Christian leaders: Obama's faith is not up for debate (signed a letter)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 8/27/10

[truthandlife]

A group of evangelical pastors and denomination heads signed a letter this week calling on the media and fellow believers to stand in opposition to those who claim President Obama is a Muslim. They said faith is not a political issue and this current debate can harm the Christian body and the country.

Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, was among the 70 Christian leaders who signed the document, stating:

As Christian leaders-- whose primary responsibility is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our congregations, our communities, and our world-- we are deeply troubled by the recent questioning of President Obama's faith. We understand that these are contentious times, but the personal faith of our leaders should not be up for public debate.

[Genoa]

Sorry, but everything in a President’s resume, personal and public, is my business. He runs for office; it goes with the territory.

[MrB]

OK, now wait a minute...

they actually SIGNED A LETTER?

I guess that prove’s it. Case closed.

(BTW, I’d like to hear THEIR profession of faith, especially their affirmation of the Bible as divinely inspired God’s Word and authoritative on all topics which it addresses, ESPECIALLY John 14:6)

[jimbo123]

[KittenClaws]

LOL!

These “Christian” leaders are protesting way too much.

[truthandlife]

Here is who signed it: Signed, Bishop T.D. Jakes Pastor and CEO Potters House Ronald J. Sider President Evangelicals for Social Action Rev. Sam Rodriguez President National Hispanic Leadership Conference Dr. Joel Hunter Senior Pastor, Northland: A Church Distributed Jim Wallis President and CEO Sojourners Luis Cortes President Esperanza Stephen Monsma Paul Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics Calvin College Miroslav Volf Director Center for Faith and Culture, Yale Divinity School Donald Miller Author Brian McLaren Author/Pastor Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie Thirteenth Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church Kirbyjon Caldwell Senior Pastor Windsor Village United Methodist Church Wesley Granberg-Michaelson General Secretary Reformed Church in America Rev. Peg Chemberlin President National Council of Churches Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Dr. David P. Gushee Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics Director, Center for Theology and Public Life Mercer University Dr. William Shaw President National Baptist Convention USA Dr. Richard Hamm Executive Director Christian Churches Together in the USA Cynthia Bolbach Moderator, 219th General Assembly Presbyterian Church (USA) Gradye Parsons Stated Clerk
 Office of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church (USA) Linda Valentine Executive Director General Assembly Mission Council Presbyterian Church (USA) Dr. James C. Perkins First Vice President The Progressive National Baptist Convention Rev. Gabriel A. Salguero Lead Pastor, The Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene Executive, The Latino Leadership Circle Noel Castellanos CEO, Christian Community Development Association Vincent J. Miller Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture Department of Religious Studies University of Dayton Terrence W. Tilley Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Professor of Catholic Theology Chair, Theology Department Fordham University, Bronx NY Nicholas P. Cafardi Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Duquesne University School of Law T. Michael McNulty, SJ Justice and Peace Director Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) Stephen Schneck Director Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies The Catholic University of America Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner Skinner Leadership Institute Thomas J. Reese, S.J. Senior Fellow Woodstock Theological Center Georgetown University Sr. Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ Rev. Jonathan Good Director, Global Faith Engagement Habitat for Humanity Mr. Rich Stearns President World Vision Rev. Glenn R. Palmberg President Emeritus Evangelical Covenant Church Daniel Garcia Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. Brian Wiele Lead Pastor River Ridge Covenant Church Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry The Eighth Episcopal District - A.M.E. Church Bishop John R. Bryant Senior Bishop African Methodist Episcopal Church Michael Kinnamon General Secretary National Council of Churches Thomas P. Melady Former U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, Uganda, and the Vatican President Emeritus, Sacred Heart University The Rev. Dr. Peter K. Nord Executive Presbyter The Presbytery of Baltimore Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Dr. Janet M. DeVries Grace Presbytery Presbyterian Church (USA) The Rev. Dr. Sallie M. Watson Regional Presbyter/Stated Clerk Presbyteries of Santa Fe an Sierra Blanca Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Jose Luis Casal General Missioner The Presbyter of Tres Rios Presbyterian Church (USA) Linda Valentine Executive Director General Assembly Mission Council Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Wendy S. Bailey Associate