Well, given all the media attention these days on the fact that among black communities, they experience higher drop-out rates, higher imprisonment percentages, higher numbers living in poverty, higher percentages of children born out of wedlock and to teenage mothers, etc, etc, etc...I say that I applaud a church who's mission it is to instill the attributes of community pride, a sense of family, the importance of education, the virtues of self-discipline and self-respect, etc. Why is this such a big deal?

Well, given all the media attention these days on the fact that among black communities, they experience higher drop-out rates, higher imprisonment percentages, higher numbers living in poverty, higher percentages of children born out of wedlock and to teenage mothers, etc, etc, etc...I say that I applaud a church who's mission it is to instill the attributes of community pride, a sense of family, the importance of education, the virtues of self-discipline and self-respect, etc. Why is this such a big deal?

I would applaud a color blind church that advocated most of what the Trinity United Church of Christ does.

 

Unfortunately, Rev. Wright and his church have chosen to direct its message exclusively to a single race. That makes it a racist institution, IMO, and that should make Obama's affiliation with the church and his close association with Rev. Wright a political issue.

The Black Value System from the Trinity United Church of Christ website. Click on the link to view the details - I only excerpted the title of each item.

 

1. Commitment to God.

 

2. Commitment to the

Black

Community.

 

3. Commitment to the Black Family.

 

4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education.

 

5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence.

 

6. Adherence to the

Black

Work Ethic.

 

7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect.

 

8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness.”

 

9. Pledge to Make the Fruits of All Developing and Acquired Skills Available to the

Black

Community.

 

10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting

Black

Institutions.

 

11. Pledge Allegiance to All

Black

Leadership Who Espouse and Embrace the Black Value System.

 

12. Personal Commitment to Embracement of the

Black

Value System.

 

(emphasis added)

 

Did you note this is a system now used to define what a recepient of a particular award should aspire to.

 

Now the church voted on it in '81 but I'll be there might be some things your church voted on way back when that aren't kosher to most of you now. I saw this in my home church from their records and some stuff they voted on in the early 20th century.

I disagree. I find no malice in a religious organization that is trying to address the specific needs of it's congregation, even if it inculdes an ethnic emphasis.

 

There are Jewish organizations who cater to the same agenda specifically toward those of Jewish ethnicity. How does this differ? And as it seems the needs of the Black community are exactly what they list, does it not follow that they target their efforts toward the Black community?

I disagree. I find no malice in a religious organization that is trying to address the specific needs of it's congregation, even if it inculdes an ethnic emphasis.

 

There are Jewish organizations who cater to the same agenda specifically toward those of Jewish ethnicity. How does this differ? And as it seems the needs of the Black community are exactly what they list, does it not follow that they target their efforts toward the Black community?

There are no Jewish presidential candidates, so I am not sure why your assertion is relevant.

 

There is a distinction between Judaism, the religion and the Jews, as an ethnic group. IMO, it is acceptable for Judaism to cater to both ethnic Jews and to those who of other ethnicities who have converted to the Jewish faith. If a church targets its message to ethnic Jews only, then I would characterize the church as racist.

 

Christianity does not have a race associated with it. Christian churches should be focused on providing spiritual guidance to all races and ethnicities. Obviously, geography and tradition results in some churches having mainly black, white, or Asian congregation and that fact alone does not make them racist institutions. The fact that a Christian church's congregation consists of members of a single race does not justify it adopting an ethnocentric philosophy with no Biblical basis.

There are no Jewish presidential candidates, so I am not sure why your assertion is relevant.

 

There is a distinction between Judaism, the religion and the Jews, as an ethnic group. IMO, it is acceptable for Judaism to cater to both ethnic Jews and to those who of other ethnicities who have converted to the Jewish faith. If a church targets its message to ethnic Jews only, then I would characterize the church as racist.

 

Christianity does not have a race associated with it. Christian churches should be focused on providing spiritual guidance to all races and ethnicities. Obviously, geography and tradition results in some churches having mainly black, white, or Asian congregation and that fact alone does not make them racist institutions. The fact that a Christian church's congregation consists of members of a single race does not justify it adopting an ethnocentric philosophy with no Biblical basis.

 

 

Lieberman ran for president, and he is Jewish. The fact that there isn't a Jewish presidential candidate does not change the premise of my comments.

 

You are applying a "equality" to Christianity that is secular. Churches exist to take care of the needs of the community they serve.

Lieberman ran for president, and he is Jewish. The fact that there isn't a Jewish presidential candidate does not change the premise of my comments.

 

You are applying a "equality" to Christianity that is secular. Churches exist to take care of the needs of the community they serve.

My point is that the media is applying a double standard in grilling Romney and Huckabee's religious beliefs while largely ignoring those of Obama. The public perception is that Obama is running a secular campaign, while Romney and Huckabee are injecting religion into their campaigns.

 

In fact, the main difference in the role of religion in the three campaigns is that Romney and Huckabee have been forced to defend their religious beliefs and Obama has received a free pass. The result has been a very inaccurate perception of the role religion might play in an Obama, Huckabee, or Romney administration.

 

I believe that many Americans, including many blacks, would find the teachings of the Rev. Wright and his exclusive appeals to African Americans offensive. If the media has a responsibility to grill Republican candidates about their churches, then they have the same obligation to focus on Obama's church.

I disagree. I find no malice in a religious organization that is trying to address the specific needs of it's congregation, even if it inculdes an ethnic emphasis.

 

There are Jewish organizations who cater to the same agenda specifically toward those of Jewish ethnicity. How does this differ? And as it seems the needs of the Black community are exactly what they list, does it not follow that they target their efforts toward the Black community?

 

It differs because Jewish is a different religion. Now show us a Jewish organization that only wants to cater to black Jews and we have a comparable situation.

 

This church wants to minister to all Christians or black Christians?

 

As a Christian, it should be all Christians and non-Christians alike. That would mean everybody.

I find no malice in a religious organization that is trying to address the specific needs of it's congregation, even if it inculdes an ethnic emphasis.

 

Do you find malice if the organization's ethnic emphasis is caucasian?