Following an ongoing media firestorm regarding his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and a supporter’s recent sermon, Sen. Barack Obama announced on Saturday that he had resigned “with some sadness” from Trinity United Church of Christ.
At a news conference in South Dakota, Obama said he didn’t want his “church experience to be a political circus” and added that it had been months since he had attended Trinity.
He and his wife, Michelle, notified the church in a letter on Friday that they “were withdrawing as members of Trinity,” in part because of “a cultural and a stylistic gap.” He added that he regrets “all the attention that my campaign has visited on” the church.
Obama said he had been thinking of doing so after the “National Press Club episode” in which Wright made comments that “outraged” and “saddened” the senator. “We had prayed on it. We had consulted with a number of friends and family members. Frankly, it’s one that I made with some sadness. Trinity was where I found Jesus Christ, where we were married, where our children were baptized.”
TRINITY RESPONDS
Trinity United Church of Christ issued a brief public statement on the Obamas’ departure: “Though we are saddened by the news, we understand that it is a personal decision. We will continue to lift them in prayer and wish them the best as former members of our Trinity community.”
Otis Moss III, the new pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ did not mention the recent departure of Sen. Barack Obama and his family from the congregation on Sunday, but he did share his thoughts in a flier that was slipped into church programs.
He wrote:
“We, the community of Trinity, are concerned, hurt, shocked, dismayed, frustrated, fearful and heartbroken. Our hearts break at this moment and my limited vocabulary is inadequate to describe the range of emotions flooding our spirits at this time. We are caught, it seems, in a strange Greek tragic-comedy. In the words of Jean Paul-Sartre, with ‘no exit.’ We are a wounded people and the bruises from our encounter with history have scarred our very souls.”
The satellite trucks had been outside the church in time for the 7:30 a.m. service. Many members walked silently past reporters, but those who did speak said they were angry at the news media for not taking the time to study Wright’s words and the works of Trinity, for trying to tear down Obama and for turning private worship into a public spectacle. “They said that they remained supportive of Mr. Obama and that they were saddened, but not angered, by his choice to leave the church under the relentless pressure.” [ Read the article in its entirety. ]
good for him. and i’m sure it is w/some sadness but u gotta do what u gotta do. trinity is disgusting to me.
The new pastor is kinda cute, BUT their outburts are hurting the campaign, so I felt he did what he had to.
Fucking egomaniacal ministers will cause the man to lose the election. This issue of bring race to the forefront is the last thing the man needs. Like most in the pulpit, they are so consume with their own perfromance, to hell with the mission. People should pray on their own, and say to hell with these pimps in the pullpit.
Obama had been a member of that church for about 20 something years. That’s too bad though that he had to leave but that pastor was a hot mess! I also know that the churchgoers are probably happy because Trinity became a media madhouse! I know they will appreciate being able to go to serve the Lord w/ out having to be interviewed.
I remain a strong supporter of Obama, but this Trinity business has deeply saddened me. A part of me feels that Obama threw Jeremiah Wright under the bus because of politics…not that Pastor Wright should have been getting his 15 minutes with all those press conferences, but I think that Trinity is a progressive Black church, unlike so many of our churches that remain irrelevant to social justice issues. Obama had a tough decision to make but I wish he had decided not to handle the situation in this way and taken a stand that his faith is his business. Nobody’s scrutinizing McCain or Hillary’s faith.
@ #2. You’re hella silly but he is cute lol
What are these preacher’s thinking? I’m down for freedom of speech and all, but they should know that any little thing they say is going to be scrutinized by the media and will hurt Obama…..they need to wait til he wins, then cut up..
Good for him…Fuck Rev Wright, Otis Moss III and the whole Trinity Baptist Church congregation…They have become a tumor to Obama and Black people’s progress here in America. In a time when spiritual leadership was need most, the leader of the church partook in a divisive, self-serving smear campaign against Obama. Obama should convert to Catholicism. If Obama was a member of the Catholic Church for 20 years, the white man would have never transgressed against him. Black people we are our own worst nightmare.
