(RNS) When it comes to hot-button political issues, the United Church of Christ is anything but wishy-washy.
Its new general minister and president, the Rev. Geoffrey Black, has delivered 17,000 petition signatures to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging health-care reform — including coverage for all and access regardless of ability to pay.
Its outgoing president, the Rev. John Thomas, was arrested at the White House two years ago, trying to deliver 100,000 petition signatures against the war in Iraq.
“The church has a long tradition of being involved in the large public issues of the day,” said Thomas, 59, of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
“Going back to the 19th century, we supported women’s rights and the abolitionist movement. Today, we’ve been active in issues ranging from rights for gays and lesbians to ending the war in Iraq.”
The 1.1 million-member United Church of Christ, nationally headquartered in this city’s downtown, is regarded as one of the most liberal mainstream Protestant denominations in America.
It is fundamentally pro-abortion rights, pro-gay rights and anti-war.
And although the church is 90 percent white, it chose Black, who took office in October, as its first elected black president. Joseph Evans, who was black, served as president in the 1970s to fill out the term of a white president who had died in office.
“This church had a strong interest and investment in the civil rights movement,” said Black, 61, who was raised a Baptist before he was drawn to the United Church of Christ.
“I am a product of the success of that movement. I am indebted to it,” he said.
Despite the church’s liberal leanings, Black elects not to use the “L” word when discussing the institution’s political positions.
“I would use the terms progressive and unabashedly Christian,” he said. “Jesus was not about excluding people. He reached out to those who were marginalized and oppressed. Gay and lesbian people, just as Africans who were enslaved, have been marginalized and oppressed in our society.”
Black acknowledged that the church’s political positions and social actions can be costly.
In 2005, the church leadership endorsed same-sex marriage, resulting in the exodus of hundreds of members.
But the UCC — the first mainstream Protestant denomination to ordain blacks, women and openly gay people — is not unfamiliar with controversy.
In 2004, the church made national headlines for airing TV ads showing bouncers at a church door turning away gays and people of color.
“That was edgy,” said Black.
During last year’s presidential election, the church was in the headlines again when the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a pastor of a United Church of Christ church in Chicago where President Obama used to worship, was accused of spewing anti-American, white-hating rhetoric.
Black defended Wright, saying his words were twisted by the media.
“I never felt the whole body of his preaching and his ministry was ever examined thoughtfully, comprehensively, or with an intent to understand the real religious experience of many African-Americans in this country,” Black said.
Black, a graduate of Yale Divinity School, is now faced with running an organization struggling financially and trying to build its membership.
Between now and the spring he will be on a 10-city tour, visiting member churches. “I’ll be preaching, but mostly listening,” he said.
The United Church of Christ traces its roots to the Congregationalist Pilgrims of New England. It boasts of its 11 forebears who signed the Declaration of Independence and of its role as an agitator in the Boston Tea Party.
Those early American roots are obvious today by the church’s governmental structure, which allows congregations to function independently and democratically.
“We’re not a church that has a top-down doctrinal set of rules,”
said Thomas, who will be teaching at a seminary in Chicago. “We rely on the consciences of our members and the leadership of our pastors to shape the theological direction of the church.”
Black added: “Democracy is part of our denominational DNA.”
Black, who is married and has one grown daughter, has been living with friends in Lakewood, Ohio until he finds permanent housing.
His election as president marks his second move to Cleveland. He had worked here for six years on the national staff before moving to the church’s New York office.
“I’m happy to be back in Cleveland,” he said.
(Michael O’Malley writes for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland.)
Copyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
Beliefnet
Advertisement
posted October 29, 2009 at 7:04 pm
A very politically motivated church. I know it has been suggested before that certain politically involved churches have their non-profit status pulled but because of this church’s position on homosexuality and abortion I’d be willing to bet a dollar to a doughnut that won’t be mentioned here none of the old separation of church and state rhetoric applies when people’s agenda is promoted by a church.
posted October 29, 2009 at 8:52 pm
“I know it has been suggested before that certain politically involved churches have their non-profit status pulled but because of this church’s position on homosexuality and abortion I’d be willing to bet a dollar to a doughnut that won’t be mentioned here”
We’ve all got our biases, ck, no matter how much we try to deny it. If you feel the UCC should have its tax-free status revoked, you’re 100% free to do something about it.
posted October 29, 2009 at 8:52 pm
As usual ck you took only details of the UCC, that you could be picky about. Did you notice how The United Church of Christ helped you and other black people to receive your Civil Rights? Now they are helping GLBT to receive their Human Rights. See how it works?
posted October 29, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I believe, cknuck, the question would be whether they urged in church documents or as part of services, to vote for certain named candidates.
j, it sounds like your church has done a lot of good over the years. Good for y’all!
posted October 29, 2009 at 10:04 pm
We have a “personal” representative of the UCC who posts here….and from what I have read above and from his (jestrfyl)posts…the UCC has A LOT to be proud of. Way to go, UCC. An excellent example (along with the UU) of Christian love at it’s best.
posted October 29, 2009 at 11:06 pm
H22 quote, “Did you notice how The United Church of Christ helped you and other black people to receive your Civil”
Careful H22 your southern side is showing. I sure should be glad the UCC freed me huh? You forgot I was there save that for other people.
posted October 29, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Please do your research. Only 10% of UUC’s churches are “gay-friendly.” Don’t suggest they are for gay rights – that’s a lie.
posted October 30, 2009 at 12:53 am
Andrew,
Check your facts more closely. Though 10% have made an “Open and Affirming” declaration, there are a whole LOT more who are “gay friendly”. Mine is one of those congregations.
H22, N, ps and all,
Thanks for your words and encouragement. It is indeed nice to see the UCC listed here.
ck,
I would expect nothing other from you. We simply believe that rights are for all people, that Jesus opened the Door and the Table to everyone who was/is in need, and that the most ancient rule of extravagant hospitality rise above the others. Its in the OT and the NT, it is in our hearts, on our lips, and seen in our actions.
By the way, our history is not only English. We have a strong and sturdy Germanic history as well, through the Evangelical and the Reformed churches. This is often overlooked. Now we are a fantastic gumbo of traditions and styles, drawing not only from our 4 preceding denominations (Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, & Reformed), but from the African American churches, the women’s movement, the Disabled community, environmental / green movements, and many more – including what some of my Confirmation Class students called the DAWGs (Dead Anglo White Guys). Traditional worship, nonTraditional thinking – that is one of our identifiers. As our ad says, “God is still speaking”. Peace!
posted October 30, 2009 at 1:09 am
jest rights are for all people, and Jesus did open the door and the table even for Judas.
posted October 30, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Ck, it took many people to bring Civil Rights to the Black people. We should all give thanks to all of them. No one group or person did it by themselves.
posted October 30, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I do H22, but since you personally were not there could we skip this conversation?
posted October 30, 2009 at 6:36 pm
ck you’re very big on telling other people to shut up if they haven’t ‘personally’ experienced your circumstances in life yet you practically gush with judgment on every other way of life you know nothing about ‘personally’ all the time. You are the picture-perfect definition of a hypocrite (and of a bigot but that’s a different post entirely). You should really take your own advice and skip a lot of conversations.
posted October 31, 2009 at 12:45 am
ck,
Is this the place to open the whole Judas discussion? I am fairly sure you an I don’t read the same Biblical scholars and commentators – and it is so two years ago anyway.
