Sharpton Kicks Off Black Church Summit

By Keith Boykin, in spirituality
Saturday, January 21 2006, 2:15AM

In a fiery speech on Friday, the Rev. Al Sharpton sharply criticized black churches that have preached bigotry against their gay and lesbian members and called on churches to embrace those members. Speaking at a Baptist church in Atlanta, Sharpton said, "It's not a question of bringing the issue of the gay and lesbian community to the church. It's about having an open discussion because they're already there. All of us know that this is nothing new. The only thing new is to have an open discussion on how we deal with it."

Sharpton's remarks were delivered on the second day of a three-day black church summit put on by the National Black Justice Coalition. Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Sharpton described two types of leaders. "There are those that are thermometers that read the temperature in the room," he said. "And then there are those that are thermostats that change the temperature in the room. I come to tell you to be thermostats. Turn the heat up in the black church. Make these people sweat until we open the doors of dialogue for everybody."

Encourages Black Gays and Lesbians to Be Visible

During a panel discussion following his speech, Sharpton said that many black churches are "not against gays and lesbians" but instead "they're against gays and lesbians who are open and proud of who they are." He said that gays and lesbians are in the black churches and "not just in the choir," but in leadership positions and in the pulpit also.

Rev. Kenneth Samuel, pastor of Victory Church in Stone Mountain, echoed Sharpton's comment, arguing that there were too many black gays and lesbians in church who "sit there and take it" week after week. He said "pastors pay attention to money and members" and suggested that black gay and lesbian church members could influence their churches with both.

Blames Homophobia For 2004 Election Results

Sharpton, a former Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, criticized some black churches for their role in the 2004 election, explaining that right wing outsiders "came in and invaded the black church with homophobia." He argued that the religious right were not really concerned about same-sex marriage. They were concerned about the "same president" in office, he said. "They couldn't come to black churches to talk about the war, about health care, about poverty. So they did what they always do and reached for the bigotry against gay and lesbian people."

Calling the 2004 election tactics an "insult to our intelligence," Sharpton said the religious right "should not be allowed to play this game" in the future. "If we had not been fooled, maybe some of the states that went red would not have gone red."

Sharpton also spoke of the danger in playing wedge politics with basic rights. Once you allow the conservative right to define morality, "they will start with the gays but they will end with everybody else," he said, adding that "If you give the Pat Robertsons of the world the theological right to condemn some, then you give them the right to condemn others."

Expects Disagreement

"There will be those who will be critical of us meeting here today," said Sharpton, "and that's fine, because everything that is of worth is going to have people that will react." But Sharpton was resolute in supporting the cause. "I encourage all of you, no matter how much there may be opposition...always remember there will never be a touchdown without a tackle. Nobody runs after you unless you got the ball."

Rev. Timothy McDonald, pastor of the First Iconium Baptist Church that hosted the summit, agreed. He called the event a "learning experience" and said "the net has been cast out there." But he also acknowledged the opposition. "Has it been rejected by some? Absolutely. Have we gotten some nasty calls here? Yes. Have I received some nasty calls? Yes. Do I have marks in my body? Absolutely, but I think that Jesus had marks and I think Jesus took some very unpopular stands."

Sharpton too said he had gotten resistance from his anti-homophobia stance but suggested that was par for the course as a leader. "You get resistance from the church when you raise an offering," he said, suggesting that resistance was a natural reaction to leadership. But he said the objective of the summit and subsequent discussions to follow was "to stop the isolation and marginalization of the gay and lesbian community in the black church."

Hope For The Future

Rev. Sharpton participated in several events throughout the day, including a keynote address, a press conference and a panel discussion on ways to change the black church. In a personal moment during his keynote, Sharpton revealed that a member of his family is gay, but he did not identify the person. "Imagine the social schizophrenia" of being a black gay woman, he said. He also challenged the notion that same-sex marriage would threaten so-called heterosexual marriage. "Adultery broke up more marriages than gays did," he said.

Sharpton was most passionate in encouraging the black church not to adopt a narrow vision of justice. "You cannot talk about civil rights and then limit who you want to be part of that civil movement," he said. He suggested that some religious leaders were more concerned about getting the approval of their congregations than about the approval of God.

