African-American Christians waver over vote

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Some black clergy see no good presidential choice between a Mormon candidate and one who supports gay marriage, so they are telling their flocks to stay home on Election Day. That’s a worrisome message for the nation’s first African-American president, who can’t afford to lose any voters from his base in a tight race.

The pastors say their congregants are asking how a true Christian could back same-sex marriage, as President Barack Obama did in May. As for Republican Mitt Romney, the first Mormon nominee from a major party, congregants are questioning the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its former ban on men of African descent in the priesthood.

In 2008, Obama won 95 percent of black voters and is likely to get an overwhelming majority again. But any loss of votes would sting.

“When President Obama made the public statement on gay marriage, I think it put a question in our minds as to what direction he’s taking the nation,” said the Rev. A.R. Bernard, founder of the predominantly African-American Christian Cultural Center in New York. Bernard, whose endorsement is much sought-after in New York and beyond, voted for Obama in 2008. He said he’s unsure how he’ll vote this year.

It’s unclear just how widespread the sentiment is that African-American Christians would be better off not voting at all. Many pastors have said that despite their misgivings about the candidates, blacks have fought too hard for the vote to ever stay away from the polls.

Black church leaders have begun get-out-the-vote efforts on a wide range of issues, including the proliferation of state voter identification laws, which critics say discriminate against minorities. Last Easter Sunday, a month before Obama’s gay marriage announcement, the Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant of Baltimore formed the Empowerment Network, a national coalition of about 30 denominations working to register congregants and provide them with background on health care, the economy, education and other policy issues.

Yet, Bryant last month told The Washington Informer, an African-American newsweekly, “This is the first time in black church history that I’m aware of that black pastors have encouraged their parishioners not to vote.” Bryant, who opposes gay marriage, said the president’s position on marriage is “at the heart” of the problem.

Bryant was traveling and could not be reached for additional comment, his spokeswoman said.

The circumstances of the 2012 campaign have led to complex conversations about faith, politics and voting.

The Rev. George Nelson Jr., senior pastor of Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, participated in a conference call with other African-American pastors the day after Obama’s announcement during which the ministers resolved to oppose gay marriage. Nelson said Obama’s statement had caused a “storm” in the African-American community.

Still, he said “I would never vote for a man like Romney,” because Nelson has been taught in the Southern Baptist Convention that Mormonism is a cult.

As recently as the 2008 GOP primaries, the SBC’s Baptist Press ran articles calling the LDS church a cult. This year, however, prominent Southern Baptists have discouraged use of the term when addressing theological differences with Mormonism. Many Southern Baptist leaders have emphasized there are no religious obstacles to voting for a Mormon.

Nelson planned to vote and has told others to do the same. He declined to say which candidate he would support.

“Because of those that made sacrifices in days gone by and some greater than others with their lives. It would be totally foolish for me to mention staying away from the polls,” he said in an email exchange.

Romney has pledged to uphold conservative positions on social issues, including opposing abortion and gay marriage. But many black pastors worry about his Mormon beliefs. Christians generally do not see Mormonism as part of historic Christianity, although Mormons do.

African-Americans generally still view the church as racist. When LDS leaders lifted the ban on blacks in the priesthood in 1978, church authorities never said why.

Bernard is among the traditional Christians who voted for Obama in 2008 and are now undecided because of the president’s support for gay marriage. But Bernard is also troubled by Romney’s faith.

“To say you have a value for human life and exclude African-American human life, that’s problematic,” Bernard said, about the priesthood ban. “How can I judge the degree to which candidate Romney is going to allow his Mormonism to influence his policies? I don’t know. I can’t.”

Romney said in a 2007 speech that LDS authorities would have no influence on his policies as president. He also said he wept when he learned that the priesthood ban had been abolished because he was anxious for it to be lifted. But that has done little to change perceptions among African-Americans and others.

“Obama was supposed to answer for the things that Rev. Wright said,” said the Rev. Floyd James of the Greater Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, at a recent meeting of the historically black National Baptist Convention. “Yet here’s a guy (Romney) who was a leader in his own church that has that kind of history, and he isn’t held to some kind of account? I have a problem with that.”

The Rev. Dwight McKissic, a prominent Southern Baptist and black preacher, describes himself as a political independent who didn’t support Obama in 2008 because of his position on social issues. McKissic said Obama’s support for same-gender marriage “betrayed the Bible and the black church.”

Around the same time, McKissic was researching Mormonism for a sermon and decided to propose a resolution to the annual Southern Baptist Convention that would have condemned Mormon “racist teachings.”

McKissic’s Mormon resolution failed.

