Posted on 12/02/2006 7:39:54 PM PST by Terriergal
An open letter to pastors across the country
Contact: Adam Segal, Faithful Democrats, 202-422-4673, adam@the2050group.com
MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is an open letter to pastors across the country:
Dear Pastor:
Several right-wing religious organizations, including the National Clergy Council, recently blasted Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church for inviting Senator Barack Obama to speak on World AIDS Day this Friday, December 1. It's unfortunate that these groups would exploit the Christian faith to advance their divisive agenda – an agenda that gives almost exclusive attention to a few wedge issues while ignoring the diversity of problems plaguing American communities.
We reject the creation of an unbiblical litmus test to exclude believers from the body of Christ. We are called to the ministry of reconciliation and the liberation of all people, spiritually and socially.
We also wonder why any organization claiming to represent believers in Jesus Christ would choose to play what amounts to partisan politics instead of encouraging our leaders to address the scourge of AIDS.
AIDS has claimed the lives of 25 million people since 1981. Forty million people across the globe, including 2 million children, live with this wretched disease. And nearly 7 million people are now in desperate need of life-saving drugs, without which they will die. In the face of this crisis, it boggles our minds and offends our God-given sense of justice that these groups would choose to attack Senator Obama and Reverend Warren – Christians both – for working together to stamp out AIDS.
It is time for believers to unite under the banner of truth and work to address our society's most pressing problems. The time for scare tactics and divisiveness is over. As leaders in the Christian community, we will not stand silent in the face of these attacks, but will instead serve as voices for equality, fairness, and justice for all people.
Sincerely,
(See the rest of this abbreviated list, with titles and locations, at http://faithfuldemocrats.com/content/view/482/40/.)
Rev. Romal Tune
Co-Chair, FaithfulDemocrats.com
Dr. Randall Balmer
Rev. Tony Campolo
Rev. William Chrystal
Dr. Wayne Croft
Rev. Fredrick Davis
Dr. Paul de Vries
Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III
Dr. Floyd Flake
Dr. James Forbes
Dr. Robert Franklin
Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
Dr. Obery Hendricks
Dr. Ken Brooker Langston
Dr. Robert Maddox
Bishop Earl McCloud
Rev. Lester McCorn
Rev. Timothy McDonald III
Bishop Vashti McKenzie
Dr. Robin Meyers
Rev. Frank Raines
Dr. Ron Sider
Rev. Tim Simpson
Rev. Ron Stief
Rev. Steven Thurston
Rev. Jim Wallis
Dr. Lauren Winner
Dr. Rolen Womack
Dr. Jeremiah Wright
An open letter to pastors across the country
November 30, 2006
Dear Pastor:
Several right-wing religious organizations, including the National Clergy Council, recently blasted Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church for inviting Senator Barack Obama to speak on World AIDS Day this Friday, December 1. It's unfortunate that these groups would exploit the Christian faith to advance their divisive agenda -- an agenda that gives almost exclusive attention to a few wedge issues while ignoring the diversity of problems plaguing American communities.
We reject the creation of an unbiblical litmus test to exclude believers from the body of Christ. We are called to the ministry of reconciliation and the liberation of all people, spiritually and socially.
We also wonder why any organization claiming to represent believers in Jesus Christ would choose to play what amounts to partisan politics instead of encouraging our leaders to address the scourge of AIDS.
AIDS has claimed the lives of 25 million people since 1981. Forty million people across the globe, including 2 million children, live with this wretched disease. And nearly 7 million people are now in desperate need of life-saving drugs, without which they will die. In the face of this crisis, it boggles our minds and offends our God-given sense of justice that these groups would choose to attack Senator Obama and Reverend Warren -- Christians both -- for working together to stamp out AIDS.
It is time for believers to unite under the banner of truth and work to address our society's most pressing problems. The time for scare tactics and divisiveness is over. As leaders in the Christian community, we will not stand silent in the face of these attacks, but will instead serve as voices for equality, fairness, and justice for all people.
Sincerely,
Rev. Romal Tune
Co-Chair, FaithfulDemocrats.com
President, Clergy Strategic Alliances
Washington, D.C.
