Please Take the NoWedge 2012 Pledge

Black pastor and leaders have created a pledge that encourages Black people to not be a victim of NOM or any hate groups' tactics.

It's called NoWedge 2012... check it out after the jump

Thanks to  Kandake CimCiptivan for pointing this out to me.

As Black voters begin to consider the upcoming election, it is paramount that all citizens be intentional, deliberate and unwavering in our commitment to democratic principles. The current election cycle is perilous because the Black vote has not been under as great assault in generations.

Organizers are using “divide and conquer” strategies that manipulate religious sensibilities, and Black and Hispanic cultural identities to make marriage equality a defining wedge issue. The strategy of mobilizing Black voters based on the single issue of marriage equality is designed to divert attention from the real needs of Black America.

Religion and Faith: There is a great diversity in Black America on the cultural and theological understanding of sexual orientation than the media or popular culture give credence (recent polls show that African Americans are equally divided on marriage equality). We acknowledge that it was President Obama’s faith, which guided his shift in embracing marriage equality. Our community has the ability to hold different positions and not demonize what is perceived to be the “other.” In light of this complexity Black America is compelled to embrace candidates with policy positions that are holistically beneficial for our community as a family.

Marriage in Black America: The real threat to marriage in Black America is not marriage equality. The real answer to promote and sustain Black families is educational opportunities, economic development, eliminating race-based profiling, and eliminating the disproportionate rate of incarceration among Black men.

Human Rights: Interlopers are counting on provoking African Americans and gay Americans battling to determine which group has suffered and or has been marginalized more. Importantly, this discourse has its place, however not to the point of distracting us from the realities that unify us.

Organizations such as the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) are using their political and financial resources to influence the Black community by staging Black faith leaders and spokespersons in a campaign to manipulate Black voters with little accountability to our community on the issues, which matter most to the life of Black America:

• The economy/unemployment (particularly among black men 18-24)
• Education and childcare
• Black men and the penal system
• Healthcare access and racial disparities
• The social disenfranchisement of black people
• Social security being maintained
• Voting rights

State legislators have passed voting ID laws in swing states that are clearly targeted at minority and elderly voters; while other legislators are attempting to remap districts based on race to dilute minority voting power. Although the Department of Justice is conducting extensive investigations on the new anti-voting laws and practices across the country, these efforts face protracted legal battles. We must proactively register, mobilize and turn out the Black vote. 

We stand together and say no to the wedge strategy, which seeks to both dismiss and divide us. 

We acknowledge that we have more in common than that which divides us.NoWedge2012.com

