Talk About a Talking Points Memo

We’ve been following the attacks lodged against Sen. Barack Obama’s Chicago church, Trinity United Church of Christ, for the past few days. Bottom line: critics think the church embraces black power (“unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian” is their motto) and is in bed with Louis Farrakhan. The United Church of Christ has come to Trinity’s […]

We’ve been following the attacks lodged against Sen. Barack Obama’s Chicago church, Trinity United Church of Christ, for the past few days. Bottom line: critics think the church embraces black power (“unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian” is their motto) and is in bed with Louis Farrakhan.

The United Church of Christ has come to Trinity’s defense, most recently in the following “talking points” issued from UCC HQ in Cleveland. (It’s worth noting that Trinity is the UCC’s LARGEST congregation). Ben Guess, the UCC’s ever-helpful director of communications, explained it this way in an email:

Since an email-driven smear campaign has targeted Trinity UCC, we wanted to make it clear to our church leadership that it was necessary and appropriate to respond in support of one of our churches and pastors. Our motivation, as stated, is clearly to support Trinity UCC and Rev. Wright, whom we know and value.


Given the size and prominence of Trinity UCC within the United Church of Christ, nearly all of our Conference Ministers likely would have had occasion to visit the congregation at some point and would have had first-hand experience with the church and its pastoral staff.

From Guess’s talking points, sent to UCC conferences, ministers and staff:

DO come to the defense of the United Church of Christ and Trinity UCC.

“I have first-hand experience of Trinity UCC, its leaders and its ministries, and I know it be a faithful, generous and justice-minded congregation that takes seriously its ministry within and among the African-American community on Chicago’s south side.”

“The United Church of Christ includes many of the oldest congregations in this country. More than 10 percent were formed before 1776. It is socially, racially, economically and theologically diverse, and its membership includes 10 members of Congress – five Republicans and five Democrats, including Obama.”

DO NOT come to the defense of Obama specifically. That’s not your role.

“Our concern is the attacks that have been made on Trinity UCC, which are blatantly unfair and untrue. They do not fairly characterize the Chicago congregation where Obama and thousands of others hold their UCC memberships.”

DO refute distortions or misconceptions about Trinity UCC.

“Despite erroneous claims to the contrary, Trinity UCC’s membership includes several non-Black members – including the Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman, Illinois Conference Minister, and her husband, who are white.”

“Trinity UCC is a welcoming, hospitable church. If you’ve been there, you know this to be true.”


“Trinity UCC’s ministry is inclusive and global. Trinity UCC is a generous contributor to funding new church starts throughout the country and beyond, and it is the largest single donor to our ‘Our Church’s Wider Mission,’ the shared mission fund of the UCC, which is 90 percent European-American.”

DO explain the predominate racial-ethnic heritage of Trinity UCC’s membership.

“Many churches observe and honor the racial-ethnic heritage of its congregation and its members, including – for example – many UCC churches of German, Samoan, Puerto Rican or Hungarian heritage. Trinity UCC is no different in honoring its African heritage.”

DO speak to racism as a present-day issue of justice that needs the nation’s attention.

Rev. Wright, like other UCC ministers, regularly speaks about important issues of justice, and racism is surely one of them. To deny the reality of racism in our nation – both historically and in the present day – is to ignore one of the most pressing social justice issues our nation faces.”

DO NOT engage in proof-texting of Jeremiah Wright’s sermons.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate nor fair to read a few sentence from another pastor’s sermons and then pass judgment, without knowing the context, the audience, the scripture, and the occasion and purpose for which these words were written and delivered.”

“I wouldn’t appreciate someone criticizing sermons of mine which they’d never heard.”

DO, if appropriate, speak to your personal relationship with Jeremiah Wright.

“I know Jeremiah Wright and I appreciate his prophetic preaching.”

“Rev. Wright’s sermons are broadcast every Sunday on national cable television

and streamed on the internet for all to hear. He has long been regarded as one of the best preachers in Chicago and in the nation.”


“I am proud to be a colleague in ministry with Rev. Jeremiah Wright.”

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