Although Sharpton challenged the black church to do more, he also challenged the gay and lesbian community to do its part. During the press conference, Sharpton blamed homophobia for the black community's slow response to the AIDS epidemic. But he also challenged some in the gay and lesbian community to broaden their agenda beyond a single issue. "The way you build coalitions is on mutual interest," he said.

The event was attended by about 150 clergy and leaders in the community and was covered by The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press and many other media outlets.

For more information about the Sharpton speech, visit:

Comments (21) reveal

Comments conceal

Harry
January 21 2006, 3:12AM

Thats why I like Al Sharpton!

ashon
January 21 2006, 6:31AM

yeah...sharpton was good...i realized that i was the only one that had a hat on in the church...i keep forgetting about stuff like that...lol

it's been a nice couple of days...i'm really looking forward to hearing Flunder today though...

K.
January 21 2006, 9:34AM

Is this event open to the public? Where/What time? I'm in ATL and would like to attend...thans for any information offered.

Mel Smith
January 21 2006, 1:29PM

The best way to respect our history is to have tolerance and to respect the human differences within all of us. We let white Christian bigots brainwash us into ostracizing black homosexual people, thus further dividing our communities. They also brainwashed us into creating "light-skined, darked-skin" divisions within our communities. Black people should never forget that white 'Christian' bigots also used the bible to justify oppressing our ancestors. Some of the anti gay ministers are closeted bisexual and homosexual ministers who do not want to change their "down low" lives. Therefore, they attack gay rights activists for being honest human beings. Many of these individuals have brainwash and put a hoax on the REAL heterosexual people in our communities, informing them about how they "have changed their sexual orientation and other childish ignorance about how people can change their sexuality. White male Christian bigots have done a great job helping to divide our communities. Most importantly, they have turned God into some kind of a monster who agrees with them and their prejudices. They have done an excellent job by dividing our communities and many of us are too blind and too MONEY HUNGRY to stop it.

Keepin' it real
January 21 2006, 11:32PM

I read Rev. Shapton's comments he made during the speech. The english language is interesting. God gave it the ability to articulate what we want to say without offending. That is important! If you really read what he said, it was NOT to approve the gay/lesbian lifestyle, but to NOT be so "judgemental" if you will against it because surely there are other fishes to fry in so many words. This sin is no bigger than any other. I'm sure you agree.

He was saying that trying to finally understand those who embrace this lifestyle is the order of the day. Not to continue to make it a closet issue.

Please understand that according to the bible--HOMOSEXUALITY is what we can call "a prophetic indicator!" The bible says..."as it was in the days of sodom & gommorah, so it will be in the last days!" Meaning that allllll kinds of things will be hapinning in the "last days" if you will. In Adam's seed when we were born the first time was alllllllllll & every type of sin imaginable and unimaganable. Homosexuality is no exception. When they bit the fruit, they partook it says of the tree of GOOD ANNNDDDD EVIL! This is why perhaps people feel they were "BORN LIKE THAT" I'm here to tell you...some were. JUST BE BORN-AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Do we embrace this sin & lifestyle for communication, healing and understanding concerning those in our churches? APSOLUTELY! Do we embrace it as a social/biblical exceptance in society as if it is mortally good & right? Of course not! In Jesus' blood is deliverance for all. This lifestyle is certainly no exception! Keepin' it real! www.keepinitreal.squarespace.com (new blogger on this site) Keep up the informative work Mr. Boykin. Your site is very educational. Ms. Roland

Mel Smith
January 22 2006, 12:31AM

Ms. Roland, do you remember or do you care to remember that people had used the bible to justify discrimination against black people? Do you actually think our ancestors would respect the fact that some of us are now imitating what was done to them to people in our own communities? Do you know anything about women rights and how people also used the bible to oppress women? Do you understand or do you care to understand that being honest about our sexuality actually helps make our communities much stronger? Most importantly, Ms. Roland, homophobia helps contribute to the decline in our communities because SOME gay people listen to you, become brainwash by your beliefs, marry members of the opposite sex, and destroy families by not being honest with themselves and their families. Jesus actually said nothing about homosexuality and many of today's pro war and anti gay bigots actually do not follow Jesus teachings. Individuals speaking about Jesus and people who actually follow his true teachings are different.