General Presbyter Presbytery of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (USA) Earl James Coordinator Multiracial Initiatives & Social Justice Reformed Church in America John F. White Ecumenical & Urban Affairs Officer African American Episcopal Church Bishop Wayne Burkette Moravian Church in America, Southern Province Rev. Carlos L. Malave Associate for Ecumenical Relations & Assistant Stated Clerk Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Richard A. Schempp Executive Presbyter Palo Duro Presbytery Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Joseph W. Hill General Presbyter Presbyter of the Pines Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Dr. Gregory J. Coulter Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Dr. G. Wilson Gunn, Jr. General Presbyter National Capital Presbytery David Baak United Church of Wayland, MI George B. Telford Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Stephen J. Thurston Sr Pastor, New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church President, National Baptisst Convention of America, Inc. International Daniel Vestal Executive Coordinator Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Rev. Chuck Currie Rev. Tyler C. Millner Edna S. Watson Joann K. Blake Maxine E. Garrett The Reverend Douglas W. Fromm RCA Associate for Ecumenical Relations Sis. Jackie Weary Rev. Dr. Glen C. Missick Director, African Americans/Black Ministries Reformed Church in America Ken Eriks Director of Congregational Mission Reformed Church in America Rev. Stephen J. Thurston Senior Pastor, New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church President, National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. International Rev. Joyce G. Thomas Family Coordinator Project Destiny Rev. Jeff Johnston Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson Dr. Brian T. Kaylor Author/Professor Rev. Allison Jackson Rev. Susan L. Gabbard Karen Puckett School Media Specialist Salisbury, NC Rev. Mary Andreolli Minister for Outreach and Communications Alliance of Baptists Laura Minnick Portland, Oregon Jim Hopkins Pastor Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Oakland, CA David Daniels Member Heritage Baptist Church, Cartersville, GA Rev. Dr. Chris Lieberman Pastor Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY Rev. Joyce Lieberman John Savage Teacher Tobias Winright Associate Professor of Theological Ethics Saint Louis University Ken Bogan Pastor Greater Restoration Church Andrew Foster Connors Pastor Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD Johanna Johnson Candidate for Ordination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Delilah Winstead David O'Brien University Professor of Faith and Culture University of Dayton Larry Osweiler Pastor Mark Rosenthal Garland John Gates Elder United Church of Christ Julia Welbon The Rev. Dr. Roberta Hestenes Michael Ruffin Pastor First Baptist Church, Fitzgerald, GA Rev. George E. Holmes David Fischler Pastor Church of the Occoquan Valley, Woodbridge, VA Sandra Roberts Blaise Kazadi Janet Salmons Community United Church of Christ, Boulder, CO Rudy Rasmus Pastor St. John's Downtown, Houston, TX Ruth Padilla DeBorst General Secretary Latin American Theological Fellowship Rev. Nathan Dannison Jack Kooyman Stanley Bomgarden Pastor Fulton Presbyterian Church, Fulton, IL Phyllis Joseph Dianne Sayre Presbyterian Elder Lynn Hansen Pastor Joshua Lunde-Whitler Ken Cumbie Rector St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Mobile, AL Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale Georgia Hartman Sharon Jones Childcare Provider Kathryn Shannon The Rev. Linda Kaufman Episcopal Priest Kathleen Hargan Oakland, CA Carolyn Harper Paul Alexander Leadership Team Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace and Justice Daryl Stahl Episcopal Priest Rev. Dr. Floris Armstrong Michael Carey Presbyterian Pastor Rev. Dr. Andy Odle Kenneth Golphin Presiding Elder African Methodist Episcopal Church 13 Larry Grant Pastor Briarchase Baptist Church Matt Hollifield Member First Baptist Church Spruce Pine Robert Thompson Phelps Minister for Phillips Church Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH Linton G. Manier Southern California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist, Glendale, CA Charlotte Fuson Rev. William Stooksbury Dr. David Guel Chairman Concerned Hispanic Evangelicals John Hanscom Rev. Deacon Peter Horsfield Rev. Dr. Betty Carey Rev. Greg Hathaway Jodie King Laura Wilcox Prayer Counselor Rev. Dr. Lynn Hargrow, Sr. Rev. Dr. Patricia Green Sandra Wint Rev. Charles Messer Rector Calvary Episcopal Church, Aston, PA Dr. Kenneth Meyers Knollwood Baptist Minister Valerie Williams Rev. Justin Schlesinger-Delvin Pastor PC(USA) Rev. Jackie McHenry The Rev. Michael Povey Kyle Stevenson Rev. Jason Marin Solid Rock Christian Ministries Non-denominational Paul Roberts Pastor Dr. Karen Hale Hankins Heidi Unruh Director Congregations, Community Outreach and Leadership Development Project Rhea Marrie Russell Cherry Vertie Reid Smile Bandages Ministries, Inc. Jolanda Mosley RC Hopper James Weeks Church Bookstore Manager Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker Social Action Director AME Church Jessica Colund Neil Kucera Sandra Webster Virginia Eubanks Minister Don Johnson Patricia Green-Scott

