“Always Right” Column as published in The Star, December 31, 2006
by Fran Eaton
In the days to come, regular worshippers at Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s South Side are likely to see lots of curious, unfamiliar faces in their midst.
Trinity is the church U.S. Senator Barack Obama has attended for twenty years, where he married his wife Michelle 14 years ago, and where he continues to worship. It was at this 95th Street church, Obama writes in his best-selling “The Audacity of Hope,” he kneeled, submitted to God’s will and dedicated himself to discovering His truth.
Two years ago a simple state lawmaker, Obama is now an international phenomenon, shining like the Democrats’ Star of the Midwest, potentially able to guide the Beltway’s Wise Men to solving the world’s problems. Everywhere he goes, Obama-maniacs reportedly beg him to run for president.
Political commentators compare Obama to Jesus and breathlessly proclaim him as a savior, a deity, a possessor of infinite potential, someone special, a king, the second coming of the Almighty, and, well, the Almighty himself.
Internet blogger David Sirota wrote recently that Obama is “all the Founding Fathers, the Greek philosophers, Mother Theresa, the Pope and every biblical prophet rolled into one man who can personally connect with every living organism in the universe at the very same moment.”
Truly, the nation has its eyes on Barack Obama and seeks to know more. Where would such a chosen one gain spiritual insight? Who are his spiritual advisors and mentors? Where would he worship and, well, be worshipped?
As a possible future leader of the Free World, those questions demanded answers, and therefore, some investigation. With that in mind, early one recent Sunday morning, a friend and I visited the now nationally-renowned church on Chicago’s South Side.
There we found Trinity United Church of Christ’s auditorium almost filled for its 7:30 am Sunday morning service. Female worship leaders invited the congregants of all ages to “Enter In.” Children dressed in African-heritage clothing entered from the back of the auditorium and filed into the choir loft. Boisterous, hand-clapping worship songs softened to heart-pondering quiet hymns as the morning’s teaching commenced.
Trinity’s senior pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Jr. reported via audio from his ongoing South American trip. Thereafter, Associate Pastor Otis Potts III encouraged his parishioners to seek the service-oriented spirit of Joseph and be willing to “raise another’s man child.” He advocated the orthodox teachings of the Deity of Christ, His Virgin Birth and His ultimate return.
An altar call was answered by men who publicly committed to serving their families and the community with their time, talents and money.
Altogether, it was a rather pleasant church service reflecting the spirit of Christmas and Christendom.
The notable differences from my own suburban non-denominational church were the scant number of Caucasians and the numerous sermon references to African-American political and religious leaders. Clearly, Trinity’s staff and congregation carry deep pride in their African-American roots.
It wasn’t until I followed up with more research on Obama’s church that I realized just how much Trinity’s church leaders emphasize African-American cultural pride . The church’s motto is “Unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian.” Their youth ages 8 through 18 are taught in clubs fashioned after a Swahili rite of passage into adulthood. They celebrate Kwanzaa.
Most eye-opening is a 12-point doctrine with which Trinity requires its members to adhere.
Called the “Black Value System,” the church’s doctrine requires its members be committed to God, to self-discipline and self-respect, and to pursue education and excellence – all honorable, mainstream community standards.
But Trinity is unique among UCC churches nationwide in its Black Value System which requires commitment to the Black community and family, adherence to the “Black Work Ethic” and disavowal of the pursuit of “Middleclassness.” It also requires a pledge to gift the Black community with members’ learned skills and personal resources. They are also required to bestow allegiance to “all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System.”
I’ve never heard Barack Obama talk about this Black Value System. It’s not specifically mentioned in his book. Perhaps the doctrine is not meant for public discussion. But because he holds his religious beliefs so dear, Trinity’s Black Value System may be key to understanding a little more just how Obama looks at the world and what kind of president he would be.
As a non-denominational suburban white woman, I gather all this information and contemplate how Barack Obama could be my president. Obama hopes to entice evangelicals into the Democrat Party. He tells Democrats they need not fear religion and church people. He urges a blending of different beliefs to heal the divisions between red and blue states, black, brown and white communities, rich, poor and middle economic classes.
But at the same time Obama is a longtime, active participant in a church that prides itself in its African heritage and color of skin. It is troubling that his church’s doctrine may demand he promote affirmative action, racial quotas, reparations, bussing, and more government programs dependent upon skin color.
If so, it would be disheartening to the progress we’ve made as a society, which is Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream that some day our children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Perhaps, at the very least, Barack Obama’s presidential campaign will open a frank exchange as to where race relations in this country is now and where it should be in the future. We certainly will be looking to him for his answers.
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