Over 140 clergy sent a letter to presidential candidate Barack Obama urging him to return to the strong peace and social justice focus that helped him win the Democratic primaries.
On August 12, over 140 clergy sent a letter to presidential candidate Barack Obama urging him to return to the strong peace and social justice focus that helped him win the Democratic primaries, and to reject the advice of Democratic Party insiders who have been cautioning him to move to the political center. The letter cites the dramatic change in the tone and content of Obama's campaign since he won the nomination, noting the new emphasis on moving the war on terror from Iraq to Afghanistan, Obama's vote for a law that extended presidential authority to engage in domestic wiretapping, his willingness to support offshore drilling, and his attempt to appeal to the right-wing of the Jewish community during his speech at an AIPAC gathering the day after he won the nomination.
The letter points out that this approach will not be politically effective, but that as religious leaders the signers of the letter are not seeking to be his political advisers but to provide a "prophetic voice" to counter the pragmatists who surround him.
Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun Magazine and chair of the Network of Spiritual Progressives along with Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, commented that the new direction in the Obama campaign is based on a totally false assumption in thinking that American politics is about Left, Center and Right. "Rather," Lerner commented, "it is about fear vs. hope. When Obama starts to talk in ways that seem to validate the fear-based assumptions that underlie the so-called 'war on terrorism' he actually re-stimulates for Americans that part of their consciousness that is based in fear. And when people are seeing the world through that frame, they look for tough military or police-type leaders. Obama won the nomination because he raised hopes for a whole new kind of politics, in the process awakening the hopeful, generous and caring-for-others side of Americans that is deep not only in Democrats but in Republicans and unaffiliated as well. When that was happening, even the most cynical Republicans and many detached young people were touched, and many began to consider political involvement or party-switching that had previously seemed unlikely. But when the fear assumptions get placed back into the discourse, Obama then has to run on the same terrain as McCain, and the argument becomes who is the best to lead wars and conflict, his potential to change America seems less credible and suddenly he loses support. In this case, the spiritually centered approach is the most rational."
Beyond sending the letter, the clergy involved will be holding an event at the Democratic National Convention and are inviting all delegates to attend and address this issue.
For more information: contact will@tikkun.org 510 644 `1200.
The following is the text of the letter:
Dear Senator Obama,
As strong supporters of your campaign to become President of the U.S. in our own personal lives and as leaders in the religious communities in the U.S., we understand well the pressures you must be facing to tone down your message so that you can win the election and then later be more courageous in challenging major assumptions in American public discourse that have been inserted there by a powerful conservative assault for the past thirty years by conservatives and champions of the elites of wealth and power in this country.
Others have articulated elsewhere why "toning down" or "moving to appeal to the Center" is a politically disastrous strategy, not only because it causes disillusionment and passivity among the youth who momentarily thought that something new was happening in American politics and who might otherwise return to apathy when they perceive you as "playing the game" the same old way, but also because it generates despair among all sections of the population that had momentarily allowed themselves to hope that America might become under your presidency a society that unequivocally supported a politics of peace and justice. People who thought that they would vote for you as their peace candidate who seemed more unequivocal than others about ending the war in Iraq, for example, may become less enthusiastic about a candidacy that now calls for escalation of the war in Afghanistan and talks about giving Iranians ultimatums to be followed by green lights for military attacks.
We are writing you from a different angle, not as your election strategists, but as people of faith whose primary allegiance is to be prophetic witnesses to the ethical vision articulated in the holy texts of our religion and the elaboration of those religious traditions over the course of the past two thousand years.
It is our view that America needs "a New Bottom Line" so that both corporations and non-profit institutions, social practices, legislation, government activities, and even our own personal life activities should be deemed "rational, productive, or efficient" not only to the extent that they maximize money, material security, power or gratification of our sensual desires but also to the extent that they maximize love and caring, kindness and generosity ethical and ecological sensitivity, enhance our capacities to see others as embodiments of the sacred and enhance our capacity to respond to the universe with awe, wonder, and radical amazement at the grandeur of Creation.
