HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - An island in a sea of pastel suits, alligator shoes and elaborate pocket squares, the Rev. Jeffrey Bryan stood out at a meeting of black ministers for his simple fashion choice: Denim shorts and a black T-shirt emblazoned with the face of presumed Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama.
-
(Photo: AP Images / Gary C. Knapp)Bishop Charles Blake, center, the presiding bishop over the 6-million member Church of God in Christ and the pastor of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ located in Los Angeles, Ca., joins hands in prayer with Dr. Dwight Riddick, right, the senior pastor at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Newport News, Va., and Dr. William Curtis, left, the President of the Hampton University Ministers Conference and the senior pastor at the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., before he, Blake, delivers the evening worship service during the second day of the 94th Annual Hampton University Ministers Conference at on Tuesday, June 3, 2008. The conference will continue thru June 6.
He's posted campaign signs and even has snapshots of himself with Obama, who once made a stop at his Newark, N.J., church.
But that's as far as he'll go to show his support — there will be no sermons peppered with "Obama in '08."
"It's a historical time for black people, we cannot ignore what's going on," said the pastor, who was nonetheless resolute that "you can't tell people who to vote for."
In the black community, the pulpit has long played a powerful role in shaping voting decisions. But the role of the church in politics has been under increased scrutiny since uproars involving prominent pastors.
Now, as the nation stands closer than ever to electing its first nonwhite president, pastors face a delicate balancing act: Maintaining the church's historical status as a bridge between blacks and politics, while being careful not to overstep their bounds — even at a time when their considerable sway with black voters could help shape history.
At an annual minister's conference in Hampton this week, a gathering of roughly 7,500 pastors, faith leaders agreed they would continue pushing for Obama, personally supporting the candidate whenever they can.
But they were unanimous in saying they would steer very clear of anything that could be construed as endorsement and were careful to frame plans for support as a private choice.
The Rev. William B. Moore, a Philadelphia pastor, said he's helped organize voter drives in his congregation, given money to the campaign and posted an Obama '08 sign.
But he didn't plan much else.
"The black church has, over the years, made that distinction between church and state and God and state. I think the media has made it more than it really is," he said, later adding, "We know how to walk that line."
The Hampton Ministers' Conference, which began in 1914, gathers church leaders to discuss issues of faith and relate them to daily life. As Obama claimed the delegates necessary to secure the Democratic presidential nomination before a crowd of cheering thousands in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday, the energy rippled through the conference. Just a year earlier, the Illinois senator used the conference to challenge the Bush administration for failing to diffuse a "quiet riot" of discontent brewing in black America.
By midweek, pastors openly supported Obama's historic candidacy — but chose their words carefully. Many said they personally endorsed him, but stopped short of saying more.
Robert Franklin, head of Atlanta's Morehouse College, urged pastors to seize the spirit of the day — one of interracial cooperation — in a speech Tuesday.
"That's part of the attraction of Sen. Obama," he said afterward. "He gets that."
Later in the week, Franklin warned churches against endorsing a candidate. Federal tax rules bar nonprofits from engaging in partisan activity. Continue >>
RSS
Comments
I did!
Richard Corbeil's article "Never a Dem yellow-dog, always a Dem yellow-dog – Huh!?" at http://www.wordsforlivingmin.org/ which I posted prior.
His reference was "Black Yellowdogs" by Ben Kinchlow who was at one time a Black nationalist before he became a Christian.
seedplanter,
Please cite references for what you wrote concerning slavery.
i wanna be a Cowboy! :D Really!
MDub,
I am black and I appreciate all of the suffering and painful journeys that have led us up to this point. However, it is the word of God that makes the difference. I would love to vote for Obama ONLY IF I could see him promoting the agenda of God's kingdom. Its not the isue of whether the person I vot for is white or black, but whether he or she would uphold the standards that have kept this nation strong for over 200 years, and not seek to adopt the policies and positions of empires that have imploded under the weight of their own sin and shame! Lack of critical insight? What better measurement of men than God's word? Do I detect the emotional suppression of the truth in order to follow this charismic black leader?
It's amazing to me that after after our country's infamous fight for all of us to vote in the USA and Black's history for voting for white candidates for both parties, some of you define the moment by crying racism and trying to act self righteous when we vote for a black person!? With the lack of critical insight in your responses, It's no wonder the SBC and other mainstream churches are dying.
It appears the the religion of many of these paastors is of race, not Christ!
