The Pastoral Theological Implications of the Jeremiah Wright Story

As pastors, we wish we had the great influence your article suggests. I'm an upstanding, holy, law-abiding role-model for congregants and the community, but sin is still rampant; there's still rebellion, fornication, adultery, divorce, etc. People make their own choices, good or bad. Sen. Obama should not be held accountable for the opinion of others, especially when he denounces it. All of the candidates have questionable associations, but we seem to be concentrating only on one. It's called "double-standard".

This is not a spin on Rev. Wright!

This is a caution and an exhortation to all ministers, called, licensed and ordained, to be aware that they are influential! The caution is that one's influence should be positive and Biblical.

It does not matter how a minister sees himself; it matters that people regard ministers as having authority. The other side of that coin is responsibility!

"No,No,No. Not God Bless America,but God D*m America." Do you think there's a tape with Pat Robertson and John Hagee saying these things. You can spin, spin and spin but it is what it is.

Crosswalk, is this yet another veiled attempt to plant "OBAMA HATES WHITE PEOPLE" in the minds of your readers? I'm beginning to wonder if this site is racist judging by the stuff I have been reading here lately. To a certain extent, yes, Pastors can influence people. So can parents, a teacher, a friend and a rock star. I don't attend Rev. Wright's church, but I can bet Obama wasn't a regular attendee. Even if he was, have you read Obama's speech? He says we TOGETHER can make a change. HELLO - Obama is also half white. Give us a little credit. If you feel that you have that much power over your congregation, perhaps you need to look deep into your heart regarding your mission. It's not about the Pastor - it's about Jesus. It's the Holy Spirit through the Pastor doing the work and GOD gets the glory. Rev. Wright is a Black man telling America what he had to go through as a Black man in America. Even today - think that's a walk in the park? Do you agree with all your Pastor ever said?

More than discussions of Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ, and Senator Obama, I am interested in this notion of "Segregated Sunday". I do not believe that Jesus died at Calvary so that the church would be divided along racial or socio-economic lines.
What I pray for more than anything is that white, black, hispanic and asian pastors would use this controversy NOT to focus on who should be in the White House, BUT on a much more eternally important call - How can we the 'body of Christ' unite to win souls for Jesus?

If Satan can distract us with the issues of "Babylon" we will fail to do the work that Jesus called us to do. I don't care about anyone's race or oratory for that matter. "For I am determined not know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (I Co 2:2) Jeremiah Wright says he is for Jesus Christ so let us move on and be the examples of reconciliation that Jesus personified. So let's reach out to Wright and close the racial divide.

You know, with all of the comments which I have read and heard about Rev. Wright, I have yet to see anyone say ANYTHING about what Trinity United Church of Christ is doing in it's home community.

Rev. Wright said that God should judge America for its shortcomings. I recall that Rev Pat Robertson and Rev John Hagee said similar things in the immediate aftermaths of 9/11 and hurricane Katrina. The latter two blamed the homosexuals, the women who had abortions, and others on the left side of the spectrum, while Wright blamed the militarists,racists, and others on the right side of the political spectrum.

Why is it ok for God to judge America when white Republican ministers call for it?

What I know about TUCC, I learned over the past couple of weeks, thanks to the conservative media's efforts to derail the Obama candidacy. Before that, I bet that few of CW's readers had even heard of Wright or Trinity. Can you do a story about TUCC's actual community impact? Is it even possible?

My husband and I are experienced pastors (18 years) and married only to each other (30 years), faithful, no scandals, law-abiding. We're educated (doctorate) and knowledgeable in scriptures. We have a 27-yr. old son (bachelors) and a 20-yr. old daughter (junior). We teach against sin of our kinds and abstinence until married. Our children have heeded, but not all the congregants. We have a sizable percentage of young unwed parents and those who've contracted STD's. Why not be influenced by good, touchable role-models? Some think, "it won't happen to me". We wish we had the control/influence you suggest, but it's not realistic. Sin is a problem in the secular and christian world. We try and will continue to try to influence. Senator Obama is not Rev. Wright and how many times does he have to say it?

As for Reverend Jeremiah Wright

Matthew 12:34 For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Says it all!

Dear "tabbiemann": I want to say that I do deplore the radical and ungodly rhetoric (it is not preaching) of Jeremiah Wright. But one cannot say everything in one article. My point was that ministers are influencers. We are not the Father Mulcahy-like (with all due regards to that fine character), milk-toast, sidelined bit players in the drama of life. Rather those who occupy the pulpits of our land are in positions to speak forth words, even in this image-driven era, that can transform the hearts and minds of the nation for good or for ill. Just to be clear, again, Wright did so for ill. We must do so for good. Cordially in Christ, Mike Milton

While I appreciate that the future ministers are being challenged appropriately in this article I disagree with the statement that it is not the job to tell "whether or not Jeremiah Wright did these things in his ministry." I am saddened that NOBODY seems willing to say that though he has the right to say what he wants, what he espouses does not jive with Jesus. The church he pastored espoused an afro-centric lifestyle not a Christo-centric lifestyle. I fear that he and his gospel lead people to hell and I haven't heard anyone confront the theological problems. In fact, I've heard him called a prophet and his brand of the gospel called typical of the Black Church. ICK!!!