Black Pastors Lay Down Gauntlet to Obama Over Same-Sex Marriage

Christian Post ^ | 07/03/2012 | Paul Stanley

[SeekAndFind]

The Coalition of African American Pastors demanded on Monday that President Obama meet with the group to address his stance on same-sex marriage. So far, the White House has refused to acknowledge the group's request but leaders say they plan to "turn up the heat" by asking black Christians to sit on the sidelines for the time being.

"We have requested a meeting with President Obama and until he meets with us, we are going to ask black Christians to withhold their support until he personally hears our concerns," the group's spokesperson, the Rev. Bill Owens, told The Christian Post on Tuesday after Monday's press conference in Nashville.

"More than anything, this is an issue of biblical principles and President Obama is carrying our nation down a dangerous road. Many African Americans were once proud of our president but now many are ashamed of his actions."

Owens said the group hasn't received a response from the White House and they are growing frustrated with each passing day.

"We can't compete with the Hollywood folks who are raising the big bucks for the president," Owens said. "But it was black folks who rallied around him in 2008 and for him to ignore our request with a group of clergy who represents tens of thousands of black Christians of many denominations is an insult."

The Christian Post contacted the White House to inquire if the president plans to meet the group but did not receive a response prior to publication.

The press conference took place just miles from the convention site of the African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference in Nashville where First Lady Michelle Obama told the group last week that their participation in this year's election was critical for an Obama second term.

"So I want you to talk to your friends and your family, your neighbors," the First Lady told the conference attendees. "Talk to them. Talk to folks in the beauty salons, the barber shops, the parking lot at church. Tell them what's happening on the city council and out in Washington. Let them know. Find that nephew who has never voted – get him registered."

And Owens agrees. But until President Obama agrees to meet with the pastors to hear their concerns, he is asking them to withhold their support.

"Let me be clear about this," Owens said. "Our group does not speak for any denomination – not the AME nor COGIC (Church of God In Christ) or anyone else. But many of our pastors represent a number of African-American Christians who are tired of being taken for granted. One foolish move could ruin the president's chances for a second term and I believe he is dangerously close to making such a mistake by ignoring us."

The AME church issued a response on Monday in an effort to distance themselves from the Coalition of African American Pastors and in fact is encouraging the church to actively register voters for the upcoming election.

"As a denomination, we do not endorse candidates for any political office. As such, we cannot "withdraw" support from President Obama because we cannot endorse any candidate for political office and did not endorse the president," said Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., president of the AME Church Council of Bishops, in a written statement.

"We call upon each of our congregants to become registered and vote on Election Day and urge all of our churches to conduct voter registration drives."

Bishop John R. Bryant, senior bishop of the AME Church, said, "We shall continue to advocate for the well-being of all humankind, so that they can freely hear the liberating Gospel of Jesus the Christ."

Owens says he is perplexed why the White House is ignoring the group's request to meet, citing that they play host to others groups such as the recent reception the president held for gay activists, some of whom were photographed making obscene gestures under the portraits of President Ronald Reagan.

Nonetheless, Owens says the meeting would be granted out of common courtesy and to discuss biblical principles he believes in.

"You have to stand on the Word of God regardless of your race or political affiliation. If the president is serious about his faith then why would he not meet with men of faith of his own race?"

The Coalition of African American pastors is calling to supporters to visit www.100000signatures4marriage.com to sign their petition.

[SeekAndFind]

Here's a question that comes to mind... if Obama IGNORES them ( and he will ), how many of these Black Pastors are going to vote for him anyway?

[Dan(9698)]

All of them.

[grobdriver]

Many African Americans were once proud of our president but now many are ashamed of his actions.

Racists!

[workerbee]

Rev. Owens, you are owned. Your congregations are owned. You know it. We know it. And you can be damn sure Obamalamadingdong knows it.

This

is pretty much what he thinks of any "concern" you may harbor about queer marriage.

[donhunt]

Why don’t these black Christians join with white Christians to gain more clout?

