Senator Barack Obama’s campaign unveiled this past week a new committee featuring top African American religious leaders supporting the presidential contender’s bid for the Democratic nomination.
The African American Leadership Committee, announced Tuesday, is composed of denominational heads, civil rights leaders, as well as prominent female faith leaders who believe that Obama is living out his faith and values in his public life. The committee members, both at the national and statewide levels, meet on regular conference calls to support the Illinois senator.
“This is an unprecedented group for an unprecedented candidate,” said National African American Religious Committee Co-chair the Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., a civil rights legend and former chairman of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. “As a lifelong advocate for the less fortunate and the forgotten, Senator Obama lives his faith everyday. He continues to talk about a faith that works to unite and not divide people.”
Besides Moss, the national leadership committee is made up of presidents of two of the largest national Baptist conventions, the most senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and prominent leaders of the Civil Rights movement such as the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery and Dr. C.T. Vivian, among others.
The campaign made significant gains in South Carolina, where its state leadership committee includes nearly 130 senior pastors from some of the largest and most prominent churches in the state.
Obama strongly campaigned in the early voting state, reaching out to religious voters with frequent church visits, speeches on his faith, and a high-profile Gospel concert.
The campaign has so far recruited more than 200 Faith Community Contacts - grassroots church leaders who are identifying and educating voters in advance of the primary election – in 27 counties.
South Carolina ministers who are part of the Obama state committee include the Rev. Ralph Canty of Savannah Grove Baptist in Effingham, the Rev. Dr. Charles Heyward of St. James Presbyterian on James Island, the Revs. Alanza Washington of Wallingford Presbyterian in Charleston, and Julius McDowell of Big Wesley United Methodist in Hollywood.
According to the religious website Beliefnet.com, Obama is currently ranked as the Democratic candidate that speaks the most about religion by the “God-o-Meter.” The “God-o-Meter” measures “God talk” in the presidential campaign.
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The church should care for the poor, needy and all of these things, but we should also be aware that the leadership of a nations sets the spiritual background for what will happen. Barack Obama does not set a good background and I think it best we do what we can to make sure the Justice House of prayer stays open. We as individuals will be judged as well a nation. If we stood before GOD today what would he say to the decision that was made last night. We definitely need to heed to Isaiah 58 right now .
Whatever happened to the basic Christian premise of "feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and look out for the least of God's people"? It seems to me that if more of us who call ourselves Christians would follow this premise, the least of God's people would not be suffering in the world the way that they are.
Faith-based agenda? Interesting. The faith-based agenda is determined based upon who you ask. On the surface, the terminology sounds intriguing and Bible-based. Yet, with closer inspection, you will find that as faith-based initiatives are being dramatically underfunded, others suffer because non-profits are not being resourced adequately to meet felt-needs.
I appreciate Marantha's comments, although I disagree. Every candidate that is running for President (based on their words and actions) have not fulfilled what you consider "standing for God's Word". Unfortunately, our current president has not fulfilled this mandate as you subscribe. Listening to Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee (not in sound bytes, but in totality) shows me they are not perfect men, but willing to listen and lead with integrity. If we desire to have a leader of this nation to follow the Bible from A to Z, we need to stop the partisan bickering and start nominating individuals that exude this. Both the Democratic and Republican parties do not offer this.
To say, SqueakyWheel, that Barack Obama is a radical pro-abortion, anti-traditional marriage candidate also shows how we, as a nation, have made it a point to divide and define individuals on wedge issues. I am against abortion and gay marriage. I am also against the death penalty, mistreatment of the poor, lack of educational resources for our next generation, and the mistreatment of religious institutions. We have yet to address these issues because, as in the last two elections, we elect based on single issues and then wonder why we do not have the change we desire in our country and leadership. This is the reality that is truly sad.
How sad for these pastors to support such a radical pro-abortion and anti-traditional marriage candidate.
May God have mercy on and enlighten Christians who support candidates who do not take the Word of God seriously, who do not seem to know or understand the scriptures which declare, "Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord" and "When the wicked are in power, the righteous suffer."
ANYONE who does not stand for God's Word and infact stands FOR "values" which are contrary to His Word, regardless of whether they are called Christians or not, are "the wicked". I truly pray Obama will indeed "live out his faith and values in his public life", and I sincerely pray his faith and values will be determined by the Word of God, in Whom he professes to believe.
VOTE FAITH - NOT RACE. New book examines Black Christians' political loyalties
HTTP://FINDINGSOULBROTHERS.COM
Former Atlanta newspaper reporter Pamela G. Wilson challenges fellow African-American Christians to depart from longstanding social and political patterns based on race. Instead, she argues, they should assume a faith-based agenda, which would more closely align with their spiritual beliefs. Though African-Americans are the demographic most likely to be involved in “religious” beliefs and practices, studies indicate that only one percent of African-Americans have practical views and actions that align with the Bible. This book shows the reader how to reconcile contradictions in spiritual beliefs and practical decisions. It will also help all Christian leaders build unity within the church. Publisher: AuthorHouse http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~49283.aspx