If I was a cowboy, and a not-so-very-known cowboy was on the ballot for President of the U.S., should I vote for him just because we are both cowboys? It might be an exciting campaign ride for a while, but sooner or later most of us cowboys would realize that a brief ride into the history books might generate nothing more that a lot of future bad publicity for a lot of good cowboys for a long spell. Frankly, no true cowboy would ever place his name on that ballot unless he was completely qualified for the job...but then again, cowboys are known for their level-headedness. They also don't enjoy the limelight, especially if they might end up either looking silly or causing a big commotion. You've gottta respect them for that! No, cowboys just mind their herds and do what they are most qualified to do. Most of all, cowboys stick to familiar trails where they are pretty sure they can handle what's just around the bend. They would never presume to know what's best for anyone but themselves. I guess that's why most folks like cowboys.
Christian morality should come into play. You have to ask God for wisdom. It is historic from African Americans to have the first black democratic nominee. African American pastors are leaders in their community. Should they not celebrate the historic event. They should not tell congregation who to vote for. . Neither McCain or nor Obama stand up to well against biblical truths. Dont forget. God has many attributes. Both Love and Righteousness. Just because they are not for abortion does not give them knod. God is also a God of love which includeds benevolence. He is for the poor and those who can not defend themselves. God is neither democrat or republican. If you can not see this then what Bible are you reading.
Please read the entire post before making presumptions.
Did you know that the first slave-holder of a black man in the American Colonies in the mid-17th century was a black slave-holder, and the first anti-slavery protest came from a white man?
Did you know that prior to that slave, John Casor, the only type of unpaid servants in America, both black or white, male or female, were indentured servants, who committed to seven years of unpaid labor in exchange for transportation here from Europe or Africa?
Did you know that of 10,689 free blacks who lived in New Orleans in 1830, more than 3,000 of them were slave masters?
http://www.wordsforlivingmin.org/
While race may seem irrelevant to the voting booth to most of us who are not prejudice against people of other ethnicities, it is perhaps ‘the ace’ in the hole for the Democratic Party. For those of you who choose to ignore Obama's stand in favor of abortion and special homosexual rights (which are basically anti-Christian speech rights) because he is half African, hopefully the above quote by Richard Corbeil will jar you out of the racial spell that the Democrats have thrived on these past years. Racism is a plague of humanity that isn’t healed by political double talk (pro-diversity/anti-Christian, pro-compassion/anti-life), but as Christian men are willing to come together and minister Christ to the needs of the community. The liberal special interest groups have all but taken over the DP. And for the record, Republican Mitt Romney was no better. Nevertheless, if you are a conservative Democrat, I don’t know how long you can put up with the barrage of bullets that are striking at the heart of your freedoms and still retain your sanity. The Titanic is sinking.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080604/32667_Boy_Threatened_by_School_Officials_over_Anti-Abortion_Shirts.htm
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38268
Yes, Amen to what Swordbearer said. Thank God there are some TRUE Christian pastors in the black community such as Reverend Childress, Rev. Johnny Hunter, Rev. Arnold Culbreath, Rev. Jesse Lee Petereson, Bishop Curtis Kelley, and countless others who are taking a stand against the legal black genocide taking place in our country. No Christian of any color in good conscience can support Obama. www.blackgenocide.org.
Swordbearer has my compliments for his corage and his stand. It is not a black or white issue but it is about choosing the best person for president. In another article on the Christian Post it is said that TD Jakes has shown atleast tacit support for Obam's campaign. In another piece it is said that blacks are aware they are involved in the making of history in this election.
I stand amazed that such proclivities and notions have supplanted the call to obedience in believers. Whatever happened to "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: Exodus 23:2
Hold fast!
Rev Michael Bresciani
www.americanprophet.org
Swordbearer, I couldn't have said it any better. You were right on with every word. Thanks alot Brother for the Truth. The Truth shall set us free.
I am a black hispanic Christian and I must say that I am mind boggled by this whole Obama craze. Black ministers supporting a man that holds no regard for biblical truth. I refuse to be an accomplice to the murder of babies and the destruction of the family by supporting Mr. Obama. I will not deny Christ because someone who looks like me wants to be President. We will all be held accountable on judgement day. We are truly living in the last days, will Jesus find faith on the earth when He returns. These Black ministers need to go back to drinking spiritual milk. If the blind leads the blind they both fall into a ditch. I am appalled!
This is modern day idolatry, putting race before God's word.
ac·com·plice [uh-kom-plis]
–noun
a person who knowingly helps another in a crime or wrongdoing, often as a subordinate.
Lear what Obama is all about and what He believes in...visit my blog
http://answers2why.blog.com/
www.thepetitionsite.com/1/removable-of-father-michael-pfleger
Please sign petition to remove radical Father Pfleger permanently.
"It's a historical time for black people, we cannot ignore what's going on," said the pastor, who was nonetheless resolute that "you can't tell people who to vote for."
You already have. The picture says it all.