American Press +2 Freedom of Religion -2

I am profoundly saddened by the news Senator Barack Obama and his family have resigned from their membership at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. As I understand it, this was the church where Senator Obama came to faith in Christ, where he was married, where his children were baptized, basically where the significant milestones of a person's life are celebrated and blessed in faith.

What has caused this withdrawal seems to be two things: first, the retired pastor was given to fiery language when speaking of America past and present. Apparently not every preacher in America thinks about America like James Dobson or Pat Robertson--although not every TV preacher has called for the assassination of another head of state like Robertson did in the recent past.

People outside the Black church (count me way outside) and people outside the Protestant church (count me in on that one) don't understand that what is said in the Pulpit is not the official policy of the church. In fact, there are deep roots in Protestantism and I suspect in the Black church of a "free pulpit." What that means it the minister is "free to say what he/she believes God wants said," and the congregation is "free to accept or reject what is said from the pulpit." My experience is that more is rejected than accepted but that is just my cynicism showing! Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., now the retired pastor of Trinity said some pretty outlandish things during his tenure as pastor, and some may have believed him, but there is no indication that Obama did. Rather, what we have in Obama is a well-rounded, balanced, thinking American of faith who believes America has a future that includes everyone. I just regret he has felt it necessary to withdraw from a congregation that is a model of social ministries in Chicago.

There is another reason why I believe he has withdrawn his membership from Trinity and will not join another church until after the election. Sometimes love compels us to do the noble thing, the loving thing. Obama knew the latest crowds came to Trinity for one reason: Barack Obama. If he is not there any more, the one church he cares about more than anything else in the world can continue their work in peace. It is vital work for Chicago and for the world. So Obama becomes the scapegoat and leads the reporters away even though it means severing ties with his family of faith. I have little experience with the press (may it ever be so) but they are the rudest, most self-serving profession around. They will disrupt, distract, and push themselves forward for the line, or picture or story. I cannot imagine a more noble thing than Obama's decision to spare his church family that, while the family suffers in pain over their loss.

Senator Obama, I admire your actions, and deeply regret there is not a place where a public family can share a private moment with their spiritual family and with their God. Perhaps, some day, we will grow up enough to declare churches and homes "press-free" zones. Especially, since we put so much emphasis on our candidates being people of faith.