On Election Day, McKissic said, “I plan to go fishing.”

More like this story

Hugs 8 months, 1 week ago

Telling their people to stay home on Election day isn't the best anwser either.

Paroquet 8 months, 1 week ago

Every organized religious doctrine meets the definition of "cult". Those who press their their theological rivals as being a "cult" only do so on account of bias, misunderstanding, blind hatred, and are generally better-heeled than their adopted adversaries.

That's right. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and their prodigious offshoots? All cults.

Don't hate me for saying so--you can check the mainstream dictionaries. The label of "cult" to many "believers" means "any belief other than their own".

tonto_goldberg 8 months, 1 week ago

There we go again, claiming to be "true Christians" based on who we hate and exclude. I don't think that phrase means what they think it means.

asb 8 months, 1 week ago

Moammad told people what they had to do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If they didn't do it they were excluded.

Buddha told people what they had to do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If they didn't do it they were excluded.

Joseph Smith told people what they had to do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If they didn't do it they were excluded.

Bob Jones told people what they had to do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If they didn't do it they were excluded.

Get it?

JCLifer 8 months, 1 week ago

Love your enemies even as you love yourselves.

asb 8 months, 1 week ago

His followers have forgotten that bit in legion.

JCLifer 8 months, 1 week ago

Lace on your brand new tennis shoes, eat the special applesauce, and get ready to ride the comet!

spelchek 8 months, 1 week ago

What do you mean "they"?

Paroquet 8 months, 1 week ago

What? You mean like a "social conservative" justifying legislation based upon the Christian bible? No different than the Taliban or other Islamic offshoot seeking to impose Sharia law. Sort of the opposite of "conservative" when one is advocating controlling people in conformance with a specific theology.

Want to see the American Taliban? Try your local (christian) church. Except, they call themselves "patriots" instead of "terrorists". Probably has something with them using Religiously Propelled Gentiles instead of Rocket Propelled Grenades. Either way, the acronym is the same. :-p

asb 8 months, 1 week ago

Yes most Christians and most Muslims participate rather than overtake. Sort of depends on which extremists you're talking about. There are many broken Christians arming themselves for their crusade or armogoedan. It does give comfort to know that the Taliban are worse than most of our nuts, but only some.

spelchek 8 months, 1 week ago

You only wish the lies out of your finger tips had any semblance of truth.

asb 8 months, 1 week ago

So Spel, which of my statements, each an observation of historical fact, is a lie?

spelchek 8 months, 1 week ago

1) "There are many broken Christians arming themselves for their crusade or armogoedan." 2) "...the Taliban are worse than most of our nuts, but only some."

asb 8 months, 1 week ago

So then you're not aware of the Christian Identity movement in their enclaves around the country arming themselves and practicing military conflict? Read the news Spel. Day-to-day I noted the Taliban are worse, some of them are killing people left and right, and have protection from some governments, but most are just angry and support the nuts. Again, this is reported and witnessed daily, where's the lie?

Paroquet 8 months, 1 week ago

Actually, Grace, I do. And it isn't intolerance on my part; I am not the one advocating telling others by whose religious dogma they shall live. Cry victim and try to call me intolerant, it won't stick. You don't see me trying to force you to live like I would according to my own upbringing, do you? You don't see me trying to push my own religious belief or doctrine of my church down your throat and curb your personal freedoms. You can't say the same. Who then, would that make a product of intolerance?

JCLifer 8 months, 1 week ago

"Not God Bless America, but rather God Damn America"

Paroquet 8 months, 1 week ago

Grace? I'm going to hold you to account for the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and every other atrocity committed in the Name of Your Lord at any point in time, regardless of doctrine. On second thought, I might forgive you the Inquisition since the Pope apologized for your benefit.

Oh, and I don't see you forgiving Obama, good Christian that you are...

spelchek 8 months, 1 week ago

Wow. Religion really bothers you, huh? Let us eliminate all religions and beliefs to fit yours. Let us kick all children out of faith based orphanages. Put the sick out on the street. Yank the clothes off the needy. Burn the houses built for families who would otherwise not have a home if it weren't for the love that religion taught the builders. Shut down the kitchens feeding the hungry. Let the terminally ill die alone. Based off you disdain for others who don't think to your approval, I'm assuming you are no friend to your neighbor. Lower your nose and take a look around before making blanketed re-hashed arguments against religion. Nobody is perfect, including you.

dokeus6 8 months, 1 week ago

I think what Paroquet said (and anyone with a brain could figure out) was that you can't hold people in the church accountable for what some else did years ago. Why is that difficult to understand?

connor 8 months, 1 week ago

However if I had been a follower of the Inquisitors and routinely went to listen to them explain their reasons and philosophy then I would be guilty of at least lending them support in a fashion. As usual non-Christians attempt to use past injustices to justify their own current ones.

dokeus6 8 months, 1 week ago

Oh i'm sure whoever would have stood up right in front of the Grand Inquisitors and demanded them change their methods of converting the heathens to Catholicism would have been treated with the same exact methods that were being used on the heathens.

