UCCtruths

To: UCC Conference Ministers, National Staff and Pastors

From: The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, UCC Director of Communications

Date: January 17, 2008 Re: Talking points: Trinity UCC and Jeremiah Wright

Many of our offices and churches have been deluged with emails recently about Trinity UCC in Chicago, because of Barack Obama’s membership there. Most of the emails – it appears – come from a single unknown source.

A non-partisan journalistic website has debunked many of the allegations in these emails. Read more at: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/282/and http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/280/

UCC General Minister and President John H. Thomas has addressed these in a news story that has appeared online since Jan. 11. Feel free to forward this link to persons who request information from you about the UCC: http://www.ucc.org/news/thomas-denounces-smear-1.html

Below are some talking points to assist you further:

DO come to the defense of the United Church of Christ and Trinity UCC.

• “I have first-hand experience of Trinity UCC, its leaders and its ministries, and I know it be a faithful, generous and justice-minded congregation that takes seriously its ministry within and among the African-American community on Chicago’s south side.”


• “The United Church of Christ includes many of the oldest congregations in this country. More than 10 percent were formed before 1776. It is socially, racially, economically and theologically diverse, and its membership includes 10 members of Congress — five Republicans and five Democrats, including
  Obama.”

DO NOT come to the defense of Obama specifically. That’s not your
role.

• “Our concern is the attacks that have been made on Trinity UCC, which are blatantly unfair and untrue. They do not fairly characterize the Chicago congregation where Obama and thousands of others hold their UCC memberships.”

DO refute distortions or misconceptions about Trinity UCC.

• “Despite erroneous claims to the contrary, Trinity UCC’s membership includes several non-Black members — including the Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman, Illinois Conference Minister, and her husband, who are white.”


• “Trinity UCC is a welcoming, hospitable church. If you’ve been there, you know this to be true.”


• “Trinity UCC’s ministry is inclusive and global. Trinity UCC is a generous contributor to funding new church starts throughout the country and beyond, and it is the largest single donor to our ‘Our Church’s Wider Mission,’ the shared mission fund of the UCC, which is 90 percent European-American.”

DO explain the predominate racial-ethnic heritage of Trinity UCC’s
membership.

• “Many churches observe and honor the racial-ethnic heritage of its congregation and its members, including — for example — many UCC churches of German, Samoan, Puerto Rican or Hungarian heritage. Trinity UCC is no different in honoring its African heritage.”

DO speak to racism as a present-day issue of justice that needs the
nation’s attention.

• Rev. Wright, like other UCC ministers, regularly speaks about important issues of justice, and racism is surely one of them. To deny the reality of racism in our nation — both historically and in the present day — is to ignore one of the most pressing social justice issues our nation faces.”

DO NOT engage in proof-texting of Jeremiah Wright’s sermons.

• “I don’t think it’s appropriate nor fair to read a few sentence from another pastor’s sermons and then pass judgment, without knowing the context, the audience, the scripture, and the occasion and purpose for which these words were written and delivered.”


• “I wouldn’t appreciate someone criticizing sermons of mine which they’d never heard.”

DO, if appropriate, speak to your personal relationship with Jeremiah Wright.

• “I know Jeremiah Wright and I appreciate his prophetic preaching.”


• “Rev. Wright’s sermons are broadcast every Sunday on national cable television and streamed on the internet for all to hear. He has long been regarded as one of the best preachers in Chicago and in the nation.”


• “I am proud to be a colleague in ministry with Rev. Jeremiah
  Wright.”