April 22, 2008
by J. Bennett Guess

At its April meeting, the UCC's 90-member Executive Council passed a resolution supporting Trinity UCC in Chicago, which has been under a cloud of politically-charged scrutiny since a few clips of its senior pastor's sermons have aired repeatedly on TV.

The resolution notes that, in recent weeks, Trinity UCC has been criticized unnecessarily and that certain comments by the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., senior pastor, have been taken out of context.

"The United Church of Christ recognizes that many of the statements of the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., call into question the commitment of the United States to be a land free from racial, economic and social division," the resolution states.

In addition to celebrating Trinity UCC's varied ministries, the resolution also recognizes that "churches may be on different paths on our journey with the Still Speaking God."

"We stand in solidarity with and support of the local congregations of the United Church of Christ as they live out their charge to be prophetic witnesses to church, community and society," it reads.

The Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, executive minister for Wider Church Ministries and a member of the UCC's five-person Collegium of Officers, will present the Executive Council's resolution to members of Trinity UCC during the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, April 27.

Rogers-Witte is the fourth member of the Collegium to visit Trinity UCC in the past month. Edith A. Guffey, associate general minister, extended words of support at services on March 30, as did the Rev. Stephen Sterner on April 6. The Rev. John H. Thomas, general minister and president, was present at Wright's retirement celebration in early March and appeared again at a press conference at Trinity UCC on April 3.

The Rev. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister for Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM), is slated to offer expressions of the wider church's support on Sunday, May 4.

JWM's board of directors, which also met in April, voted to adopt the same resolution in support of Trinity UCC.

The full text of the resolution follows:

Resolution in Support of
Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago

Whereas, in the United Church of Christ, each local church is free to interpret God's message in their church and community, recognizing that churches may be on different paths on our journey with the Still Speaking God; and

Whereas, the United Church of Christ polity affirms the expression of these ideas in the local church when spoken in love and respect and in concern for the presence of God's reign here and now; and

Whereas, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL, is a local church in the United Church of Christ; and

Whereas, in recent weeks, the media and various commentators have challenged, taken out of context and repeatedly broadcast certain controversial and prophetic statements of the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Senior Pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ; and

Whereas, the United Church of Christ recognizes that many of the statements of the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., call into question the commitment of the United States to be a land free from racial, economic and social division; and

Whereas, the United Church of Christ aspires to be a multi-racial, multi-cultural, open and affirming, peace with justice and accessible to all denomination.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ, meeting this 14th day of April, 2008, does hereby adopt the following resolution:

1. We stand in solidarity with and support of the local congregations of the United Church of Christ as they live out their charge to be prophetic witnesses to church, community and society; and

2. We affirm the long-standing Protestant and African American practice of pastors exercising their prophetic roles in the pulpit, in their communities and on the street; and

3. We resist having the mission of the United Church of Christ defined by political agenda(s); and

4. We hold Trinity United Church of Christ of Chicago, IL, its members, the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, and staff, in prayer during this time of challenge; and

5. We uplift the multiple (over 50) ministries of Trinity United Church of Christ of Chicago, IL, that address the justice needs of all Americans; and

6. We encourage members of the United Church of Christ and others to consider the repeatedly publicized controversial remarks of the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. in their full and complete context and to inform themselves about Trinity United Church of Christ; and

7. We support the call for all churches of the United Church of Christ to conduct a sacred conversation about race, with background information and resources to be provided upon request to local churches, associations and conferences.

Adopted by the Executive Council
of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ
April 14, 2008

United Church News Service