I’m so glad he did that. I’m sure it was hard, but that church was going to ruin his chances for sure. Rev. Wright is a joke.
How ridiculous it is that people are using this election as their platform for public notary and using religion in such a foul manner. Not a great way to display the morals of Christianity. smh
Its a shame that it had to come to him resigning his membership. But hell when he gets into office, what is he going to do, fly back and forth from Washington to Chi-town every day of the week. You know he has to go to bible study, and the deacon board meetings and Wednesday night prayer meeting and Friday night watch service. Don’t forget that the girls gotta go to Praise Dance practice and Angels of Mercy praise on Saturday. Not to leave out Michelle, hell she has the Women’s Convention to plan and attend as well usher board meeting. All in all I think it was the right thing for them to do. I’m just sayin’.
Sad stuff when politics mess with your place of worship. The media should be ashamed.
Its sad that Obama had to leave the church he was apart of for 20 something years but Obama is the first African American with an actual chance to become President of the United States and White America can’t handle the things being brought up by these pastors, not saying that everything they say is right or everything they say I agree with, but most of Black America understands these pastors points of view. But America doesn’t and thinks that Obama agrees with everything being said in these sermons so he had no choice and people shouldn’t knock him for leaving he’s trying to change history and because he of this everyone looking for flaws and something to hurt or destroy his campaign. And sermons given by Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Michael Pfleger are doing this and with media throwing every little thing on t.v. he can’t afford it.
I’m sorry to hear it go down like this. I agree with what Rev. Wright had to say. I only regret that he did not use more wisdom in when and where he chose to share those views. We are at a very delicate time in history and every word and action must be measured. Unfortunately, America still isn’t ready to have a frank and candid conversation about race.
He had to do what he thought was best, but I am sure he will be welcomed in a new church somewhere in DC once he takes office–speak it into existence and it will be…try it people!
Seems like Trinity has tried to cause problems from the jump, but I don’t think he should have left. He’s been a member for over 20 years so it’s obvious he either agreed with or enjoyed the sermons delivered so why cave in to pressure? I don’t know… he’s conforming and he isn’t in the White House which makes me wonder what will he’ll conform to if elected.
@16, I concur.
Some of these comments regarding Trinity and Dr. Wright are ridiculous. This church has been commited to the true essence of who Jesus is and what he is about. Don’t criticize this church and Dr. Wright for speaking truth. If that truth has hurt Obama, let the chips fall where they may. If Obama looses in November because the hoopla surrounding his old church, then blame the media, blame surface thinking folks like yourselves, but don’t blame the truth preaching ministry at Trinity. Read a book.
well i’ll just say the pastor is cute. I’d say it’s preemptive for when Michelle’s “whitey” tape comes out.
why is there no post about hillary’s huge puerto rico win!? My puerto rican people got it done yesterday and Hillary now LEADS the popular vote!
stay tuned!
Although I do not consider myself to be a religious person, my heart goes out to Sen. Obama for having to make what I’m sure was a very difficult and personal decision. I am upset with the way Obama’s religious associations have been placed under microscope, and yet (though not surprisingly) Hillary’s membership to the “The Family” organization hasn’t been touched at all by the media. If you want to know what “The Family” is all about, I suggest you do a search on Huffington Post.
Ms. Dynomite, you may not be aware of this, but Sen. Clinton’s claim that she has the popular vote is misleading, because she is conveniently leaving out states that hold caucuses rather than primaries (sounds like a form of disenfranchisement from someone who tirelessly proclaims that ‘every vote should count’, and yet she doesn’t want all the states to be considered when superdelegates decide who the nominee will be-hypocrisy? You decide). As for Puerto Rico, there was low voter turnout yesterday, and PR cannot vote in the general election.
#19 -Everybody accept Hillary Clinton supporters know that Puerto Rico is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I don’t understand why Hilary is further dividing the democratic party by continuing this race using fuzzy math. I would like this primary battle to be over, now.
