's a shame that some ministers do go off the beaten path to speak their own minds. But people should be intelligent enough to filter the comments that they need and throw away what they don't. Senator Obama can't control what his minister says just like I can't and no one else as well. Let's just stay focused on what's important, getting a decent person in the White House and hopefully, with God's help he can turn this country around.
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