Senator Barack Obama is a longtime member of Trinity United Church of Christ (UCC) in Chicago. The church describes itself as "unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian" and embraces what it calls an "Africentric" theology. Over the past year, Trinity UCC and its pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, have come under fire from conservative bloggers and pundits. Wright is retiring and Rev. Otis Moss III is assuming his pastoral duties. Moss responds to the barrage of criticism his church has faced and says it won't affect his ministry.
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FROM A MEMBER OF TABERNACLE IN AUGUSTA,GA
WE LOVE U, REV. mOSS AND FAMILY. WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOUR FAMILY AND CHURCH
Rev. Otis Moss appears to be the kind of person who rejects all critical feedback as coming from "haters." This is a typical fundamentalist point of view for all true believers of every religion. I hope that Rev. Moss can hear the feedback that the very term "Africanity" is offensive to some people who do not put "racial" categories forward as legitimate or viable distinctions between humans. In my view, race is no more important than the color of skin or eyes, height or weight, or I.Q. for establishing group identity. To me establishing a church on "Africanity" identity is as ephemeral as establishing a church on Obesity identity or Male identity. We can all see our personal reflection in various kinds of group identities, but none of these group identities should be the basis for religious faith or practice. Spritual or religious sentiment should by its very nature transcend such worldly illusions as race, class, or gender.
The concept of "Africanity" raises the issue of racializing personal identity. It is a slippery slope to grasp a racial identity that is fundamentally one created by the mental framework of White Supremacy. There is no "Africanity" except that "Africanity" developed from the conditions created under White Supremacy. It is completely understandable when oppressed people take on the identity forced upon them by their oppressors, but it is unfortunate and sad nonetheless. "Affricanity" is only one step short of "Black Supremacy" just as "Europeanity" would be one step short of "White Supremacy." On a slippery slope like this, that one step is an important one that Rev. Moss needs to address without dodging and spinning.
I see nothing wrong with claiming and celebrating one's roots and identity - as long as it is not out of a superiority over others.
Growing up in the Midwestern states, I saw as a Lutheran Christian the many different immigrant groups that made up this part of the American landscape. There were German, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish communities that expressed their rich heritages in various degrees through their community, church, and school.
Most of the 4-year colleges in this area were started by these different groups. They have been supported by the immigrants, their descendants, and others because they agree with that tradition's values. Those who attended these schools have been enriched and are active participants in the American culture and economy.
Where I live today, the richness of those various immigrant traditions is not expressed as strongly as years ago. The cultures supported by TV, school athletics, and area professional athletics seem to be the replacement groups that many people tend to find their identity, values, and bonding community.
If Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago describes itself as "unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian" and embraces an "Africentric" theology, I see nothing wrong with it.
It may be what they need to battle the various cultural forces at play today - which I am not content with either.
The American christian community has much to be ashamed of. Racism continues-- failing to listen to what God has to say to his people-especially those who are supposed to be feeding the sheep. The American christian community deprives the sheep and feed themselves: Church has become a big business--pastors are overweight physically, corrupt to the top with big cars, gold on their necks--garbage all over the place. Listen to what God says to you all:
The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Isreal: prophesy, and say to them--to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Isreal who have been feeding yourselves! Should noe shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strenghtened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them.
EZEKIEL 34:1--4.
Yopu are wasting time talking nonsense when you should be feeding the folks that have gone astray. Shame on you. Go back to what you are supposed to do. Feed my sheep--says the Lord.
The "Church" (capital C - i.e. the Body of Christ) transcends both time and traditions, be it the Western European/WASP tradition OR the African/African American tradition, or the "agitators" (Gal. 5:12) of Paul's day. Traditions have existed ever since the Church came into existence in the years following Christ's resurrection. And they have in nearly every case, with the exception of the sacraments of water baptism and holy communion, hindered the Gospel message.
The Gospel message is simply Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. And due to the sin of pride, it is precisely the Gospel's profound simplicity that has caused various sects over the years to reject the message and/or to feel compelled to add to it. On Damascus road, Jesus said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you." but we keep forgetting that.
In his first letter to the Corinthians in chapter 1, Paul acknowledged that divisions had already sprung up and he pleaded with the Church in Corinth to seek unity in Christ. He repeated this message in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus." (NIV translation)
God's Word teaches us that Jesus is Lord of ALL and that the Church, His Body, is ONE in Him. The distance that exists within the Body around the worlds today breaks Jesus's heart, and the sooner the white church and the black church start relating to one another like the body of believers that Christ prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemane, the sooner, the Church will move toward the true world-wide witness that is our God-given mandate.
Like Paul pleaded with the Church at Corinth, I plead with TUCC to set aside its "Africanity", to return to the simple truth of the Gospel message, to celebrate the only thing that matters in God's eyes, its "Christianity" and to show love and respect for all people, judging them not through the lense of human history, which is rife with injustice; but really seeing them for who they are, through the loving eyes of their Heavenly Father.
I attended a racially mix church like TUCC for years and not once were the African-Americans members encouraged, like this church, to embrace their roots and unique culture, but rather to fall in line with the mainstream worship. I sure wouldn't mind finding a congregation like this. Of course, this congregation shouldn't look to be understood by others, especially those in segregated churchs around the nation.
I wish you all the best. I am a friend of your parents, from then Glendale Ohio days. I am also in touch with your parents today, and they are spectacular lights in my life.
I remember when Otis III was born. Such a wonderful memory as time goes forward into the present. If full understanding between the blacks and whites in this country can truly be achieved, it is well gone forward with the leadership of these strong, quiet gentlemen called the Moss family.
