On Monday April 29, 2008, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the very prominent yet controversial pastor of presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama, delivered a defiant speech at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. that left him in hot water with the Senator
The pastor’s unrepentant militant remarks certainly surprised and disappointed many of the Chicago area clergy that I was privileged to speak with. I , for one, was personally befuddled to no end, that a bright , intelligent visionary such as Pastor Wright would have such a serious lapse in judgment and allow a less that 30 minute press conference impair and undermined the prolific 20-year pastor/ parishioner relationship that the two shared.
I have heard two schools of thought as for the justification of Wright’s implosion at the National Press Club on Monday. One school of thought is he was being very self-serving and was capitalizing on the high level of publicity that he has been garnering, and is merely laying the ground work for a potential book deal.
The other school of thought is that Rev. Wright is very militant and radically committed to his liberation theology, and took advantage of the big stage to speak his convictions to a national audience. It is indeed quite possible that Rev Wright, the maverick, was merely trying to be an advocate for the community that he has served for 40 years. He may have simply felt compelled to speak to issues such as race relations, US terrorism, and the AIDS conspiracy theory. He may have convinced himself that not speaking would have been cowardice and hypocritical.
As one who has been a pastor for more than18 years, it hurts me immensely to see the very public fallout of an influential pastor and his very famous and hugely successful parishioner. From my own personal experience, I know that it does happen and it is very painful for every one involved. In the end both parties feel violated and every one loses.
I am hopeful that the Pastor Wright episode is behind us, and ultimately he and Obama in time can have some authentic reconciliation. Because it is a fact that whatever the senator becomes, he owes Wright for his 20-year pastoral investment into the lives of the Obama family.
For many years Wright has been a beacon light in the African American community, a model minister and an inspiration to aspiring young pastors. Unfortunately however his latest actions have not only had the effect of throwing Obama under the bus, as he scrambles to no end to secure the Democratic Party nomination, but to a large extent he threw himself under it as well. With the great work that he has done and the great church that he has built in our city; it would be a travesty for his performance at the National Press club to define his legacy.
Let’s hope for Obama’s campaign to regain its momentum real soon, or its going to start getting real crowded under that bus, in the eyesight of many ,the Black preacher is already under it, if Obama loses this nomination , our whole community will be under it.
From the desk of Rev Ira J Acree
pastor of Greater St john Bible Church
1256 N. Waller ave. and co Chairman of the LEADER’s Network
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