Being Culpable for the Words of Another
I sure don’t want to sound like a broken record defending the actions and words of Barack Obama but I find it unacceptable that he is held accountable for the words of both his ex-pastor and now his current UCC pastor. It is as if Barack himself uttered the media belabored phrases of these pastors. Obama’s statements indicating that he disagreed with the statements of Rev. Wright appear to be brushed aside by a press hungry for sound bites.
During my tenure at First Presbyterian Church I have seen a number of senior pastors or interim pastors come and go. Now we have Cathy Northrup and I suspect someday she also, will leave this congregation. For some the list is much longer but for me these pastors include David Walker, Art Bell, Rene’ Minshew, Robert Hoover and Cathy Northrup. There have been many associates, changes in general presbyters not to mention interesting leaders and issues within the denomination. Never once have I personally been held culpable for what any of them said. When someone from outside our church or denomination suggested that this pastor was too liberal or that pastor too conservative I simply listened or shared my feelings pro or con. Issues of scripture, sacraments, abortion, women’s equality in the pulpit have supporters and detractors but I have not been responsible for the ideas of another.
We have processes in our churches that act to balance excesses and change the landscape of ideas. We also have a strong denominational tradition that places ultimate importance on the right to conscience. To suggest that Obama should have quickly left Rev. Wright’s church to distance him from Wright’s ideas makes no sense to me no matter how objectionable I might personally find some of them. Separation of church and state is a two-edged sword and the press and other critics can not have it both ways.
Rick Wedel
3 comments so far
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First of all: Separation of Church and State is not a U.S. Constitutional issue. The U.S. Constitution mandates that the government shall not establish a national or state religion.
…but I digress…
The Rev. Wright has every right to say the things he said. I do believe that “hate speech laws” are not applicable in a bona-fide house of worship. The exerpts from Rev. Wright’s sermon’s (as depicted by the media) surely qualify as “hate speech”. Frankly, however, the hate speech laws certainly step on the toes of the First Ammendment, if not totally kicking it in the head.
…and your point IS???? (as my kids would say)
My point is that Senator Obama had years to either work toward the removal of Rev. Wright from that church’s pulpit…OR…refuse to stay a member of the church thereby demonstrating tacit approval. I know if my pastor (and I love my pastor) one day were to begin saying (under protection of the First Ammendment) things that exhorted the congregation to despise their government, their leaders, an entire race of people…I would immediately ask him to STOP and explain his actions. If he indicated his intention to continue, I would seek his removal from the pulpit. As a last resort, I would leave the congregation in protest, while vigorously communicating my reason(s) for doing so. I figure the whole process would take about 2 weeks.
Forrest Weirick
Just a note of interest. We, by chance,
picked up a television program on channel 8 (PBS) at 8pm.
Monday evening. The program is titled
“American Experience”.
We watched the first half of the program,the second half is to be aired on Monday, May 19th, channel 8,(PBS) at 8pm. The program is about the
life of Franklin D. Roosevelt. A man who was handicapped much of his life, but full of life with great imagination and intelligence. Today we desperately need a man, or women, like him with his great vision for a country full of poor, hungry people. Hope you can watch it with a glass of good wine. I guarantee you will find it well worth your time.
(I hope my comments are not stale, but it has been a busy week.) I agree with Rick’s assessment of the Wright situation. I have been through the same FPC ministers that he has mentioned. Some have been wickedly liberal and others conservative. I certainly do not agree with everything any of them have said. I have even disagreed fairly strong with certain comments from the pulpit (and a member of my family who shall go unnamed has even walked out of a sermon of one). But we have stayed with “our” Church, have enjoyed the friendship of the individual pastors, and have welcomed their positive ministry and commitment to the members.
I am not an Obama supporter, although he is a very refreshing and charasmatic candidate. I think he was being a true friend and church member when he initially supported Rev. Wright as a friend; I think he then did what he had to do when Wright went off the deep end and continued controversial staements out of context.
I would not want to be labeled with the comments of my pastors, my weird friends, or even those who participate in this website. I don’t think we should hold our candidates to an impossible standard, either.