[DannyTN]

"how many of these Black Pastors are going to vote for him anyway?"

Yeah, but what is there alternative. It's not like they are going to look at Romney and say his record is any better than Obama's on the issue.

Still this is a welcomed development. And wish the black pastors would lay down the gauntlet to Romney as well. Of course Romney's problem is not his campaign position but his record on the issue.

[skinndogNN]

I think we all know, black christians dislike White people more than they dislike homosexuality.

It may keep a few of them home, but it’s not going to make them vote for the Republican Romney.

[ArrogantBustard]

Galatians 3:
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Well, now ...

I guess we'll find out whether these folk are "Blacks" or Christians.

You can't be both ... Christianity and racism are incompatible.

[skinndogNN]

I think we all know, black christians dislike White people more than they dislike homosexuality.

It may keep a few of them home, but it’s not going to make them vote for the Republican Romney.

[freekitty]

Dictators will betray everyone.

[SuziQ]

"We have requested a meeting with President Obama and until he meets with us, we are going to ask black Christians to withhold their support until he personally hears our concerns,"

So does that mean if Obama meets with the preachers, and 'hears their concerns' they'll tell black Christians it's OK to support him again, even if he STILL continues to support homosexual 'marriage'?

[SuziQ]

Yeah, but what is there alternative. It's not like they are going to look at Romney and say his record is any better than Obama's on the issue.

I don't care if they don't like Romney, as long as they don't go to the polls and vote for Obama.

[fini]

They need to understand that they are tools for the democratic party- used when needed, put back in the shed when not.

[Venturer]

So does that mean if Obama meets with the preachers, and ‘hears their concerns’ they’ll tell black Christians it’s OK to support him again, even if he STILL continues to support homosexual ‘marriage’?
............................................................
That’s exactly what it means.

Meeting with them is a joke. The black preachers will go home and tell their congregations, “We tried” Now you can vote for Obama.

It’s only a farce to uphold their credibility with black people who oppose the homosexual marriages.

It means nothing, I am surprised Obama didn’t welcome them with open arms.

[SampleMan]

Bingo. He’s black - they’re black - he has their vote.

He could kill a puppy with a hammer every day on live TV and he is still going to get 95% of the black vote, because he is a black socialist.

[uncbob]

One foolish move could ruin the president's chances for a second term and I believe he is dangerously close to making such a mistake by ignoring us."

Knowing what he really is why would these "Men of the Cloth " want him to have a second term

Wonder what they think about his Abortion and homosexuals in the military policies

[kidd]

Black pastors want Obama to meet with them and come clean?

Better get in the “line to transparency” quickly. Right now there’s quite a few peole. Rep. Issa, the country of Libya, former GM bondholders, Sheriff Arapio, etc

[uncbob]

You have to stand on the Word of God regardless of your race or political affiliation. If the president is serious about his faith then why would he not meet with men of faith of his own race?"

Maybe because he is a MUSLIM and when he consolidates power and doesn't need your votes anymore you religion will be banned

[Gabrial]

FGP is working on Osodomcare which will require all black pastors to have sex with each other or face a fine.

[SaraJohnson]

“You have to stand on the Word of God regardless of your race or political affiliation. If the president is serious about his faith then why would he not meet with men of faith of his own race?”

---

It’s the raaaacis whitey in Obama who won’t meet with the brothers.

Obama is not a Christian so these guys can stop pretending that he is concerned about what they say. He’s not Black either - he’s a Black White atheist born in a Muslim culture which produced a special intolerance and hatred for Christians, no matter their color. Obama is not heterosexual. He was raised with a transvestite pervert nanny in Indonesia and has a history of homo activity which makes Michelle a beard.

These idiots harm themselves and Christianity by only listening to and voting for Dem racists and radicals. Just now they figure out the Dem party worships at the altar of the opposite of Christ and they are active missionaries with absolutely no respect for anyone who disagrees with them. Liberalism is Christianity turned up-side-down. Maybe if these idiots figure it out, they can give a heads up to the Catholic church and stop advocating for socialism.