Apparently Barack and his family did what was best for them (whether you think so or not)…so just leave them b. No one knows the intimate details of their lives (except them). so let them make the choices that work best for them. They are ppl just like you and me. They should b able to make a decision and not be scrutinized about every little thing…
Obama 08
Obama 12
#16
Regardless if Obama left Trinity or not it’s still going to be a problem against Mccain. I don’t necessarily have a problem with anything Rev. Wright said about America but his timing and motive are questionable. It seems that Rev. Wright purposely sabotaged Obama when he spoke at the NAACP event.
Obama needed to get out, he just should have done it sooner.
You know what I’m tried of Obama already. It’s always the same B.S. with him and this church or rev. wright thing. How about we get Colin Powell to replace him.LOL!!!
Obama did the right thing by leaving the church.
@ #8
A little harsh aren’t we? Each person did what they felt nec. Regardless if he was catholic, baptist , ect.. each institution would have done what it could to fend for self. Though it would be nice to see the two work cohesively, its apparent that it wont happen.
Wow I saw this coming a mile away. Like I have been saying all along this is about who is liked the most. Everybody is willing to do whatever to win on both sides. If voters dont like something candaites will change their whole world to get the vote. Everybody that includes ole Barry Obama. Its all good all is fair in the game of politics. I disagree with anyone who says that Trinty tried to “mess up ” Obama campaign, remenber he chose them. He chose that church for exposure the sameway big names turn out for T D Jakes, Paster Dollar, and all the other churches who seem to serve a prupose for Public figures. So let the game begain and best of luck to all the players.
McCain 08
@ DVYNE DVA
Oh yea Obama ’12
That like saying even if he dosent do a ok job I’ll vote for him again anyway. Wow I think thats why they do it 4 years at a time.
This election is a difficult situation. I am an Obama supporter, but if Hillary wins the popular vote in the end then I think she should be our candidate. It still burns me up when i think about Bush losing the popular vote to Gore but still winning the presidency, and I dont want something similar happening in this race. Anyways, I was sad when i heard he left his Church, I didnt want him bowing to political pressure, but regardless of how great i think he is, he is still a man.
Ditto #20
I couldn’t have said it better myself
@29 she HAS won the popular vote!!
It is sad that Obama had to resign from a home church he was a member of for 20 years beacuse people were ready to make a debacle of him and hurt the chances of his campaign to the White House. Just because you are a faithful member of a particular church…it doesn’t mean that your view points will 100 % always match the view points nor actions of your pastor. I’m sure anyone who has attended any church service will agree that you hear things from your pastor you don’t always completely agree with. When Catholic priest all over the globe were engaging in inappropriate behavior with youngs boys, the masses didn’t up and abandon the Catholic church or their religion beacuse of the actions of one man. I feel that Obama was a member of Trinity for more spiritual and emotional reasons rather than the political anyways. As sad as it is, I’m sure he (Obama) feels this was what was best for he, his family, and campaign.
OBAMA 08
Obama didn’t “have” to quit his church of 20 years. He simply didn’t want to risk not getting elected KNOWING that McCain would have blasted him and used that rhetoric to inflame white folks.
In other words, he’s playing political games to get elected.
@BAM…
Listen, I am not running for office, here. I speak what I feel and shit is fucked up I am going to speak on it.
Go hard or go home!!!!
Good for Obama! He tried to stay and stick it through with them and they just kept adding fuel to the fire!
True the media did make a spectale of the church services, but i believe in my heart that those people knew they were being watched and therefore decided to use this as a time to get “ahead” They were being selfish and completely looking out for them selves.
—–Obama resigning from that church was supposed to be a cue to all black people
—–that they should be ready to leave their own behind for the sake of popular appeal.
—–Unfortunately most black people are not picking up on that.
@36
Thanks! I couldn’t have said it better myself!
I support Sen. Obama but I’m starting to believe he’ll denounce whatever he has to in order to appease the ignorant white masses. He’s sending a message that he’s willing to turn his back on the people that have supported him long before the presidential race to cater to whites. He is in very tough position and I hate that this whole thing is going down this way.
HMMMM very interesting. to say the least.
