Obama Responds to the Farrakhan Issue: It Was Only a Matter of Time

by Eric Walters

A while ago I blogged about Senator Obama's membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) in Chicago, and his relationship with its Pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Trumpet Magazine, a publication of TUCC, recently honored Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam as one who "truly epitomizes greatness". This evoked the criticism of some groups who claim that Farrakhan has been the source of "anti-Semitic" remarks. These groups also called upon Obama to respond to the "Farrakhan issue" (read a related Washington Post article here), given his relationship with TUCC and Wright. The following article is from Religion Today/Crosswalk:

Obama Criticizes His Church's Honoring of 'Anti-Semitic' Farrakhan
Monisha Bansal
Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - Jewish groups welcomed presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) statement condemning Rev. Louis Farrakhan - a move that he made in response to news that his spiritual adviser honored the Nation of Islam leader, despite "anti-Semitic" comments he made.

Barack Obama is a member of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, whose minister - and Obama's spiritual adviser - is the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Last year Wright, along with the church's magazine, Trumpet, honored Farrakhan as a man who "truly epitomized greatness" at their awards ceremony.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a group that works to end anti-Semitism, "Farrakhan has repeatedly made hateful statements targeting Jews, whites and homosexuals. Farrakhan's bigoted and anti-Semitic rhetoric has included statements calling whites 'blue eyed devils' and Jews 'bloodsuckers' that controlled the slave trade, the government, the media and various Black individuals and organizations."

"I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan," Obama said in a statement. "I assume that Trumpet magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree."

Obama has not said whether he will continue his affiliation with Wright. His campaign did not return multiple phone calls seeking comment for this article.

"This is of great concern in large part because he's not only a member of this church but maintains a close relationship to his minister," Herb London, president of the conservative Hudson Institute, told Cybercast News Service. "Since the minister has praised and even honored Farrakhan through the church, it raises questions about his affiliations as well as his true sentiments."

Ken Bandler, a spokesman for the American Jewish Committee, told Cybercast News Service that Obama's statement was "sufficient."

"We welcome Barack Obama's condemnation of the anti-Semitic rhetoric of Minister Louis Farrakhan, and his making clear that he did not agree with his church's decision to honor Farrakhan with the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award," added Abraham Foxman, ADL national director.

"Issues of racism and anti-Semitism must be beyond the bounds of politics," he said. "When someone close to a political figure shows sympathy and support for an individual who makes his name espousing bigotry, that political figure needs to distance himself from that decision.

"Senator Obama has done just that," Foxman said.

Source


Stay tuned: it's likely that this is only the beginning of a number of inquiries about Senator Obama's relationship with TUCC and its affiliated activites. I'm sure it will get quite interesting in the near future.


Eric Walters is Co-Founder of TheoSyst Group.

Is Obama's Church Membership an Obstacle, or Opportunity?

by Eric Walters

Newly announced presidential contender Barack Obama is no stranger to the spotlight. His bestselling book, Audacity of Hope, was titled after a sermon given by (his) Pastor Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) in Chicago, where Obama is a member. The Afrocentric nature of TUCC and the political outspokenness of Pastor Wright has recently become a source of controversy for the Obama campaign.

TUCC embraces black liberation theology—a brand of liberation theology that finds its roots in social justice/social gospel, contemporized by James Cone and other black theologians almost 40 years ago. Guided by the motto, “Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian”, TUCC also promotes a 12-point Black Value System that guides its ministry programs and objectives. Below is an excerpt from the TUCC website:

"Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:

• Commitment to God


• Commitment to the Black Community


• Commitment to the Black Family


• Dedication to the Pursuit of Education


• Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence


• Adherence to the Black Work Ethic


• Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect


• Disavowal of the Pursuit of "Middleclassness"


• Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community


• Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions


• Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System


• Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System. "

The contemporary black theology movement in America arose in response to white racism and discrimination. In short, Christ not only redeems, but also liberates the poor and oppressed. Black theology has helped shape black identity, self-respect, and empowerment in the post-Civil Rights Era through its continued emphasis on social justice, the social gospel, and political activism.

Only time will tell if Obama’s affiliation with TUCC represents a political asset, or liability. Some political pundits suggest that the ethnocentric/black emphasis of the 12 precepts/covenantal statements at TUCC, the ambiguous meaning of a “disavowal of the pursuit middleclassness” , detracts from a centrist appeal that Obama needs to win the White House. Others argue that Obama’s association with Pastor Wright (who favors the rights of Palestinians) and membership at TUCC could alienate some voters, particularly those who are white or Jewish. Obama called Wright the night before his February 10 presidential announcement and rescinded his invitation for Wright to give the opening invocation. Alternatively, some think that the TUCC agenda could endear Obama (a product of an interracial marriage) to more black voters.

One may question whether some of the Black Values of TUCC (established in 1981) have outlived their usefulness or should undergo revision. Moreover, the degree to which Obama is obliged to uphold any or all of them is a matter of personal preference and conviction.
Without question, we live in an era where race, color, ethnicity—and the theological perspectives that emerge from them, have now become the new subtexts of the political debate. To be sure, the Obama-TUCC connection should challenge all Americas to engage in a substantive examination of faith that is informed by race (and racism), and its articulation within the political arena.

How Barack Obama defines the meaning of “Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian,” may ultimately determine the fate of his campaign.

Eric Walters is Co-Founder of TheoSyst Group.