It is from that perspective that we appeal to you to fulfill the promise and the hopes you raised in the early months of your campaign, and to sharpen the distinctions between you and past politics by articulating new principles that would govern your presidency. In particular, we call upon you to (unequivocally and persistently in your public appearances and ads) call for:
*Replacing the "Strategy of Domination or Power Over Others" (that has shaped too much of American foreign policy in the past) with a new approach that gives at least equal weight to "A Strategy of Generosity and Caring for Others" (for example as manifested by the Global Marshall Plan suggested by the Network of Spiritual Progressives www.spiritualprogressives.org). You should not allow the public discourse to push you into having to prove who will be the most effective candidate for running the next set of wars, but instead insist strongly and make this central to your campaign that that strategy for achieving Homeland Security is seriously flawed. Effective security strategy must rely on two legs, one the strong military defense of our interests, and second on the strong commitment to ending global (and domestic) poverty, homelessness, hunger, inadequate education, inadequate health care, and repairing the global environment (please see House Res. 1078 introduced by Keith Ellison and endorsed by nineteen other Members of the House for some helpful language in this regard-it endorses our version of The Global Marshall Plan). Those who are ill-equipped to articulate and implement the Strategy of Generosity are "weak on national defense."
*Rejecting the notion of armed struggle with Iran and opposing any military blockade of Iran (universally understood as an act of war) would then give the Iranians a reason to attack, which in turn would provide the pretext for a war, either before or after the U.S. elections. You should publicly call on the Bush Administration to refrain from taking any such provocative actions that might lead to military conflict before the next Administration takes office.
*A commitment to sign a Presidential Order that forbids and criminalizes torture and the direct or indirect aiding or abetting of acts of torture on the part of the U.S. , directs the U.S. military to abandon Guantanamo prison and end the activities of the School of the Americas related to training people in South and Central America in the techniques of counter-insurgency and torture, and directs the next Attorney General to explore criminal charges against those who have violated US or international law in regard to torture.
* A commitment to make saving our global environment a top priority not only through encouraging individual and corporate environmental responsibility, but by alerting the American public to the full scientific evidence about the degree of threat to the survival of the planet that is likely unless we make major changes in the way use the resources of our planet, how we decide what products should be produced and how, and how we decide what items to consume. Tell the American people what the planet faces if the US and other countries including China don't make a huge global effort to reverse the patterns of destruction that are already endangering our planet.
* Affirming the need for an American health care system that is based on the principle that we have an obligation to care for each other, not on the need for the health care profiteers to make a good return on their investments.
*Affirming as a guiding principle for American society in the 21st century that we have an obligation to care for each other, and that this obligation requires a rethinking of many aspects of American law, American corporations, government programs, education, and persona life, and that you will use your time in office to encourage this new ethos.
* Calling on schools to actively engage in teaching students the skills of caring a.for each other b. for those stuck in poverty or homelessness or hunger c. the disabled d. our senior citizens. e. for their own health and their bodies g. for the environment. This should include teaching about "non-violent communication" and positive negotiation skills, but also teach about the various religious and secular traditions that have made "caring for others" central to their teachings, or have made awe and wonder at the grandeur of creation part of their approach to protecting the environment.
We are firmly convinced, Senator Obama, that these are ways of thinking about what is needed in America that are unlikely to succeed unless you build a strong foundation of support for them during your campaign. By articulating this kind of thinking now, you will not only strengthen the possibility of mobilizing parts of the electorate who have given up on politics altogether, but you will also be serving God in a way that is necessary at this historical moment.
Your advisors may warn you of political dangers. We think the opposite. But as we say, our calling is not to be your political practitioners, but to provide you with the kind of ethical and prophetic voices that you need to hear.
Finally, if you are elected, as we very much hope you will be, and as we ourselves will try to help make happen by building support for you, we urge you to meet with us during your presidency to hear the voices not of religious cheerleaders, but of those who dare to speak truth to power even when that power, as your own, is mostly for the good and mostly in service of the God of the universe. It is precisely because we believe in you and your strong ethical and religious commitment that we are daring to write this to you, even though we know that its impact might be to make it less likely that your advisors will ever allow us to connect with you directly once you are elected.
With respect and blessings,
(all organizations listed for identification purposes and do not imply organizational endorsement of this letter)
Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun and Chair, The Network of Spiritual Progressives
and author of The Politics of Meaning and of The Left Hand of God
Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, Executive Director of Benetvision: A Resource and
Research Center for Contemporary Spirituality, and author of Welcome to the
Wisdom of the World, and of The Gift of Years, and dozens of other books on Christian Theology
Rev. Tony Campolo, Chair, The Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education,
and author of dozens of books including Red Letter Christians and The God of Intimacy and Action.