Signatories

• Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Rev. Elder Darlene Garner - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Pastor Joseph W. Tolton - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Candy Holmes - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Sharon Lettman-Hicks - National Black Justice Coalition
• Rev. Cedric Harmon - Many Voices
• Rev. Dr. Geoffrey A. Black - President, United Church of Christ
• Rev. Nigel Pearce - Grace Congregational UCC
• Rev. Pat Bumgardner - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Pastor Vanessa M. Brown - Rivers At Rehoboth Church
• Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey - Boston University School of Theology
• Bishop James Mills
• Rev. Dr. Alton B. Pollard, III - Howard Theological Seminary
• Joseph Ward III Director, Believe Out Loud
• Rev. John H. Vaughn - Auburn Theological Seminary
• Bishop Tonyia Rawls - Unity Fellowship Church
• Rev. Jacqui Lewis - Middle Collegiate Church
• Rev. Patrick Alford - Rivers at Rehoboth Church
• Rev. Andrea Vassell - Rivers at Rehoboth Church
• Rev. Damal Edmund - Rivers at Rehoboth Church
• Bishop Rafael De Jesus - The Affirming Pentecostal Church International
• ArchBishop Carl Beam - Unity Fellowship of Christ Church
• Bishop Zachary Jones - Unity Fellowship of Christ Church
• Bishop Jacqueline Holland - Unity Fellowship of Christ Church
• Bishop Melvin G. Talbert - United Methodist Church
• Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, Director - Center of Spiritual Light
• Fabian Burrell - LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent
• Rev. Rev. William "Bill" Fourney-Mills - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Melvin Poindexter-Miller - The Fort Washington Collegiate Church
• Rev. Lorena M. Parrish - The Fort Washington Collegiate Church
• Rev. Sofia Betancourt - Unitarian Universalist Association
• Deacon Len Richardson - MCC/NY
• Pastor Richard Boggs - Cathedral of the holy spirit
• Pastor Alex Byrd - Living Faith Covenant
• Minister Joshua Holiday
• Rev. Dr. Rainey Cheeks - Inner Light Ministries Washington DC
• Rev. Irene Monroe Faith in America
• Rev. Darrick Jackson - Unitarian Universalist Association
• Rev. Janice Steele, M.Div - Imani Community United Church of Christ
• Waltrina Middleton - United Church of Christ
• Bishop John Selders - Amistad United Church of Christ
• Pastor Anthony W. Sullivan, Jr. - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Rev. Derrick Spiva - Glide Memorial UMC
• Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell, Retired United Methodist Minister
• Dr. Traci West - Drew Theological Seminary
• Rev. Steve Andrews - The Connection Church
• Rev. Darryl Thompson Powell - Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Pastor Troy Saunders - Victory Church
• Rev. Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis- God Can Ministries, UCC
• Rev. Dr. Dennis W. Wiley, Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
• Rev. Dr. Christine Y. Wiley - Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
• Rev. Alicia R. Forde - Unitarian Universalist Association
• Mykal O. Slack - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Rev. Gerald Palmer - Word 4 The Soul Ministries
• Oliver W. Martin III - Conscious Contact of New York, Inc.
• Pastor Alex D. Byrd - Living Faith Covenant Church
• Rev Jeffrey H Jordan - Metropolitan Community Church
• Rev. Roland Stringfellow - Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, Pacific School of Religion
• Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. - Union Theological Seminary
• Pastor James R. Darby Jr - City of Refuge
• Daketta Marshburn - Glory to Glory Christian Church
• Bishop Wyatt I. Greenlee Jr - The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• James R Darby Jr. - City of Refuge Cleveland
• Rev. Steve Andrews - The Connection Church
• Pastor Troy Saunders - Victory Church
• Rev. DR. L Rita Dixon - Presbyterian Church
• Dominique P. Denman - Rivers at Rehoboth
• DeWayne Davis - Metropolitan Community Churches
• Rev. Dr. Leslie Carole Taylor - Methodist Theological School
• Keba Green - DreamGirlz Unlimited,LLC
• Khadijah Brown - Unified Action Coalition
• Rev. Tara Wilkins - Community of Welcoming Congregations
• J. Alfred Smith - Emeritus Allen Temple Baptist Church
• Rev. Carolyn J. Mobley - First Metropolitan Community Church
• Elder Rev. Kevin E. Taylor - Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
• C. Alicia Heath-Toby - Unity Fellowship Church Rochester
• Emilie Townes - Yale Divinity School
• Bishop Terry Angel Mason - Fountain of Life Word Center
• Rev. DR. L Rita Dixon - Presbyterian Church
• Dominique P. Denman - Rivers at Rehoboth

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The Coalition of African American Pastors wants President Obama to Drop his Gay Marriage Support

These fools just can't get it together. A group of Black pastors are asking President Obama to drop his support of gay marriage.

It's not a lot of them, but supposedly they are very influential in the Black community. They got together in Memphis to talk about this big danger of marriage equality.

"The group of black clergy and civil rights leaders say it is time to turn the tide against the 'hijacking' of the civil rights movement," said the Rev. Bill Owens, the coalition's elder statesman and organizer and a veteran of the civil rights movement who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King. "A 50-year-old can only read about the struggles and protests of the civil rights era, but some of us who are older have the battle scars to prove it. And the rights we fought so hard to acquire did not include same-sex marriage."

