FORT WORTH, Texas — Controversy surrounding Barack Obama’s longtime minister is not deterring a Texas divinity school from honoring the Rev. Jeremiah Wright at a ceremony later this month.
But Texas Christian University, the campus where Brite Divinity School is located, issued a statement Monday opposing that decision in light of video that shows Wright delivering racially tinged sermons and him railing against the United States.
Wright is to be honored March 29 at the Black Church Summit and Awards Banquet, a $125-per-person banquet at the divinity school. Despite being on the TCU campus, Brite is a separate school with its own officers and board.
In a statement on its Web site, Brite said the school affirmed its decision after “understanding the sincere concern” in response to media coverage of Wright’s comments.
“Contrary to media claims that Wright preaches racial hatred, church leaders who have observed his ministry describe him as a faithful preacher of the gospel who has ministered in a context radically different from that of many middle class Americans,” the statement reads.
Obama has denounced the inflammatory remarks from his pastor, whose comments have included that blacks continue to be mistreated by whites and a suggestion that U.S. “terrorism” helped bring on the Sept. 11 attacks.
TCU chancellor Victor J. Boschini said that while the university supports the right of free speech even when the opinions are controversial, “giving an award is another matter.”
“In light of Reverend Wright’s recently discovered remarks, TCU would not give such an award,” he said.
Brite president Newell Williams said he spent part of last weekend reviewing texts and audio of Wright’s remarks after the controversy made national headlines. After that review, he and other administrators decided to stick with their plans.
“Of course there are people who have expressed in e-mail messages their displeasure,” Williams said. “There also have been people who have written to say we’re so pleased with the decision you’ve made.”
Wright is to participate in a luncheon panel discussion at the summit before being honored that night. He had been Obama’s pastor for nearly 20 years until retiring recently, and officiated at Obama’s wedding and baptized his two daughters.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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scitsonga,
9-11 most certainly was influenced by U.S. policy in the ME, however the direct cause is not that, the direct cause is the message in the Quran and Hadith and inherant in the Islamic message (when preached literally). There is a big difference between loving your enemies, and calling for your enemies to be put into subjection through violence. And there is a big difference between saying that those who live by the sword will die by the sword, and that those who die fighting Jihad will have immediate access to paradise.
I am all for criticizing America (in the right way), but I am not for giving a skewed represenation of facts and causes. The bottom line is that the Quran and Hadith are the root of this problem, and will be until they are ammended, or taken in a liberal interpretation.
Pastor Wright is obviously filled with a fiery spirit at times, and it inspired him to say "God Damn America" in the context of a public sermon. I use to say "God Bless America." Now I pray "God Please Help America," but as a follower of Jesus the Christ I never say or pray God Damn US, expecially out loud.
Sincerely,
Ron Wilson
http://itsallaboutjesusnotme.blogspot.com
lipoftruth "Wright's hatefilled rantings in several of his sermons are off the mark and divisive."
Hateful rantings, brings to mind pat roberton and jerry falwell.
flagged myself for typo
gmac0961"While I don't agree with his claims of the US inviting the violence of 9/11"
Actually 9-11 is the direct result of US Imperialism in the ME for decades to protect its oil interests. All one need do is objectively study the history of the ME to learn why. May I suggest one start with the history of the overthrow of the Iranian prime minister in Iraq in the 1950's and the installation the western puppet dictator - the Shah of Iran, who ran a terrorist police state against its own people. Iran might very well be a democratic republic today if not for the intervention in the affairs of Iran in decades leading up to the overthrow of the Shah in the 1979 Iranina Revolution. Also study how the ME was carved up at the end of WW 1 by the West to gain control of ME oil. You will then learn why the US was attacked on 9-11.
With what we know about Rev Wright, I cannot see how any Christian would honor him. While I don't agree with his claims of the US inviting the violence of 9/11 and other similar remarks, I can deal with those as political opinions, albeit controversial ones.
My main problem with the Rev has to do with his assertions such as the US created AIDS as a method to wipe out the black race and that the US "gives" drugs to blacks as a method to eliminate them. These comments to me are much more troubling because they are totally unfounded yet spoken as fact. This kind of speech does nothing to heal division, which should be the mission of any good pastor.
Wright's hatefilled rantings in several of his sermons are off the mark and divisive. Very little reverance for the teachings of Christ in this Reverend. Chancellor Boschini got it right.
If you want to see a church of color which moves beyond the trappings of social and justice gospel and gets back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ check out Times Square Church in NYC. A church for ALL believers from all nations.