Father John Dear, S.J. is a Jesuit priest and author of Jesus the Rebel and A Persistent
Peace
Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Chair, The Shalom Center and author, Seasons of Our Joy and
These Holy Sparks
Imam Zaid Shakir, Zeytuna Institute, California
Rev. Graylan S. Hagler, National President, Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic
Justice of The United Church of Christ
(above are the initiators of this effort plus 148 others)
Rev. Brian Adams Mt. Rainier Christian Church
Rev. Lynn Baird
Rev. Dr. Brian Baker Episcopal Priest
Rev. David Bartlett Columbia Theological Seminary
Rev. Ronald Bell PC(USA)
Father Richard Berg Macdonald Center
Minister of Visitation Edward Bloomfield First Congregational Church of Long Beach
Rev. Carrin Bowes Center of Light, Lansing
Harold C. Bradley Society of Jesuits. Asst. to the Vice President for Federal Relations.
Marquette University
Episcopal priest Mary Bredlau
Rev. Richard Brendan JourneysFire International
Monsignor Paul Byrnes Retired clergy from the Baltimore Roman Catholic Archdiocese
Rev. Dr. Jane Carlsson-Bull First Parish Unitarian Universalist - Cohasset, MA
Rev. Karen Carter Church of the Brethren
Rev. Nancy Chalfant-Walker Rector, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
Rev. and Professer Emeritus John Cobb Claremont School of Theology
Rev. Ernest Cockrell Diocese of El Camino Real
Retired Clergy Charles F. Cooley The United Methodist Church
Roman Catholic Priest Jeffrey Cooper Holy Cross Center
Rabbi Meryl M. Crean Elkins Park, PA
Fr. Bob Cushing St. Theresa Catholic Church
Rev. Richard Davis Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, Oregon
Rev. Canon Dr. Peter Davison
Rev. Charlene Dean
Rev. Yvonne Delk New Maceonia UCC, Norfolk, Virginia
Rev. Douglas Dirks Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Rev. Christine Doucet Center of Light Boston
Rev. John Dourley
Rev. Mary Drake Center of Light Boston
Robert J. Egan Society of Jesuits. Religious Studies Department, Gonzaga University,
Spokane, WA.
Rev. Mary Elizabeth Pratt-Horsley St. Benedict's Episcopal Church
Senior Minister Susan EngPoole Unity of Louisville
Deacon Warren Eustace St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Minister Joan Evans Center of Light, Seattle
Rabbi Ted Falcon Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue
Sister Jacinta Fernandes Emmanuel Monastery
Priest Francesca Foerunato Parish Community of St. John
Rev. Robert Forsberg High St Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Jeff Foust Spiritual Life Center, Bentley College
Rev. Beth Freeman United Methodist Church of Green Trails
President Dave Frenchak Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education
Al Fritsch Society of Jesuits. Public Interest, environmental and daily reflection author,
co-founder of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and director of
<earthhealing.info> website.
Rev. Dr. John Gardiner Plymouth Congregational Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Rev. Rudolf Gelsey Unitarian Universalist Minister
Rev. Susan Gilbert Zencka Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Gordon Gladstone
Rev. Mar Anne Glover St. James Christian Church (Disciples of christ), Wilson, North
Carolina
Rev. Sala Nolan Gonzalez Minnister for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, UCC
Rev. Sandra Gourdet Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ
TR Haney Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Rev. Ernest Harrelson St. Michael's Episcopal Church
Rev. Kieran Healy Saint Alberts Priory
Fr. Raymond Helmick S.J Department of Theology, Boston College
Rev. Rich Hendricks Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities
Retired Pastor Martin Hessell
Senior Pastor Luther Holland Congregational Church of Park Manor, Chicago
Rabbi Linda Holtzman Mishkan Shalom
Rev. Anne Homes Ptomoac Association, Little Revier UCC, Virginia
Rev. Margaret Howland South Presbyterian Church of Yonkers, NY
Rev. Douglas Hunt Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility
Rev. C. Nozomi Ikuta Denison Ave. United Church of Christ, Cleveland
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Irelan
Rev. Dr. Bruce Irwin Emmanuel United Church of Christ
Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson Beech Memorial UCC, New Orleans
Rev. Dian Jackson President, Southern Conference, United Church of Christ
Rev. Harold Jacobson Grace Luther Church
Rev. and President Bill Jamieson Micah Institute
Rev. Sally Juarez
Rev. Dr. Sandra Kay Neal McCleary United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Patricia Keel Unity of Berkeley
Rev. Margaret Klapperich Center of Light, Milwaukee
Rev. and Director Johanna Knight New Haven, Connecticut Center of Light
Senior Minister Douglas C. B. Kraft Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, CA
Rev. George Kuhn
Rev. Dn. Mark LaGory St. LukeÕs Episcopal Church
Rev Joachim Lally
Cantor Shoshana Lash
Rev. Simone Locke Center of Light, Charlotte, NC.