The coalition argues that there is "no legitimate comparison between skin color and sexual behavior."

The black ministers who came together represent a wide spectrum of religious and political beliefs and many of the pastors have been ardent supporters of President Obama and Democratic causes. But same-sex marriage is where they draw the line.

Owens told The Christian Post that they are "very disappointed" in Obama's newly pronounced support for gay marriage.

"We ask President Obama to stand with the black church, on the Word of God and evolve again back to the common sense biblical view that marriage is the union of husband and wife," he said.
Nonetheless, Owens said the group's goal is to stay away from the issue of whether or not the president will win a second term. "We want to stay away from the political part and stay in the realm of our area which is ministry."

I guess Rev. Bill Owens forgot that it was a gay man who organized the civil rights march and played a huge role in the overall movement.

I guess he also forgot that God's message was for all and not a chosen few.

And he should remember that slave masters used this same Godly rhetoric to keep Blacks in submission. So please, Rev. Bill Owens and the others get on the right side of this.

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Double your Hate! Ken Hutcherson and Bryan Fischer says that Black Pastors will never Support Obama - WATCH

Bishop Harry Jackson talks foolishness about Gay Marriage on Hardball

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Don Lemon tells the Black Church to get it together on Gay Marriage - WATCH

What Black Church Leaders think about Obama's Gay Marriage Support - VIDEO

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Rev. Carlton Pearson says Gays have a Place in Heaven - WATCH

This is a great interview with Rev. Carlton Pearson about the Black and Gay relationship, gay marriage and Eddie Long

5 Reasons Why NC's Black Church needs to stay out of the Amendment One Battle

The Amendment One battle in North Carolina is hitting inferno status. From folks shooting and pissing on signs to a slew of marriage commercials, the fight to define marriage has everyone talking.

Perhaps one of the most watched factors in this debate is the participation of the Black clergy. It's not a secret that the Black church is split on the matter. NOM and Vote FOR Marriage NC has pulled out all of the shiny anti-gay toys to win this battle and sadly, several Black clergy have taken the bait.

But if they would stop for a minute, they would realize this anti-gay fight is wrong. In fact, it goes against the practices they love to preach. I know they will disagree with me, but I would give them 5 reasons why they should NOT side with NOM and Vote FOR Marriage NC for Amendment One.

NOM was exposed for race baiting. The leaked documents proved that NOM purposely wanted to divide our communities and cause drama. With that said, why would any Black clergy work with a group who wanted to create an divisive atmosphere? 
1. And speaking of divisiveness, there are few Bible verses that strikes down the action. Titus 3:10, 11 says: "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned." Galatians 5:19-2l links divisiveness to witchcraft and enmity, and clearly states that anyone who is actively divisive will not inherit the kingdom of God. If these church leaders knew the Bible word for word, then they would see how NOM's tactics are not God-like.
Black clergy should also be mindful of the true nature of Amendment One; it's discriminatory. No church should support anything that reinforces discrimination. To use the Bible again, those who discriminate  “judges with evil thoughts,” you can find that one in James 2:1.
2. The wife of  North Carolina Sen. Peter Brunstetter, Jodie Brunstetter, was caught talking about one of the real reasons behind Amendment One. Supposedly, the anti-gay amendment was created to protect the White race. Once Jodie was confronted on this notion, she tried to cover her tracks; but the damage was done. Now, after hearing this story why would any Black church stand for this amendment? 
3. Some of the arguments used to support Amendment One mirrors the same arguments to keep Black people from working, going to school, voting and marrying outside our race.

For the leaders who are supporting Amendment One, please think about why you're doing this. Are to trying to protect God's way? If God is God, he doesn't need your protection. And if you are trying to preserve marriage, well you lost that battle years ago. So, please get out while you can.