[MAexile]

They said faith is not a political issue

This indicates a complete lack of understanding of the Muslim faith.

[Russ]

If your primary responsibility is to share the Gospel with the world why don’t the 70 of you book a charter to Saudi Arabia and begin there? Those of you who survive can move on to Iran, then Syria. I don’t think there will be many of you left after that to cuddle up to Islam...

[AU72]

The Usual Suspects.

[Jim W N]

the personal faith of our leaders should not be up for public debate

Of course it should. It's part of our American heritage. That is until God got kicked out of our formal institutions and little by little being nudged out of our informal society.

[steadcom]

Whether he is a muslim or not, one thing is certain...he is not a saved man.

[Corin Stormhands]

While I actually agree with them, that is ~not~ a list of “evangelicals.”

I’m just sayin’...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If his being a Muslim “isn’t a political issue,” why didn’t he just admit it before the election?

[Genoa]

Would you mind reposting your list with break codes?

[Texas Fossil]

Read the comments that follow the article. It is obvious that the readers do not share the writer’s view of Obozo.

Enough said.

[Son House]

As Christian leaders-- ...but the personal faith of our leaders should not be up for public debate.

How about public doubt? I doubt the enlightenment of anyone who sat in Rev. Wright's pew, and Oprah exit seems to confirm what I was thinking, but ask her, being the sermon eluded the other guy

[PGR88]

I’m still trying to understand what kind of Christianity Obama believes in, much less argue that he’s a Muslim!

[mazda77]

Did that man of God, Jim Jones, sign this as well?/sarc

[ansel12]

[kcvl]

It looks like a list of leftwing socialists...

******

Signed,

Bishop T.D. Jakes
Pastor and CEO
Potters House

Ronald J. Sider
President
Evangelicals for Social Action

Rev. Sam Rodriguez
President
National Hispanic Leadership Conference

Dr. Joel Hunter
Senior Pastor, Northland: A Church Distributed

Jim Wallis
President and CEO
Sojourners

Luis Cortes
President
Esperanza

Stephen Monsma
Paul Henry
Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics
Calvin College

Miroslav Volf
Director
Center for Faith and Culture, Yale Divinity School

Donald Miller
Author

Brian McLaren
Author/Pastor

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Thirteenth Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church

Kirbyjon Caldwell
Senior Pastor
Windsor Village United Methodist Church

Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
General Secretary
Reformed Church in America

Rev. Peg Chemberlin
President
National Council of Churches

Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Dr. David P. Gushee
Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics
Director, Center for Theology and Public Life
Mercer University

