Posted on 05/25/2018 9:38:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
WASHINGTON — Less than one week after speaking at the royal wedding in England, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, along with a group of multiracial progressive faith leaders, led hundreds in a procession to the White House Thursday night to condemn racism, misogyny and the immorality of political leaders.
"We are not a partisan group. We are not a left-wing group. We are not a right-wing group. We are a Jesus movement," Curry said during the prayer service at the Disciples of Christ national church. "We came together as Protestant, Catholic, evangelical. We came together — Republicans, Independents and Democrats. We came together — liberal and conservative and whatever is in the middle. We came together because what is uniting us together is Jesus of Nazareth."
Curry was joined by prominent progressive evangelical leader Jim Wallis, former Bill Clinton spiritual adviser Tony Campolo and about 20 other left-leaning Christian leaders crossing denominational lines in signing a declaration that was read in front of the gates of the White House lawn following a prayer service held at National City Church.
The declaration is titled "Reclaiming Jesus: A Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis" and comes in response to what the leaders say is a "time of moral and political crisis."
"We are deeply concerned for the soul of our nation, but also for our churches and the integrity of our faith," the declaration reads. "The present crisis calls us to go deeper — deeper into our relationship to God; deeper into our relationships with each other, especially across racial, ethnic, and national lines; deeper into our relationships with the most vulnerable, who are at greatest risk."
The statement rejects the "resurgence of white nationalism and racism," oppression based on "race, gender, identity, or class," misogyny, sexual harassment, abuse of women, policies that "debase and abandon the most vulnerable children of God," the "pattern of lying that is invading our political and civil life," autocratic political leadership and "America First" policies.
(Photo: The Christian Post)Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry speaks during a prayer service unveiling the new declaration "Reclaiming Jesus: A Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis" at the National City Church in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2018. Curry is flanked by Sojourners founder Jim Wallis.
Curry asserted that the declaration, prayer service, procession through the streets of Washington, D.C. and ensuing candlelight vigil on Pennsylvania Avenue was not a "protest march."
"This is a procession of Christian people," he said. "This is what they did on Pentecost. This is a pentecostal moment."
Wallis, the founder of the evangelical social justice organization Sojourners, told the packed church that too often "we see people bringing politics to faith."
"Tonight, we are bringing faith to politics," he said. "There is a difference."
Wallis continued by stating that the procession and vigil is all about reclaiming the name of Jesus and assured that it was "not about Donald Trump."
"So tonight, this is not about any other name," Wallis said. "For the reporters out there, this is not about Donald Trump. It is about Jesus Christ."
Following the prayer service, the crowd marched several blocks with a police escort to Lafayette Square, just across the street from the White House.
(Photo: The Christian Post / Samuel Smith)Hundreds of Christians march in a procession from the National City Church to the White House in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2018 in response to racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and moral and political "crises" affecting political leadership.
Although police initially prevented the crowd from gathering on Pennsylvania Avenue, the crowd was eventually allowed to funnel into the street and onto a sidewalk in front of the White House, where the declaration was read.
Although Wallis proclaimed that the night was not about Trump, much media attention leading up to the event was paid to the section of the declaration that calls out "America First" policies, which could be seen as a reference to the foreign and immigration policy priorities of the Trump administration.
The section states in part:
"WE REJECT 'America first' as a theological heresy for followers of Christ. While we share a patriotic love for our country, we reject xenophobic or ethnic nationalism that places one nation over others as a political goal."
That statement drew the ire of at least one conservative evangelical leader with ties to the Trump administration.
"There is nothing wrong with putting America first. That is what a government is supposed to do. That is God's responsibility for government," First Baptist Dallas Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress told Fox News. "As individual Christians, yes, we put others before ourselves but government doesn't do that."
"Bishop Curry and these others say, 'Oh, this isn't about Donald Trump.' Oh really? Then, why are you doing it in front of the White House?" Jeffress asked. "I am tired of these charges of racism and xenophobia. That is not who this president is. He loves all Americans and he is causing the boats of all Americans to rise."
In addition to Wallis, Curry and Campolo, other signatories include leaders from the National Baptist Convention USA, the Wesleyan Church, Disciples of Christ, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Evangelicals for Social Action, the United Methodist Church and other organizations.
The statement was also signed by renowned civil rights activist and Bible teacher John Perkins, founder of the Christian Community Development Association and other organizations.
Jeffress, one of Trump's first notable evangelical supporters during the 2016 election, also condemned the political left for what he calls "hypocrisy" when it comes to faith leaders getting involved in politics.
"The Left criticizes the Hell out of me and conservative pastors for getting involved in politics," Jeffress said. "The left doesn't mind pastors getting involved in politics as long as it's the politics they approve of and that is rank hypocrisy."
They need to get rid of a lot of misandry, as far as I’m concerned.
The one thing I got out of his Royal Wedding speech was Fire was a very very important discovery and crucial in human history and stuff.
It most certainly is about Trump. Curry has been a Never Trumper since day one.
Jesus believe in Israel first.
Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
He claims he’s not left wing...but opposes putting America first?
He’s a lying sack of shtt.
The Germans had serious issues with that point. Calling them the ‘tribe’ and the ‘chosen people’ as pejoratives.
Something about dog food according to the video of him here:
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3657722/posts
With respect to the “most vulnerable,” I have no doubt the Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop comes down on the side of murdering unborn babies. So much for all his leftist political blather posing as a representative of Jesus Christ.
When it comes to the least of these, the Bishop sides with the murderers.
If his protest is without political bias or affiliation, why are all the most notable participants bonafide leftists?
The Episcopal Church will continue its 50 year decline and will eventually peter out or join another left leaning “church,” or even join the UU’s.
I kept waiting for the gospel to be preached but that message was conviently left out. The Royal family should now have an idea as to what their new member believes. They should be embarrassed.
Germany does not have a good track record with the Jews...
Self-righteous Pharisees.
Jesus had a thing or two to say to them.
I’m glad Jim Wallis et al. are against racism. That is very nice that they are against racism.
I suppose however, that Jesus is against race-baiting.
Spare me.
The camel’s nose (liberation theology) is now in the tent going mainstream, thank you Duchess of Sussex.
Some may be wondering why those inveterate left wingers and Marxists—The United Church of Christ—is not included in the list of churches supporting this protesting march of leftists?
The answer is simple. The UCC will barely let a pastor use the toilet without the consent of a committee. They are way too disorganized to get their various committees together to join this movement.
Six months or a year from now—after everyone has forgotten about it—they will sign on to this anti-Trump protest.
The Presiding Bishop is a product of Liberal Patronizing of the highest order. The previous Presiding Bishop was a Godless Communist feminist who was a Marine Biologist. Can’t get a better identity politics selection than you can find. But, there are too many of these ilk out there, the only solution is for all of them to take turns and Bishop Curry gets this turn. He is a flaming liberal, but at least he mentions God and Jesus, which his predecessor seldom did.
Barack Obama is a perfect example of this phenomenon.
Well So-called evangelical, Jim Wallis was there, but not his buddy, Tony Campolo
Fake Christians
The words Left and Laughingstock both begin with the letter L.
Coincidence?
Social justice warriors using the name of Christ.
Christians cannot be yoked together with the enemy.
Progressive equals non-partisan. Gotcha.
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