What a joke!

How about the Pope's recognition of Hitler as the supreme leader in Germany? Where were the people of the catholic faith on that one? Do you know me personally connor and know that I am not a Christian? Please don't even attempt to know what I believe in!

eileen10 8 months, 1 week ago

Paroquet has that unique ability to look outside the box. He doesn't bash anyones religion. Sometimes people may not pick up on exactly what he's saying so it might be a good idea to ask him to explain more thourghly what he said to avoid a confrontation. In fact I see a lot of that on these posts.A lot of misunderstanding and of course theres a lot of no agreeing on things too but I guess that's why everyone is here. I can see you have a good heart spelchek and I understand where your coming from. What you do is your business but I hate to see all this anger when it could maybe be avoided. My mom called me the peace maker between my sisters even though I'd end up with a black eye or bloody nose when I stepped in between them. Such is life.

Paroquet 8 months, 1 week ago

Actually, Grace, the anger is easy to avoid. Accept the differences of opinion as a given, and a right, then leave it at that. Admit flaws of character at least to yourself. Dare to consider your position and change your mind, or soften a stance. Recognize that in matters of opinion, we can't all be right all of the time. It's okay to be a hypocrite if you can perceive and acknowledge that. I know I'm hypocritical on certain issues. I expect just about everyone is to some degree or other for any myriad of issues. Even so, I sometimes stow how I really feel, step back, and temper my position. That doesn't change how I truly feel. It just means that I recognize what I feel isn't workable.

Try it. Anger won't help your judgment. Neither will passion, admirable as it may be. I can disagree with someone without becoming incensed no matter the fallacy of logic presented.

eileen10 8 months, 1 week ago

I understand what your saying Graceful but I'm the type of person who doesn't anger easily but not everyone is like me . I know what a hot bed the elections are so I guess the anger will continue to grow. I've seen people get into fist fights about politics which I really don't understand. Fighting doesn't solve anything because it's a no win situation. In November the American people will vote one or the other into office and I can already see whats going to happen on these posts. I know where you stand and I respect that. I must say you know how to stand your ground. I don't think you'd back down from some big burly guy with a big shot gun. My guess is that he'd turn tail and run. And that Graceful, is a compliment.

JCLifer 8 months, 1 week ago

Graceful, face it: This nation has gone to hell in a handbasket. Her people don't care. They have drank the koolaid and they are happy to destroy this once proud and righeous country. We are headed to Socialism and Heathenism. There is nothing we can do. We have to protect ourselves and try to find the few folks who still agree with the Constitution and the Bible. Perhaps we can live in peace or secceed/ start a new country,etc. There is no changing these people. They don't care. They want what they thing they want. Let them have it. Let them inherit the earth. They will be crawling back to us begging for help and crying about reaping what they have sown. We will see them weeping and gnashing their teeth as they decend into the eternal fire. Only they can help themselves, and only if they want to. They don't want to. Their greed and worldly ways have blinded them. They do not see what we see, even though it is right in front of them.

This country and the world have gone to hell. Let it go there. Remember, God is still in control, and He knows our pain. Everything happens to the good for those who love Him. We will win in the end.

asb 8 months, 1 week ago

What a load . . .

eileen10 8 months, 1 week ago

Holy smokes.

MO4LIFE 8 months, 1 week ago

Everybody goes to heaven. Because Hell is Earth.

Sequoia 8 months, 1 week ago

Wrong. Earth is Heaven. The Way is narrow and difficult, but it is right here in front of us, at this moment. The distance between hellish confusion and life in peace in the Word is the width of a blade of grass. Let your mind be still. That part of you that is unchanging watches as thoughts in your mind come, then go. That part of you is patient, content, with no desire, free as the sparrow for whom Jesus told us God will provide. That's the part Jesus said to give to God, and Ceaser can have the coins and all the rest. That's the part of you where faith comes from, and right action.

Lifer, are you talking about the new Transformers sequel or something? Your God sounds like a story parents tell to scare children. Clearly, you are scared. My God isn't so noisy and thundering. He doesn't shoot laser beams or fireballs at the wicked. My God doesn't live on a mountaintop or in a gated community in the clouds.

My God is like water. He flows in low, quiet places that most people reject.

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