Dr. William Shaw
President
National Baptist Convention USA

Dr. Richard Hamm
Executive Director
Christian Churches Together in the USA

Cynthia Bolbach
Moderator, 219th General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk
Office of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Linda Valentine
Executive Director
General Assembly Mission Council
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Dr. James C. Perkins
First Vice President
The Progressive National Baptist Convention

Rev. Gabriel A. Salguero
Lead Pastor, The Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene
Executive, The Latino Leadership Circle

Noel Castellanos
CEO, Christian Community Development Association

Vincent J. Miller
Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture
Department of Religious Studies
University of Dayton

Terrence W. Tilley
Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Professor of Catholic Theology
Chair, Theology Department
Fordham University, Bronx NY

Nicholas P. Cafardi
Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law
Duquesne University School of Law

T. Michael McNulty, SJ
Justice and Peace Director
Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)

Stephen Schneck
Director
Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies
The Catholic University of America

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner
Skinner Leadership Institute

Thomas J. Reese, S.J.
Senior Fellow
Woodstock Theological Center
Georgetown University

Sr. Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ

Rev. Jonathan Good
Director, Global Faith Engagement
Habitat for Humanity

Mr. Rich Stearns
President
World Vision

Rev. Glenn R. Palmberg
President Emeritus
Evangelical Covenant Church

Daniel Garcia
Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc.

Brian Wiele
Lead Pastor
River Ridge Covenant Church

Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry
The Eighth Episcopal District - A.M.E. Church

Bishop John R. Bryant
Senior Bishop
African Methodist Episcopal Church

Michael Kinnamon
General Secretary
National Council of Churches

Thomas P. Melady
Former U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, Uganda, and the Vatican
President Emeritus, Sacred Heart University

The Rev. Dr. Peter K. Nord
Executive Presbyter
The Presbytery of Baltimore
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Dr. Janet M. DeVries
Grace Presbytery
Presbyterian Church (USA)

The Rev. Dr. Sallie M. Watson
Regional Presbyter/Stated Clerk
Presbyteries of Santa Fe an Sierra Blanca
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Jose Luis Casal
General Missioner
The Presbyter of Tres Rios
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Linda Valentine
Executive Director
General Assembly Mission Council
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Wendy S. Bailey
Associate General Presbyter
Presbytery of New Covenant
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Earl James
Coordinator
Multiracial Initiatives & Social Justice
Reformed Church in America

John F. White
Ecumenical & Urban Affairs Officer
African American Episcopal Church

Bishop Wayne Burkette
Moravian Church in America, Southern Province

Rev. Carlos L. Malave
Associate for Ecumenical Relations & Assistant Stated Clerk
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Richard A. Schempp
Executive Presbyter
Palo Duro Presbytery
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Joseph W. Hill
General Presbyter
Presbyter of the Pines
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Dr. Gregory J. Coulter
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Dr. G. Wilson Gunn, Jr.
General Presbyter
National Capital Presbytery

David Baak
United Church of Wayland, MI

George B. Telford
Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Stephen J. Thurston
Sr Pastor, New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church
President, National Baptisst Convention of America, Inc. International

Daniel Vestal
Executive Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Rev. Chuck Currie

Rev. Tyler C. Millner

Edna S. Watson

Joann K. Blake

Maxine E. Garrett

The Reverend Douglas W. Fromm
RCA Associate for Ecumenical Relations

Sis. Jackie Weary

Rev. Dr. Glen C. Missick
Director, African Americans/Black Ministries
Reformed Church in America

Ken Eriks
Director of Congregational Mission
Reformed Church in America

Rev. Stephen J. Thurston
Senior Pastor, New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church
President, National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. International

Rev. Joyce G. Thomas
Family Coordinator
Project Destiny

Rev. Jeff Johnston

Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson

Dr. Brian T. Kaylor
Author/Professor

Rev. Allison Jackson

Rev. Susan L. Gabbard

Karen Puckett
School Media Specialist
Salisbury, NC

Rev. Mary Andreolli
Minister for Outreach and Communications
Alliance of Baptists