Rev. Canon J. Fletcher Lowe Jr. Episcopal Church
Retired Pastor James Lundeen Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Dr. and Interfaith Minister Cynthia Lynch
Dr. and Interfaith Minister Thomas Lynch
Rev. Lilton J. Marks Fellowship UCC, Chesapeake, Virginia
Rev. Thomas R. Mason Retired Minister of the United Church of Christ
Rev. David McClean The Interfaith Union for Progressive Religion
Rev. Melissa McClellan The Progressive Christian Alliance
Rev. Roger McClellan The Progressive Christian Alliance
Rev. Will McGarvey Community Presbyterian Church
Rev. and Dr. Dan Meyer Federation of Christian Ministries
Chaplain David Miller Union College
Rev. Lloyd Miller United Methodist Pastor
Rev. Martin Miller-Hessel
Rev. Donna Moderator, United Church of Chirsit General Synod 27
Executive Director Robert Moore Coalition for Peace Action and Pastor of East
Brunswick Congregational Church
Moderator, United Church of Chirsit General Synod 27 Marvin Morgan
Rev. Paul Murray Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion & Catholic Chaplain, Bard
College
Rev. Ned Nerdin
Rev. Frederick L. Nixon Community of Faith, UCC, Houston, Texas
Fr. Jacek Orzechowski St. Camillus Church
Rev. Jeffery Ott Order of Preachers; Chaplain, Xavier University of LA
Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren
Pastor Stephen Penner First Mennonite Church in Reedley, California
Rev. Sharyl Peterson First Congregational United Church of Christ, CO
Father William Pickard
Rev. Vertie Powers Southern Conference, United Church of Christ
Rev. William Rader United Church of Christ.
Rev. David Randle
Deacon Christa Rathe The Centers of Light
Rev. James Rauner Catholic Deacon, Watervliet, Michigan
Swami Salokyananda Walter Reece
Rev. G.T. Regan Marterra Foundation
Minister Deacon Myra Reichart Center of Light Boston
Rev. Bruce Robbins Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
Rev. W. Hunter Roberts Swedenborgian Church (part of the National Council of
Churches)
Retired Pastor Renate Rose UCC
Rev. Dr. Hugh Sanborn
Field Outreach Minister Jill Sanders Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist
Church
Minister of Congregational Life Russ Savage River Road Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
Retired Minister Leland Scott United Methodist
Rev. Rpse Wright Scott Victory UCC, North Carolina
Rev. Paul Seeback Knox Presbyterian Church
Rev. Ron Serino The First Congregational Church of St. Louis
Rev. Cynthia Shepherd Center of Light, Atlanta
Episcopal Priest Jane Shipp
Rabbi and Past President David Shneyer Ohalah Rabbinic Association
Minister Deacon Samuel Shykofsky Center of Light Chicago
Rev. Linda Silas
Rev. Dr. David Spence FESTAVIVA
Rabbi David Spitz Rabbis for Obama
Rev. Donald Steelberg Mennonite Church USA
Marcia Sterling
George Traub Society of Jesuits. Xavier University
Deacon Minister Linette Treehause Order of Christ Sophia Center
Rev. Paul Treehause Center of Light, Kansas City
Rev. Mitchell Trigger First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Mack and Muriel Tully Jerusalem UCC
Dr. Jane Vie Mary Magdalene Apostle Catholic Community
Rev. Sara Vurek Fairfax Community Church, United Church of Christ
Co-Director Claire Watts Order of Christ Sophia, Centers of Light
Rev. William Weiksnar St. Anthony of Padua Church
Rev. Edgar Welty United Church of Christ.
Rev. Meg Whitakergreen Faithful Fools Street Ministry
Rev. Nancy Wiens
Rev. Douglas Wilson UU Rowe Camp and Conference Center
Rev. Otha Wimbush, Jr. Jerusalem UCC, Palmer Springs, Virginia
Jack Zylman