1. Certainly we are a diverse congregation, republicans and democrats...my interest is not in defending Obama as a candidate or the democratic political perspective.
2. Recently there has been a political-religion alliance of the right, giving the illusion that being American and being Christian is one and the same. Even Republicans have noticed this. See John Danforth's book Faith and Politics.
3. Sometimes the left swings too far the other way in an automatic critical stance. But we also need to recognize that the prophetic voice is deeply rooted in scripture. Reinhold Niebuhr, the prophets Jeremiah and Amos are representatives of that faith-stance.
4. It is unfair to judge a ministry or person on the basis of sound-bites. My personal experience at Trinity UCC has extended for 15 years as I and many of my confirmation students have been blessed by visiting, being warmly welcomed, and worshiping in this wonderful congregation.
5. "Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers," said Mignon McLaughlin. On our way back from St. Louis this week we stopped in Springfield and toured the Lincoln museum. Lincoln was little loved or respected during his lifetime. Through it all he remained committed to principle.
6. My principle point: we do best when we work on and out of our own principles that grow out of our experiences. Then we take those, and speak them and listen, listen, listen carefully to each other as if our and their life depended on it. It's how we fulfill the admonition in 1 Peter: "Have mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart."
For a summary of one of Rev. Wright's sermons that has been under scrutiny go to
For information about Trinity UCC and a difference perspective than you'll receive from the media, go to. The comments of Dr. Martin Marty at this site are balanced and give perspective.