Coming on the heels of Rev. Michael Pfleger controversial sermon there--in which he bashed Hillary Clinton for expecting to win the Democratic nomination out of a sense of white entitlement--it would be easy to take Barack Obama's resignation from Trinity United Church of Christ as a rebuke to his longtime church. Not so, says a source close to the Obama campaign who is familiar with the process that led to senator's resignation. Here's what this well-placed source just told God-o-Meter:
They [the Obamas] let [Trinity UCC senior pastor] Reverend Moss know this after quite a lot of talking and praying. They have been in discussions with Rev. Moss for some time. He made it with a fair amount of sadness. But it’s become clear in the last few months and weeks that anything that anyone says at Trinity will be imputed to Senator Obama, even if they totally conflict with his own views. And Moss and the church is suffering as a result of the campaign. Every aspect of its ministry is being scrutinized, the news media has been harassing people in [Trinity’s] nursing homes, and it’s not fair to the church’s other members. So the bottom line is that something that they [the Obamas and Moss] have been counseling on for quite a while now.
So this is not a rebuke of Trinity UCC in light of Reverend Pfleger's sermon last weekend?
I would not say it’s a rebuke. It’s an acknowledgement of the tremendous scrutiny on the church. Ever guest speaker, every sermon, every bulletin is put under a certain litmus test. I’m sure many churches would make news if they were under the same test. I would not call it a rebuke. It’s just an acknowledgement of life as it is right now.
When's the last time Senator Obama spoke with Reverend Moss? Did he tell him a resignation letter was coming?
They’re friends. As Senator Obama has said, Reverend Moss is a man of deep faith and is close to God. They’ve talked about this several times over the course of the last few weeks. And there is an understanding that this is best for everyone it involved.
Barack knows that living out your faith is not something you just do in church. It’s something you do every minute of your life.
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Rev. Dr. Buzz Miller...
I do not blame the US for the terrorist attacks of 9/11 which killed nearly 2,750 people - not all Americans.
I DO blame the US for the hundreds of thousands of deaths - not all Americans - incurred as a result of the Iraqi invasion of 2003, for which 9/11 was, has been and continues to be used as justification for an illegal military action against a sovereign nation. In my book, BOTH acts were acts of terrorism.
As for Mr. Obama, I believe he demonstrates a depth of judgement the American public is not accustomed to seeing in its politicians. For one with advanced education and theological training, I would expect one such as yourself to be more discerning and less quick to judge. As a clergy-person, I know all too well what it's like to have my words scrutinzed and picked apart, especially by those who have an agenda. I'm glad to know the Obama's wrestled so hard with their decision. That tells me their hearts really were (are) in the right place.
I am certain that the United Church of Christ which stems from the First Church of Christ is surprised that Obama has given up his church. Perhaps this will open him up to being able to go back to the radical Muslim roots he was educated as a youth and of his father or perhaps the Atheist roots of his mother. At any rate it appears that Obama may be thinking like Carl Marks, that "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses," who needs these people lousing up my campaign. Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men?
To the ShoshannaSue comment: Obama is not a muslim and has no "radical muslim roots." Please check those facts on the Obama website here (http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_is_not_and_has_never_bee.php)
and here (http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_never_attended_a_muslim.php).
I believe this is an unfortunate move, but a necessary one caused by the hyper media coverage of the race and every exigency that confronts each candidate.
I am glad because I would not have voted for Obama, because of his minister alone. I did not want to hear the minister for the next 8 years. All he would have ben speaking on was the race issue or the Civil Rights movements of the 1960's. It is not the 1960's and I will be glad when a few more generations come and go so that that era of time will be forgotten once and for all. It is the year 2008.. everyone living has the same chances in life now and so all that race issues of the past should be in the chronicles of a library with dust on it.
I also, do not want to hear the "usual" NAACP or the civil rights leaders on the news every morning bashing the white race for the next 8 years...I want a good cup of Java with a different subject line than Obama's prejudiced minister every morning on CNN.
Where did Barrak Obama get his Muslim name? His father was Muslim and so was his step father. Where were you born Colin? Obama will not win against McCain unless he brings Hillary Clinton on as a running mate. Obama and Mama all the way.
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