I hope Otis will not follow Wright's hate america theme. We have millions across the world trying to kill us with the same message.
The biblical message is to pray for our leaders not ask God to dam them.
The biblical message is about forgiveness, redemption and loyalty to Christ.
This "Africana First" doesn't fit with being an American
The term Afrocentric or Africanity needs to be defined/understood first. The educational system and the religous teaching in America are "Eurocentric." This means that the contributions/achievements people of color were not included. Historically this omission was needed in order to maintain the stereotypes which justified racism and segregation.
You can actually get advanced degrees in America and have no knowledge of Africa. We study the Greeks, Romans, British Literature etc. We grow up with a European image of Santa Claus, Superman, Jesus Christ and learn to appreciate the beauty and goodness of the white Disney princesses etc.
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The Afrocentric focus allows people to learn of their true history of African/African Americans thereby increasing pride and self-determination. It is not separatist or racist. It does not preach hate.
It preaches self-esteem.
One minister Matthew Ashimolo wrote a book entitled "What's Wrong with Being Black" to answer the questions so many Africans/African American had regarding their history. It is like growing up in a a family where your sibling are constantly being praised while you are ignored/neglected and being eager to learn the positive aspects of your own history.
I went to see the movie entitled, "Night at the Museum." It did not include any Black person as a character from world history. Even the African King Tut was portrayed as a white man with a British accent who stated that he was educated at Oxford.
No wonder that in a recent survey (The Doll Test) of young Black kids listed the positive human qualities to white dolls and the negative qualities (stupid, mean,bad etc) to the black dolls.
With a more Afrocentric teachings people would gain true knowledge and appreciation of themselves and understand that they are just as good and capable as all others.
Gregory Wonderwheel said: “I hope that Rev. Moss can hear the feedback that the very term "Africanity" is offensive to some people who do not put "racial" categories forward as legitimate or viable distinctions between humans. In my view, race is no more important than the color of skin or eyes, height or weight, or I.Q. for establishing group identity. To me establishing a church on "Africanity" identity is as ephemeral as establishing a church on Obesity identity or Male identity.”
Whether or not Mr. Wonderwheel is “offended” or not, he should, at least, yield some of his visceral reaction to historical understanding. It was not Rev. Moss or Dr. Wright – his predecessor – who created the racial categories with which African-Americans were forced to deal in American life and in American churches. We were segregated in the churches of America long before any African-American preacher made (or even was allowed to make) any comments about that fact. So your “offense”, sir, should be directed at the roots of American racism, not at Rev. Moss’ comment.
Further, your notion that all physical characteristic are similarly considered and there should be no distinction in our understanding of them fails, sadly, to recognize that race is the only category among the ones you name whose bases was used as a justification for enslaving people in America. While it is easy for you and others to forget that, African-Americans never can, or will.
Hi,Pastor Otis Moss I just want to say to thank God for the (HATERS) cause we need them they help us get closer to God keep preaching the word, They'll understand one day when they stop listening to 8 track tapes and step up to Cd's & Dvd's.Hope to see you soon for our fall revival in Sept. I love you and I am praying for you and your family as well as your church family. GOD BLESS YOU PASTOR MOSS
Rev. Otis Moss, III: You represent well the ranks of MOREHOUSE MEN like me
(class of 1970) who are disciples of our patriarch, Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays,"the spiritual mentor and intel-
lectual father of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There is not any people on the face of this earth who have prospered who did not believe that they were not created in the image of God, that they did not look like God, as one of my historical mentors, Bishop
Henry McNeal Turner said in 1880. Your
task is to take the message of MOREHOUSE beyond the 830 Westview Drive as a peculiar message of transformation for people who do not know that they are God's image who formed the core foundation of civilization. I will send to you my text on African-centrism and the one
on diverse traditions. The Aryan Model is inadequate to define the richness and range of God's creation.
As a student of Martin E. Marty, Robert McQueen Grant, Mircea Eliade,
Charles Long,Nathan A. Scott, Jr. and others at the Divinity School, University of Chicago, I must challenge out-moded and inadequate
academic models so that new and progressive ones might point back to the ellipse of time that brings us all home to the realization of the creativity and valor of African peoples.
It bothers me, that in this day and age, people are still bothered by anything associated with blackness. So what if a church is Afrocentric, who are they bothering? But, because the Pastors, both Wright and Moss uplift the community which they serve (isn't that what a church is supposed to do). We always complain that black people are looking for a handout. Here this church is, offering a hand up and all people can see is the hate speech?? Why is this country still stuck on stupid, if it's not Eurocentric, it's not in the bible, the same bible that was used to condone slavery and also create the black church. Obama is correct, we need dialogue on race, and whites need to accept the fact that it's ok to be Afrocentric or whatever your particular heritage is, understand it before you look down your nose at it.
Yeshua was Black and others hate that because they do not want to pray in the name of a BLACK MAN.....truth hurts!!!
I heard Otis Moss III preach four times at the Chautauqua Institution in August 2008.
Mr. Moss is the best preacher I have heard.
Those sermons can be downloaded from
http://www.thegreatlecturelibrary.com/index.php?select=sermonlist&list=dates&data=2008
What I heard was not Afrocentric, but Christ-centric. But you should listen to his sermons and decide yourself.
Those who want to "get it", (that is the theology and gospel of liberation) will get it. Those who want to ignore that racism/white supremacy exists, even in the church, are in major denial. TUCC and other similar churches across the nation, are doing just what Jesus Christ instructed us as Christians to do: "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." (NIV)
I say, ignore the "blind" critics because they sound like Pharisees to me.
Peace.