Brian Brown claims that Blacks and Latinos always hated Gay Marriage

In a sad attempt to raise money, NOM hate leader states that Blacks and Latinos always opposed gay marriage.

See here in their letter:

NOM didn't create this issue. The African American and Hispanic communities have always opposed same-sex marriage. It is the gay marriage activists and Democratic party elites who have forced the issue, ignoring the voices of Black and Hispanic voters.

I just spoke with two of my heroes in the fight to defend marriage, Rev. Sen. Ruben Diaz and Bishop Harry Jackson. They are outraged by these latest attacks, and Senator Diaz has already posted a powerful response on his official senate website.

NOM has marched arm-in-arm with countless African American and Hispanic pastors, community leaders and grassroots supporters. They know us. They know our hearts. There is no way the other side can divide us.

If anything, this unprecedented attack has encouraged our Hispanic and African American colleagues to do even more on behalf of marriage.

My friend, we are building an unprecedented coalition of marriage supporters across all racial, ethnic, political and religious lines.

Blacks, whites and Hispanics...Republicans, Democrats and Independents...Catholics and Protestants, Mormons, Jews and atheists...All standing together for the good of marriage!

Brian, first you mock us and now, you claim to know what's in our hearts? Bitch, have a seat! The jig is up.

In Boston: A Black Church reaches out to LGBT Youth

A historically black church in Boston has been reaching out to many of the LGBT youth in the area. Union United Methodist Church is making it their mission help everyone and make our community feel welcomed.

Union United Methodist leaders say the Youth Space drop-in center is an extension of their open and affirming mission to follow the teachings of Christ and serve all people, including those in the margins of society and those who have been disenfranchised.


“Most churches are not willing to put themselves out there . . . because it conflicts with their theology,’’ said Cummings, who then evoked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’’


The Youth Space program, which targets gay and straight 13- to 18-year-olds, comes at a time when black churches are coming under increasing pressure from advocates for gays to be more accepting. The topic remains so controversial in many black churches that clergy are reluctant to publicly discuss it.

Simply by being there, the trio was straddling a divisive line between the gay community and the black church, where many gay and lesbian minorities have long felt ignored or unwelcome in the pews.

Kudos, for this church for actually doing what to churches supposed to do. Help people.

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King Eddie Long receives Serious Criticism from the Religious Community

Once the video of King Eddie Long went viral, others in religious community struck back with a big thumbs down.

The Grio reports:

Reverend Morris Tipton, director of media relations, at the National Baptist Convention, warns that, "God has called us to be serving leaders and not celebrities."

"Christ Jesus is the model and example in which we are to be humble in everything, from our lifestyle to the execution of our ministry," says Tipton of the Convention, which is the oldest and largest African-American Christian denomination in the United States. "It's not about being flamboyant."

"When pastors are put on a pedestal when they fall it's a mighty fall and impacts a tremendous amount of people in a hurtful and negative way because the congregation has placed so much confidence in this one person," says Tipton, although he is also keen to stress he is not referring to a specific ministry.

The cult church issued a statement saying it wasn't they intent to make him a king, but I think it's too late... The damage is done. I hope this continues the convo about the Black Church's blind and foolish views of their "leaders".

Black Pastors support Hate Groups' Protest of the Southern Poverty Law Center

Several Black pastors joined Hate Kings, Peter LaBarbera and Matt Barber to protest SPLC for labeling faux Christians organizations hate groups.

About a dozen African-American pastors joined anti-gay extremists on Tuesday in condemning the SPLC for using its “hate group” label to describe faith-based organizations that are against the LGBT lifestyle. At a press conference staged outside of the SPLC offices in Montgomery, Alabama, the pastors spoke and stood in solidarity with organizations, including Americans for the Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH), an organization the SPLC lists as an anti-gay hate group.

