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Obama's Gospel Tour
By Carlos Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 01:59:25 AM EST printable version print story
How do we make sense of Obama's efforts at reaching out to conservative African-American Christians in South Carolina? Is Obama helping or hurting his progressive cause? Is this the right way to challenge the anti-gay attitudes of the Christian Right?

Responding to critics, 16 Obama supporters released an interesting letter:

As representatives of Barack Obama supporters from the African American religious community and the gay community, we are issuing a statement together for the first time. Our letter addresses the recent issue of Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing at Senator Obama's "Embrace the Change" concert series. In the midst of division, we hope and believe that this is a moment to bring together communities that have been divided for far too long.

A few things are clear. First, Pastor McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many Americans, most especially to gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied.
At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin's beliefs. This also cannot be ignored.
Finally, we believe that the only way for these two sides to find common ground is to do so together.

Not at arms length. Not in a war of words with press and pundits. Only together.
It is clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal. In gatherings of LGBT Americans and African Americans of faith, Obama has stated that all individuals should be afforded full civil rights regardless of their sexual orientation, and that homophobia must be eradicated in every corner of our nation. If we are to end homophobia and secure full civil rights for gay Americans, then we need an advocate within the Black community like Barack Obama.

At the same time, while Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Pastor McClurkin's comments, he will not exclude from his campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.

We believe that Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for LGBT Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who believe that their religion prevents them from fully embracing their gay brothers and sisters. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.

We also ask Senator Obama's critics to consider the alternatives. Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the African American community and cuts off millions of Blacks who believe things offensive to many Americans? Or a panderer who tells African Americans what they want to hear, at the expense of our gay brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Barack Obama, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage?





Display:

about Obama and the religious right can be found at
http://www.onemillionstrong.us/showDiary.do;jsessionid=712628EBC9 2ECE0A7667C215B0DFFC4D?diaryId=9

by Carlos on Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 02:20:57 AM EST

Remember that religious conservatives tend to be primitive thinkers not easily reached with rational argument. Your only hope of getting along with them is by giving them a personal connection to those they're suppose to hate, so that they might establish emotional bonds and see similarities as well as differences with them. This is a big part of why there is so much less open bigotry in large cities than in small towns. It's not that city folk are less stupid or intolerant, it's just that the constant interaction with different people subconsciously breaks down the artificial walls we have created. In a way though, it's irrelevant since the voters seem to have already settled on Hillary. In spite of their protestations to the contrary, Americans apparently want 4 more years of Bush's policies, only this time carried out by someone in women's clothing. So they'll either elect Clinton or Giuliani.

by Dave on Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 03:56:23 PM EST

on this at http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50021.asp

by Carlos on Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 06:13:35 PM EST

Obama's big tent has a rent in the roof and the rain will surely get through. Just as the Klan and the NAACP will never sit down to find out if they have issues in common so will those who use the 7 thumb verses never sit down to see if there is common ground between them and us gay folk.

Remember Mel White's fiasco of the 200 sitting down with the late and unlamented Jerry Falwell for dialogue.

For more on the Rev. McClurkin check out Clay Cain's Blog

http://claycane.blogspot.com/2007/10/exclusive-interview-with-don nie.html

by JerrySloan on Sat Oct 27, 2007 at 02:12:55 AM EST


has some thoughtful comments at
http://www.streetprophets.com/storyonly/2007/10/26/222338/77

by Carlos on Sat Oct 27, 2007 at 02:57:23 AM EST
People tend to forget that, generally speaking, African-Americans are both religious and theologically conservative.  There are around 10 million black Baptists mostly located in the South.  Every single major black baptist denomination considers homosexuality to be a sin.  In the Southland, how many predominantly African-American congregations have you encountered that are both welcoming and affirming towards the LGBT community?  

Nonetheless, African-Americans vote overwhelmingly Democrat.  I don't have the numbers in front of me or anything.  Their theology says that homosexuality is a sin but they still vote Democrat.  Sheesh, virtually every black church that Barack, Hillary and John steps into on Sunday mornings holds to a very conservative view of sexuality.  Should Barack ignore such a large constituency?

The Big Tent has always existed.  We should acknowledge that fact.  The impression I get from many in the progressive blogosphere is that somehow I'm not toeing the party-line if I don't hold to a certain theological view concerning sexuality.  I'm a bigot if I don't affirm gay ordination even if I support gay-rights legislation.  An absurd notion but that's the feeling left in my stomach, for what its worth.  

Maybe it's me but I often feel that many critics and observers don't really understand the dynamics of the South.  We talk about white conservative evangelicals who vote Republican in high high numbers.  But we forget that the very large segment of African-Americans who are also conservative evangelicals but vote Democrat.  From my experience working with John Lewis and other black leaders in Atlanta, I know that Christians, white or black, need not embrace liberal theology in order to support gay rights in the secular realm.  

by Big Daddy Weave on Sat Oct 27, 2007 at 05:15:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It's no accident that Obama is seeking a big tent, and not just cynically for political expediency. As a proud member of the UCC, it's in his personal belief system and experience to want to bring people together across seemingly unbreakable barriers. Is it the best possible outcome to agree to disagree about God-given human sexuality, no - but it is better to work together on the issues diverse groups can agree on than to allow one or two issues, however large, to prevent true progress.

by RevRuthUCC on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 10:06:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]




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