Laura Minnick
Portland, Oregon

Jim Hopkins
Pastor
Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Oakland, CA

David Daniels
Member
Heritage Baptist Church, Cartersville, GA

Rev. Dr. Chris Lieberman
Pastor
Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY

Rev. Joyce Lieberman

John Savage
Teacher

Tobias Winright
Associate Professor of Theological Ethics
Saint Louis University

Ken Bogan
Pastor
Greater Restoration Church

Andrew Foster Connors
Pastor
Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD

Johanna Johnson
Candidate for Ordination
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Delilah Winstead

David O’Brien
University Professor of Faith and Culture
University of Dayton

Larry Osweiler
Pastor

Mark Rosenthal

Garland John Gates
Elder
United Church of Christ

Julia Welbon

The Rev. Dr. Roberta Hestenes

Michael Ruffin
Pastor
First Baptist Church, Fitzgerald, GA

Rev. George E. Holmes

David Fischler
Pastor
Church of the Occoquan Valley, Woodbridge, VA

Sandra Roberts

Blaise Kazadi

Janet Salmons
Community United Church of Christ, Boulder, CO

Rudy Rasmus
Pastor
St. John’s Downtown, Houston, TX

Ruth Padilla DeBorst
General Secretary
Latin American Theological Fellowship

Rev. Nathan Dannison

Jack Kooyman

Stanley Bomgarden
Pastor
Fulton Presbyterian Church, Fulton, IL

Phyllis Joseph

Dianne Sayre
Presbyterian Elder

Lynn Hansen
Pastor

Joshua Lunde-Whitler

Ken Cumbie
Rector
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Mobile, AL

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale

Georgia Hartman

Sharon Jones
Childcare Provider

Kathryn Shannon

The Rev. Linda Kaufman
Episcopal Priest

Kathleen Hargan
Oakland, CA

Carolyn Harper

Paul Alexander
Leadership Team
Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace and Justice

Daryl Stahl
Episcopal Priest

Rev. Dr. Floris Armstrong

Michael Carey
Presbyterian Pastor

Rev. Dr. Andy Odle

Kenneth Golphin
Presiding Elder
African Methodist Episcopal Church 13

Larry Grant
Pastor
Briarchase Baptist Church

Matt Hollifield
Member
First Baptist Church Spruce Pine

Robert Thompson
Phelps Minister for Phillips Church
Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH

Linton G. Manier
Southern California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist, Glendale, CA

Charlotte Fuson

Rev. William Stooksbury

Dr. David Guel
Chairman
Concerned Hispanic Evangelicals

John Hanscom
Rev. Deacon

Peter Horsfield

Rev. Dr. Betty Carey

Rev. Greg Hathaway

Jodie King

Laura Wilcox
Prayer Counselor

Rev. Dr. Lynn Hargrow, Sr.

Rev. Dr. Patricia Green

Sandra Wint

Rev. Charles Messer
Rector
Calvary Episcopal Church, Aston, PA

Dr. Kenneth Meyers
Knollwood Baptist Minister

Valerie Williams

Rev. Justin Schlesinger-Delvin
Pastor
PC(USA)

Rev. Jackie McHenry

The Rev. Michael Povey

Kyle Stevenson

Rev. Jason Marin
Solid Rock Christian Ministries
Non-denominational

Paul Roberts
Pastor

Dr. Karen Hale Hankins

Heidi Unruh
Director
Congregations, Community Outreach and Leadership Development Project

Rhea Marrie

Russell Cherry

Vertie Reid
Smile Bandages Ministries, Inc.

Jolanda Mosley

RC Hopper

James Weeks
Church Bookstore Manager

Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker
Social Action Director
AME Church

Jessica Colund

Neil Kucera

Sandra Webster

Virginia Eubanks
Minister

Don Johnson

Patricia Green-Scott

Kenneth J. Golphin
Presiding Elder
Kentucky Conference/Lexington District
13th District, AME Church

Theona Hall