My Name,
Don’t sweat ck – we are “frenemies” who seem to enjoy rattling each other’s cage. We are all hypocritical from time to time – but it’s a fun sin to confess.
posted October 31, 2009 at 12:07 pm
MN concerning you I think I will take that advise, you make no sense at all.
posted October 31, 2009 at 12:34 pm
jest you are correct we probably don’t read the same commentaries, honor the same scholars, I know we don’t read the bible in the same way. I for one see Jesus as my Lord and Savior. You seem to be on the more all roads lead to God theme. I’m imagine you are influenced highly by such writers and Marcus Borg, R David Kaylor, John Hicks and many other so-called scholars and hardly a fan of commentaries by John Darby, John Gill, Matthew Henry, Wesley Scofields.
posted October 31, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Think I’ll read whatever jestrfyl reads….as they seem to be more accepting of all.
posted October 31, 2009 at 9:56 pm
pagan that makes all the sense in the world that you would. You make my point for me.
posted November 2, 2009 at 12:10 pm
ck,
Marcus Borg & J. D. Crossan, Bart Ehrman, Elaine Pagels, Karen Armstrong,Amy Jill Levine, and Bruce Feiler all get the most space on my shelves. Scofield and his ilk barely scratch the surface of the Biblical texts, and almost never appreciate the historical context in which the stories were composed. We read different scholars and look at the same thing in different ways. That does not make either of us wrong (this is not a win/lose game). There are a few “liberal” scholars I also have some trouble with, but that is because they do not take the text’s significance for generations of people seriously enough.
posted November 3, 2009 at 12:17 am
I know jest according to you and Elaine and the crew Jesus is not God but a philosopher and a teacher. Therefore you are not a Christian because the Jesus you preach is not the Christ. So pagans and atheist are just fine with who you are and you impotent benign run of the mill god.
posted November 3, 2009 at 7:54 pm
“impotent benign run of the mill god” cknuck Really?
Jesus was a teacher…or did you not realize that? Don’t recall jestrfyl saying Jesus wasn’t the Christ or that he wasn’t God’s representative on earth during his short life. Thus jestrfyl is most certainly a Christian, at least as far as I’m concerned. (for what it’s worth).
posted November 3, 2009 at 10:49 pm
of course it is important to you that jest’s deception remains intact his god is no threat to your pagan statements of belief. You can hardly argue for something you don’t believe in, your argument would be for something that compliments your pagan beliefs which are indeed solid. Unless he leads you to Christ (which will never happen) then your argument only supports mine.
posted November 4, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Just who would jestrfyl be deceiving, cknuck? He just sees things differently than you, and who is to say what is right? The listeners decide what they feel is right or not. You’ve made up your mind as to what is right, I’ve made up my mind, others have made up their minds. No one is absolutely right….IMO. Thus there are a lot of religions/beliefs in the world….many thinking they have all the answers/
posted November 4, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I am a member of a United Church of Christ church and we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is Lord. But we also support oppressed individuals or groups as we believe Jesus did while on earth. How does that make us Pagans?
Also, Jestrfyl, my bookshelves include most of those authors as well and it has helped me in my devotion to God. Thank you for mentioning them.
posted November 4, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Robin just as TEC I have no doubt that yes many of you in UCC are indeed pagans, membership to a church does not exclude one from being pagan any more than it excludes the church the bible supports that even demons believe Jesus is Lord. From many of jest’s conversations he believes in a lot of lords.
posted November 4, 2009 at 8:20 pm
cknuck, Robin F. explained the obvious….UCC believes that Jesus is the Son of God and is Lord. And you’re still under the illusion that they are Pagans? Oh well. Nothing is penatrating that brain of yours. Apparently their Jesus and God who is Lord is not the same one you worship.
posted November 15, 2009 at 12:59 am
“”…Gay and lesbian people, just as Africans who were enslaved, have been marginalized and oppressed in our society…”"
Blackness is GOOD.
Homosexual practice and fixation is EVIL.
There is no possible way these issues occupy the same moral plane.
This proves even a black man can make foolish statements about the black struggle.
Furthermore, this is as derogatory as pagans deciding what is Christian and what is not.
posted November 15, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Well, GC, I’m sure YOU have decided what is Christian and what is not. The world can feel safe now!!! What a joke.