“The SPLC has moved from monitoring actual hate groups like the KKK and neo-Nazis to slandering mainstream Christian organizations with that very same hate group label,” said Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel. “By extension, the SPLC is smearing billions of Christians and Jews worldwide as haters simply because they embrace the traditional Judeo-Christian ethics.”

In response to the accusations that the SPLC is wrongly labeling organizations as “anti-gay hate groups,” Mark Potok, editor of the SPLC ’s Intelligence Report, says they’re labeled as such because that’s what they are.

“Our listing of anti-gay hate groups is completely unrelated to religion, Christianity or the Bible,” Potok said. “These groups are listed because they repeatedly lie in an effort to defame LGBT people, an exercise they’ve been extraordinarily successful at. The idea that we are criticizing these groups because they represent Judeo-Christian morality is simply ludicrous.”

Please, these groups are ludicrous! They spend countless hours spreading lies and mess about the LGBT community. Instead of strengthen economy or education, they rather cruise Folsom or M.A.L. with donors' money. They wish they were doing God's work. And these Black pastors are so messed up for supporting them.

I guess they enjoy being fooled and lied to like the rest of idiots.

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In South Carolina: A Black Church Grills Newt the Hut

Newt took his 'Mojo' looking ass to one of major Black churches in South Carolina. While none of them will ever vote for Newt, they were nice enough to hear him out... And to call him out as well.

While the give and take between Gingrich and more than 50 people in the audience was largely respectful, some in the crowd had sharp questions for the former House Speaker. Many centered on Gingrich's remark last month that poor children as young as nine should work at least part time cleaning their schools in order to learn about work.

Gingrich said his comments were misconstrued.

"What I was saying was, in the poorest neighborhoods, if we can find a way to help young people earn some money, we might actually be able to keep the dropout rate down and give people an incentive to come to school," he said.

The explanation little satisfied some in the crowd, including a woman who said Gingrich's words came across "so negatively, like we're not doing everything for our young people."

Gingrich was also asked if he stood by his assertion that Obama is a "food stamp president", a line the Georgia Republican uses often during stump speeches. He responded with a simple, "Yes."

They were nice, trying to be good church folks. But I was there, he would've head more than an earful of issues and concerns. 

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A Man Sentenced for 14 years in Prison for Burning down a Black Church because Obama won the Presidential Election - VIDEO

Racism at its best

166-month sentence for Michael Jacques: wwlp.com

Swindlers stick Together like Corn in Sh*t: Creflo Dollar defends Eddie Long

WATCH this liar and bootlegger defend Eddie Long

Bishop Eddie Long Settles Out of Court

Yes, the guilty must pay and pay he did. Bishop Eddie Long has settled his sex scandal case out of court.

B.J. Bernstein, the attorney representing the men, said in a statement that the lawsuits against Long and his church have “been resolved.”
Bernstein's two-paragraph statement said that neither she nor the accusers would talk about the lawsuits “now or in the future.”

Art Franklin, a Long spokesman, said Thursday that the pastor settled because it “is the most reasonable road for everyone to travel.”
 
“This decision was made to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry,” Franklin said in a statement. Long is an internationally known televangelist who crusaded against gay marriage, and the lawsuits against him drew national attention.

The settlement comes eight months after Long, the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Church in Lithonia, Georgia, said from the pulpit of his 25,000 member megachurch that he vowed to fight the accusations against him, with the congregation cheering in response.

To be honest, I hate that he didn't go to court for this. I believe he is guilty and he took advantage of those boys. I hope his church members wake up and see the liar and charlatan he really is.

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Bishop Eddie Long's Church may have Scammed Church Members

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. His church is in the news because of some funny business. Apparently, there's a mortgage scam going on, see here...

The Secret Serviceand DeKalb County police are now looking into allegations that Bishop Eddie Church was used as a recruiting ground for a mortgage scam. Complaints filed report that Fred Lee and GaryHawkins( Matrix Capital) prayed on desperate members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church who face foreclosure. As part of the scam church members gave the two $1500 in exchange for the help in resolving pending foreclosures.