Well Judah…even the Bible tells you that if your right hand offfends you should cut it off. If your people is against you and defiling what yuor are trying to accomplish, then why in God’s name should you continue to assocaite yourseldf with people like that. People who didn’t help you get your shit will help you lose your shit or you. Look at Michael Vick!
something in the wash ain’t clean; it has come out that the trinity church has recieved over 15 million in grant money from the gov’t. now did ol rev. wright owe someone in washington any favors? and did the catholic preist pick-up where rev. wright left off for a reason? them people had to know that any comments coming from that church about white people would set off a firestrom of resentment among the cacuasians. who will support anything even blind patroitism when it comes to the red ,white and blue. i can-not be a judasgoat and follow you folks w/ all your splintered groups, organazations, etc…. i remember JIM JONES ya remember him . i not drinking the kool-aid i don’t care who’s serving.churches,masons, elks ,knights of pitful whatever i can’t. and no sponsor or advitiser or money supporter of any kind or cause that support some of you turncoats; will make me sell my soul. remember who ever you put first in your life “IS YOUR GOD”. and you human beings just ain’t cutt’n it. now this is to the blogger ; patience look when i call out my people [blackfolks] on their ignorance, their mentality or their intellegence i do so out of pain because our race is on self-destruct. what insulated world are you coming from. you can’t go to any city black controlled, where there isn’t maddness murder and mayhem all the time. i see it and lived it , have you been to memphis lately or killadelphia, or new york any region on this plantation called the united states. and not find any black peace. anywhere name me anywhere where, we as blacks run the show and you won’t find little to no unity or peace. thats why your counterpart despies you . this is why patience i call out my people and their mentality etc…. have we lost our way and our souls? see your not talking to bill crosby cause i’ll speak the truth and won’t back down. so you can take this to the bank, cause i’ve already made the deposit. and i don’t look for barack as a saviour . if he gets to the white house them folks from day one will check him and we must so save ourselves NOW THIS IS WHY I CALL BLACK PEOPLE OUT . I’VE STOOD IN THE MIRROR and took my inventory HAVE YOU? how can you defend this black on black hate and violence and not question the manner of the man that we are as human beings. patience you must be young or mis-educated cause this black race is going down slow.
@#20 very good point. Teach!
But folks, let’s be real. We know where we live. America may be caught up in the glow of, “Hey we got a black running for our highest office!” or “Look, a woman is running!” but when they get in that box and close the curtain it’s a different story. Listen, it’s sad that Obama left his church. The saddest part is that he didn’t go out as himself; making adjustments for his constituents whose alliegence has questionable throughout this whole process.
I’ll say again. Sen. Robert Byrd of W. VA was a recruiter for the KKK but he was one of the most vehement voices against this war we’re in now. Why? Because he didn’r think it served the interest of the American people. No media outlets are talking about that are they? Obama is running for president NOT his church or his former pastor or any guest pastor, HE wants to serve his country.
So if people can get past ex Klansmen and segregations be who they were (or still are) for the betterment of the USA, why is there such focus on the irrelevant with Obama?
Because, the fix is in and the entertainment was good while it lasted. But believe it folks, the fix is in.
Welcome to America.
OBAMA is a politician I hope that people are no disillusioned enough to think he is the savior of the black race. Not that I don’t think it would be good for the country but lets be realistic. It seems to me that he will cut ties with anyone in order to win the presidency.
He did his time. He didn’t make a big issue out of it. My friends on (Mixedfriends.com) love him very much. It is a niche interracial dating service
It is so sad how society has created this conflict of identity for the black woman and man, whereby one cannot be successful and hold on to their culture and/or ethnicity. The higher up the corporate ladder (or any other working sector) a black person climbs, the less “black” you must appear. I believe that Barack Obama is experiencing this now; and despite the fact that he is one of the most qualified presidential candidates to emerge within the history of the United States, society cannot fairly accept the fact that he is bi-racial, and that some of his social and familial ties exist within the black community which are not criminal and/or anti-American.
