Posted on 03/20/2008 4:53:52 PM PDT by Libloather
Christian School to Honor Obama Pastor Amid Controversy
By The Associated Press
Thu, Mar. 20 2008 05:19 PM ET
FORT WORTH, Texas — Controversy surrounding Barack Obama’s longtime minister is not deterring a Texas divinity school from honoring the Rev. Jeremiah Wright at a ceremony later this month.
But Texas Christian University, the campus where Brite Divinity School is located, issued a statement Monday opposing that decision in light of video that shows Wright delivering racially tinged sermons and him railing against the United States.
Wright is to be honored March 29 at the Black Church Summit and Awards Banquet, a $125-per-person banquet at the divinity school. Despite being on the TCU campus, Brite is a separate school with its own officers and board.
In a statement on its Web site, Brite said the school affirmed its decision after “understanding the sincere concern” in response to media coverage of Wright’s comments.
“Contrary to media claims that Wright preaches racial hatred, church leaders who have observed his ministry describe him as a faithful preacher of the gospel who has ministered in a context radically different from that of many middle class Americans,” the statement reads.
Obama has denounced the inflammatory remarks from his pastor, whose comments have included that blacks continue to be mistreated by whites and a suggestion that U.S. “terrorism” helped bring on the Sept. 11 attacks.
TCU chancellor Victor J. Boschini said that while the university supports the right of free speech even when the opinions are controversial, “giving an award is another matter.”
“In light of Reverend Wright’s recently discovered remarks, TCU would not give such an award,” he said.
Brite president Newell Williams said he spent part of last weekend reviewing texts and audio of Wright’s remarks after the controversy made national headlines. After that review, he and other administrators decided to stick with their plans.
“Of course there are people who have expressed in e-mail messages their displeasure,” Williams said. “There also have been people who have written to say we’re so pleased with the decision you’ve made.”
Wright is to participate in a luncheon panel discussion at the summit before being honored that night. He had been Obama’s pastor for nearly 20 years until retiring recently, and officiated at Obama’s wedding and baptized his two daughters.
Just wait until March 29th. That circus is coming to town...
I wonder if they will give Louis an award, too.
I’m sure Jim Wright will be there.
Event honoring controversial pastor moved off TCU campus
Associated Press
March 20, 2008, 2:33AM
FORT WORTH — An event at which presidential candidate Barack Obama's controversial longtime pastor is set to honored will be moved off Texas Christian University's campus for security reasons, the school said Wednesday.
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is to be honored March 29 at the Brite Divinity School's Black Church Summit and Awards Banquet. The divinity school is located on TCU's campus, but is a separate school with its own officers and board.
Earlier this week, TCU issued a statement saying it opposed the divinity school's decision to honor Wright in light of video that shows Wright delivering racially tinged sermons and railing against the United States.
TCU said in a statement on its Web site Wednesday that the executive committee of TCU's Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to move the Brite Divinity School's Black Church Summit events off campus. TCU says that the divinity school agreed to the move.
The decision was made in light of security concerns from campus and Fort Worth police, TCU said.
Luther King, chairman of the board, said that while the university should be a place where controversial opinions are freely expressed, the safety of the students and staff are the board's primary concern.
Obama has denounced the inflammatory remarks from his pastor, who suggested in one sermon that the United States brought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on itself and in another said blacks should damn America for continuing to mistreat them.
Wright had been Obama's pastor for nearly 20 years until retiring recently, and officiated at Obama's wedding and baptized his two daughters.
TCU says that the divinity school will announce the new location of the event.
A message left by The Associated Press after business hours Wednesday to the divinity school was not immediately returned.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5634532.html
smokin’ crack, drinkin’ Kool Aid, and studyin’ Scripture.
“Contrary to media claims that Wright preaches racial hatred, church leaders who have observed his ministry describe him as a faithful preacher of the gospel”
Which gospel might that be?
Whoever is keeping the list this month ping
Ooops, it’s not public education. Sorry. I just saw the university part.
So Texas Christian has a separate, segregated black racist divinity school? Interesting. Awkward moment for them, I should think.
I could make suggestions but doubt that they'd be well received.
To be safe, they should hold the event on the south side of Chicago - eh?
What kind of school is this?
Yeah, smooth move. We want to honor him, but we'll do it off campus so no one will notice. Oops. Too late.
The TCU Horned Frogs. Good thing I'm a Texas Tech Red Raider fan.
Where to, the Motel 6 banquet room?
Disciples of Christ http://www.tcu.edu/at-a-glance.asp
It's a WCC and NCC member denomination - mainline liberal comes to mind.
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