UCCtruths

I think this is a little late coming, but there it is. From Politico:

I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan. I assume that Trumpet Magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree.

He should have said this last year, much in the same way he distanced himself from the UCC's anti-Israel positions:

Asked about the resolution on Friday, prior to the passage of the measure, Mr. Obama's campaign provided a statement. "Senator Obama has been a consistent and stalwart supporter of Israel, our strongest ally and only democracy in the Middle East, throughout his career in public service and his entire life," a spokeswoman for the campaign, Jennifer Psaki, said. "While he is a proud member of the UCC church and values its tradition of openness and diversity, he strongly disagrees with the portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict presented by individual members of the church."

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Suppose a local UCC minister expressed support for David Duke, an angry racist known for making anti-Semtitic comments. What would the members of the local congregation be obligated to do?

Would they be obligated to speak out against their pastor?

Would they be obligated to remove and replace the pastor?

Would it be acceptable for them to continue to support this pastor with their donations to the local church? Most members of the UCC would feel that it would be time to go the mattresses and remove the pastor from the pulpit. Praising a man like David Duke, who is the mirror image of Minister Farrakhan, is not something that could be explained away with explanations of UCC's "covenanental congregationalism." Do these explanations work when a minister ordained in the UCC -- a denomination that putatively opposed to racism and homophobia -- expresses support for Minister Farrakhan, a man who has complained about "wicked Jews, the false Jews that are promoting lesbianism, homosexuality."

John Thomas, president and general minister of the UCC has defended the Trinity UCC in Chicago, stating it is the victim of a smear campaign. Well, now the shoe is on the other foot (and also in JT's mouth). Trinity's pastor has lauded a man who has made undeniably homophobic and anti-Semitic comments. Is this man worthy of John Thomas's defense?