It is also disheartening to see how politics has had an effect on Sen. Obama religious affairs. Having attended Rev. Wright’s church on numerous occasions, and listened to his very powerful and God-driven sermons (sermons which were not present on the 15 sec. clip or in his comments thereafter) – it is sad to see how this man has been vilified as a racist, a bigot, or a crazed reverend who uses religon as his platform to spread his own conspiracy theories – all of which are NOT true.
However, the most frigthening aspect of this whole situation, is the manner in which the majority is doing its best to alienate Barack Obama from the black community. For once, African-Americans (and people in general) have something to be proud of with Sen. Obama, but the “powers that be” want to deny us even that happiness by creating these divisive issues which further alienates Barack from the black community. His name is too ethnic, he attends a black church, his wife is black, his father is African, his middle name is “Hussein” – give it a break. This is one of the most intelligent, manerable, and morally-sound presidential candidates that we have had in years. And instead of trying to put him in a box, just allow him to be what he is, PRESIDENTIAL!
Obama hardly threw Wright under the bus. Actually it was Wright who threw Obama under the bus. In Obama’s first speech after the notorious tape leaked, Obama stated that he could no more distance himself from Wright than he could his own White grandmother.
Six weeks later, Wright comes out on a defense stance of sly digs at Obama and accusations without merit( that AIDS was brought onto AAs but the gov’t) mess. Since he is suppose to be a man of God he should have stood still, let the Lord fight his battle and lead him as when to speak and when not to speak. But, you can tell he went with his ego and possibly with the help of the Clintons( since he use to be their spiritual adviser) because he went out there and made himself look like a bigger fool. When God tells us what and when to speak its comes out right and brings positive closure for all parties.
This man only made the black church look messy and the decent legacy that he could have left was completely tanished when he decided not to listen to the Lord, but instead his ego.
—–@39
—–
—–Brother, that’s a good point that you made in and of itself but first it has to be
—–determined if an office where he has to ostracize himself from the people that
—–were a part of his entire life is worth attaining. I myself think that most of this is
—–orchestrated with the purposeful intent of influencing black people as a whole,
—–but that is just me. Now black people will associate anyone that acknowledges
—–the history of black/white relations in America as someone that is “holding us
—–back”, and someone to separate from. It was a long-term attack on a mentality.
—–I honestly don’t think that this stuation was independent in and of itself, nor was it
—–meant to be. America knows that they have set this man up as an idol for black
—–people and they will use him and his life as a matrix for how they wants blacks to
—–think and behave. Everything they want blacks to do and think, they’ll use him as
—–a test case.
I don’t know much about Trinity or Jeremiah Wright but the church does seem cult-ish to me
The biggest issues I’ve had with from day one Obama besides his lack of experience/exposure to the game of politics, is that fact that he seems more negotiator than fighter and when you’re president, you MUST know when to fight.
The ONLY time is saw him mount something that even resembles a tinely defense is when the media went after his wife the SECOND time.
@46, I totally agree with what you said. Where I come from, we call that forgetting where you came from. Maybe this is why Obama has been mum on his position on affirmative action, to appease the majority. However, I’d love to be suprised on this issue if he gets elected.
McCain 08
cosign @45
I’m sorry, he owes Jeremiah Wright nothing. Even after he defended Wright to the public, Wright turns around and continues the damaging rhetoric. IT WAS ABOUT HIM, not God, and definitely not Obama. MRS. NOT ME, if you think Obama is mum on Affirmative Action, let me ask you, have you researched your man’s stance on it? When a leading black activist who opposes affirmative action gave Obama a money contribution, he did emphasize that he believes that the program is still necessary. Stop drinking the punch that somehow he is not qualified. I love that white folk (I’m not saying you are white, I have never met you) always believe that blacks lack qualification and then we (people in general, especially blacks) feed on that nonsense. Even when he tries to stand by his church, they continue to make a spectacle of themselves. These people even had pews set aside for certain members of the media, especially Fox News. Come on. But don’t worry, they have enough millionaires within that particular congregation to keep them afloat.