Posted on 06/23/2007 9:55:27 AM PDT by Puppage
(Hartford-WTNH) _ One of the biggest names in the Democratic presidential pack, Sen. Barack Obama, makes a stop in Connecticut tomorrow. While the visit isn't campaign related, all eyes of the political world will undoubtedly be focused on the state.
The United Church of Christ has been one of the most politically active churches in America from the begining. It was members of this church who helped the Mende Tribesmen of the Amistad revolt in 1839, and Saturday they hear from Sen. Obama, their highest profile member.
In New Hampshire, Obama continues to attract large attentive crowds for his speeches about his vision of how Washington must change.
"Billions of no bid, no strings attached contracts have been handed out in New Orleans, in Iraq, and Walter Reed Medical Center on the sole basis of who you know and the favors you've done," he said Friday.
But the crowd he'll face in Hartford will be enormous -- the largest convention ever held in the city -- all members of his own church from around the nation.
Senator Obama's visit and speech to the synod of the United Church of Christ is being billed as a non-political event, but the major issues the synod is discussing and the Obama visit are touching on the major hot button political issues of our time.
At their last gathering two years ago in Atlanta the UCC passed a marriage equality resolution, and this weekend UCC leaders issue a pastoral letter condeming the war in Iraq, arrogant unilaterism, and for it to be ended. They're positions that sound similar to a Barack Obama speech.
"We've asked Senator Obama to come and reflect in a fairly personal way about how piety and politics, how faith and public life intersect in his own life," said Rev. John Thomas, President of the United Church of Christ.
The downtown streets are full of visitors for the event excited about the Obama visit. Their leaders saying it's time for a liberal/progessive Christian church to be heard.
"Not concerned about mixing religion and politics," said Bernard Wilson of Weston. "I think it's a wonderful opportunity for us to have a discussion about the big issues of today."
"Seeking what is best for our country as a whole is right in line with the kinds of things the United Church of Christ believes in and works for," said Kathie Forman from Seattle, Washington.
The president of the UCC said that conservative Christian churches have been better at getting their message heard in the media.
Sen. Obama will attend a private political fund raiser at a home in Farmington before delivering his address.
One-day tickets for the synod are still available at $50 each and can be purchased at the Hartford Civic Center in the morning. Sen. Obama is scheduled to speak at 2:30.
They’re not as far left as the Unitarians, but certainly headed in that direction.
It’ll be interesting to see him tap dance his way around the views of his church.
Or maybe it's because their message is orthodox Christianity instead of your secular liberal pablum.
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