The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retired former senior minister of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, told the Hampton Roads Daily Press that “Jews” were keeping him from President Obama. 

Wright told the paper:

"Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office. ...”

Rev. Wright was once President Obama’s pastor.  The president resigned his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ after Rev, Wright and others made inflammatory comments to the media.  Some of those comments were certainly taken out of context but Rev. Wright’s actions in 2008 made it impossible for then-Senator Obama to remain a member of Trinity.   

These remarks today from Rev. Wright are despicable and anti-Semitic.  I would sincerely hope that the national officers of the United Church of Christ will condemn Rev. Wright’s words in the strongest possible language. 

(Update:  The Rev. John Thomas, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, issued the following statement earlier today - before this post first went up - in response to Rev. Wright's remarks:

"The General Synod of the United Church of Christ has consistently called on its members to speak and act in ways that honor God's enduring covenant with the Jewish people, that nurture deep relationships with the Jewish community, and that recognize how careless readings of our sacred texts, our own use of language, and the perpetuation of negative stereotypes can lend support to persistent anti-Semitism in our culture. Years of rich and thoughtful Jewish-Christian dialogue locally, regionally, and nationally has taught us much about how we speak to and about one another with respect even in the midst of disagreement. I celebrate how far we have come in overcoming the deep prejudices and hurtful rhetoric of the past and call the church to on-going vigilance against anything that diminishes or caricatures our Jewish sisters and brothers. It is true that the General Synod and I have sometimes differed sharply with some Jewish organizations over the policies of the state of Israel, its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and the route of the Separation Barrier even as we share a broad vision of secure and recognized states for both Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in peace. But that important prophetic witness, no matter how difficult for our Jewish partners, will be effective only within the context of disciplined speech and behavior that honors the broader Jewish community.")

The United Church of Christ has a long history of respect, partnership and dialogue with U.S. Jewish communities.  I can say safely that Rev. Wright’s words do not reflect the feelings of the people of the United Church of Christ. 

Unfortunately, in recent years tension has developed between the UCC and the Jewish community over Israeli policies that have stripped the Palestinian people of their basic human rights.  The debate over how to achieve peace in that region of the world, however, does not excuse Rev. Wright’s words concerning his relationship with the president.     

My views on this issue are my own – I offer them from the perspective of an ordained minister in the UCC who respects Trinity UCC and their ministries - and do not reflect any position taken by the national offices of the United Church of Christ.