Dr. Randall Balmer
Professor of American Religion, Columbia University
New York, New York
Rev. Amos Brown
Pastor, Third Baptist Church
San Francisco, California
Rev. Tony Campolo
Founder & President, Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education
Professor Emeritus, Eastern University
Saint Davids, Pennsylvania
Reverend Jean-Luc S. Charles
Director, Mission and Evangelism Ministry
White Rock Baptist Church
Durham, North Carolina
Rev. William Chrystal
Pastor, First Congregational Church
Former Military Chaplain
Reno, Nevada
Rev. Marcus Cosby
Senior Pastor, Wheeler Ave. Baptist Church
Houston, Texas
Dr. Wayne Croft
Professor of Preaching, Easter Theological Seminary
Pastor, Church of the Redeemer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rev. Fredrick A. Davis
Pastor, First Calvary Baptist Church
Durham, North Carolina
Dr. Paul de Vries
President, New York Divinity School
New York, New York
Frederick Douglass Haynes III
Senior Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church
Dallas, Texas
Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake
Pastor, the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral
New York, New York
Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr.
Senior Minister, Riverside Church
New York, New York
Dr. Robert M. Franklin
President, Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta
Professor, Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
Pastor, Northminster Baptist Church
Monroe, Louisiana
Rev. Dr. Obery Hendricks Jr.
Professor of Biblical Interpretation, New York Theological Seminary
New York, New York
Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston
Director, Disciples Justice Action Network
Convener, Protestant Justice Action
Annapolis, Maryland
Rev. Dr. Robert L. Maddox
Minister of Discipleship, Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ
Executive Director, The Briggs Center for Faith and Action
Bethesda, Maryland
Bishop Earl McCloud
Ecumenical Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Atlanta, Georgia
Rev. Lester A. McCorn
Senior Pastor, Faith A.M.E. Zion Church
Atlanta, Georgia
Rev. Timothy McDonald III
Chairman, African American Ministers In Action
Pastor, First Iconium Baptist Church
Atlanta, Georgia
Bishop Vashti McKenzie
Presiding Prelate, 13th Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Nashville, Tennessee
Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers
Minister, Mayflower Congregational UCC
Professor of Rhetoric, Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Rev. Otis Moss III
Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ
Chicago, Illinois
Rev. Frank Raines
Pastor, Dexter Ave. Baptist Church
Detroit, Michigan
Rev. Daniel Schultz
United Church of Christ Minister
Co-Founder, Street Prophets weblog
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Dr. Ron Sider
President, Evangelicals for Social Action
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
Rev. Tim Simpson
Executive Director, Christian Alliance for Progress
Jacksonville, Florida
Rev. Ron Stief
Director, Justice & Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ
Washington, D.C.
Rev. Steven Thurston
President, National Baptist Convention of America
Chicago, Illinois
Rev. Jim Wallis
President, Sojourners/Call to Renewal
Washington, D.C.
Dr. Lauren Winner
Visiting Lecturer, Duke Divinity School
Christian author
Durham, North Carolina
Rev. Dr. Rolen L. Womack Jr.
Pastor, Progressive Baptist Church
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr.
Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ
Chicago, Illinois
If these "churchmen" - and Obama - want to attach themselves to Treason, that's their business.
Looks like the Dems found their huckleberry...
Article says “religious leaders” … doesn’t’ t say Christian leaders … big difference, at least to me.
This Pastor chooses not to associate with anyone who is unrepentant about murdering children in the womb
All these DemonRats are members of the radical left.
I'm sure glad to note those are well-known, well-respected ministers--NOT!
If these "religious" leaders wanted to do something about saving lives, they would speak up about the over 50 million babies murdered since Roe v. Wade. Hypocrites!
All liberal "evangelicals" - no great recommendation!
You know what? I don't recognize a single "religious" leader on that list.
Wow, Well this sure does clarify things for any undecided about Mr. Warren I would think.
Libs have no problem with "separation of church and state" when it suits their needs.
Right back at ya.
Warren's mistake was not that he invited Obama to speak at this conference, but that he held this conference at his church.
The usual liberal, democrat suspects.
" ... Rev. Tony Campolo ... "
Wow! With friends like these...
(... who needs enemies???)
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