According to one of the mortgage scam victims no one ever contacted her bank from Matrix Capital and her property remains in foreclosure. Victims as far away as New Orleans are now coming forward with claims that Matrix Capital has swindled them out of their money.

The Preacher Bureau of Investigations (PBI) contacted the Home office of Matrix Capital Group and spoke with Ashly Griffin who says that they have not affiliation with Fred Lee or Gary Hawkins.
Members at New Birth Church paid the $1,500 fee but discovered that the homes were still in foreclosure because Matrix Capital never even made a single call to her bank.

Gary Hawkins serves in a leadership position in New Birth Church and used his position as a point of recruitment for Matrix Capital. When asked by a CBS reporter if he was licensed to in the State of Georgia to negotiate mortgage contracts, Hawkins replied that he wasn’t.

Well, when you think about it... Of course there's a scam. Those church members are used to a scam. Eddie is scam and that church is scam. Haven't they figure that out yet?


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Thanks to his Lesbian Friend, A Pastor changes his Homophobic Heart

Pastor Richard Davis had a change of heart after his lesbian schooled him on his homophobia.

Yet Davis, 58, very publicly broke that code of silence when he conducted a series of forums this fall on "Gays in the Black Church: Is it time to come out of the closet?" that called out the hypocrisy and homophobia of black churches. In the forums, Davis apologized to black gay church members for his past homophobia. It was an apology that may never have come were it not for the empathy he received at a low point in his life and which came from a lesbian friend.

Thanks to his friend, Davis brought the conversation to his church, hoping for some real talk with the pulpit.

Davis' forums brought together members of Orlando's gay community and the black community in what, at times, was a fiery display of fear and acrimony on both sides.

Black church members expressed their feelings that what they viewed as the immoral and aberrant lifestyles of homosexuals were bad for their children, their community and their country. Gays vented their feelings of rejection and abuse by the black church, the black community and members of their own family.

I applauded Pastor Davis for bringing this issue to his church. This needs to be at the forefront of the Black Church.

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Bishop Kevin J. Boyd Sr. accused of forcing sex with a young man

Well, here we go again. Bishop Boyd has been accused of forcing sexual favors from a young man in his church.

The claims in the lawsuit in Hinds County Circuit are similar to allegations leveled against Atlanta mega-church pastor Bishop Eddie Long by four young men.



The local lawsuit was filed against Kevin Joseph Boyd Sr., senior pastor of The Apostolic Church, 1735 Shady Lane Drive, late last month. Boyd also operates a church in New Orleans.
"Defendant Boyd has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship," according to the lawsuit.



Boyd hasn't responded to calls left at the Jackson church and at his New Orleans home for comments about the lawsuit.



Boyd and wife Karla are listed in court papers as having been served with the lawsuit, which represents one side of a legal argument, on Nov. 8. They have 30 days to respond. No attorney is listed yet for Boyd in court documents.

The man involved, claimed to had sex at church and later in hotels. The Boyds have not responded yet. so, there's more to come.

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UPDATE in the Eddie Long Case: First Hearing Held Friday/May move to Mediation

This may be settled out of court.
Here's the story from Fox 5

The first court hearing in the Bishop Eddie Long sexual misconduct case was held Friday, and the case is headed for settlement talks. Lawyers for the bishop and the four young men who have filed suits against him said they want to avoid a trial and resolve the dispute in mediation early next year.

During a status conference held Friday, lawyers for both sides gave a road map of what's going to happen throughout the case, when it's going to happen and why it's going to happen.

On the way into the courthouse, Bishop Eddie Long's attorney Craig Gillen, and the young accusers' attorney, B.J. Bernstein, had little to say. But after a short status conference, one thing was clear: Both sides were ready to resolve the case.