Laura
January 22 2006, 5:08AM

" Of course not! In Jesus' blood is deliverance for all."

why are christians so bloodthirsty?

don't you get enough every first sunday?

Ms. Roland
January 22 2006, 8:34AM

Mr. Smith: Thank you for your response. I am most aware of how the bible has been used to support racism, ect. As I come to the forefront, this will be one of the major issues I deal with. People and slavemasters if you will used the bible to justify lots of stuff that wrong! All this will be fixed in the Kingdom! Religion must take a backseat now! That might surprise you to hear that. That's what's messed us up now. Not knowing who we are as a people. Yes if you are saying that we as "african americans have suffered grave injustices in the name of the bible, church, christianity, Jesus and any other religious term for justification--by all means this is a fact. That's why sex, lies and video tapes--meaning stuff that destroys our souls must be properly exposed and take a back seat to truth. As a people, we are soooo damaged. As a result we have in the name of love sought love however it felt decent to give or recieve.

Certain truths have to surface to get to the core of realities. Would you encourage your niece or child or sibling to go steal for a living? NO! Would you encourage the same to go kill someone? No! Jesus didn't mention HOMOSEXUALITY not because it's not wrong or an issue. He was too busy trying to impress his own people to except Him and get us to be prepared for the coming of the Kingdom of God here on Earth.

Some things are hard to mustard and yes do hurt. Thank God for grace & mercy! I am by no means if you read condenming people,ect. You've heard it before...it's the lifestyle that must be corrected. I know apparently many people who feel the way you do. I'm in ministry. We are all loved by the Creator. It's time though to build character according to biblical laws NOT laws that we have set up. That's why we are in the condition we as people are in now. I have much to say about this but we'll get there. Thanks for your response. Here's to the future of The Coming of the Kingdom of God here on Earth! It is coming full speed ahead. Fortunately, black people will play a major part in the movie. Awesome. Keep logging onto my blog for more details:-)

cmoney
January 22 2006, 10:16AM

If you put a dime in the collection plate today, you are part of the problem. Despite all their rhetoric, money talks and you know what walks. Black church culture is one of addiction to money, skirt chasing, petty personality disputes and excess materialism. As much as they criticize our "lifestyle", they have made some "lifestyle" choices that need to be examined. Overpaid preachers leeching off of tithing parishioners who have jacked up credit because they can't pay their own bills. People calling us sinners as they womanize and with half the congregation. We really need to examine why we continue to patronize preachers, churches and faiths that hate us and have no moral ground upon which to judge anybody a "sinner". I see right through them, I don't need them and I'm doing quite well as an "infidel", thank you very much.

Texas76132
January 22 2006, 2:56PM

cmoney said:

Black church culture is one of addiction to money, skirt chasing, petty personality disputes and excess materialism. As much as they criticize our "lifestyle", they have made some "lifestyle" choices that need to be examined. .... We really need to examine why we continue to patronize preachers, churches and faiths that hate us and have no moral ground upon which to judge anybody a "sinner". I see right through them, I don't need them and I'm doing quite well as an "infidel", thank you very much.
------
True. True. True. I could not have said it any better.

The sooner we stop begging these hypocrites to accept us, the sooner they will respect us. We all know how much Black churches love money and the limelight. That will be their downfall because morals and doing the right thing have taken a backseat to greed and a " I got mine attitude". There is nothing wrong with starting Black MCC type churches. However, if you feel the need to have the acceptance and approval from them to feel like a whole person, that's your perogative. But, if you hand your power and money over to people on a silver platter that you know can't stand you and make it known every chance they get, don't complain when they take it all and leave you standing there with nothing.

I'm sorry, but I blame the modern civil rights era (post MLK) for the overwhelming majority and problems facing Black America today. Their constant need to be accepted by all things White has destroyed the pride of Black Americans en massee. Before they came along, Black communities had strong schools, businesses, colleges, baseball teams, etc. I'm not saying that things were perfect, but at least they a certain pride and self respect as a people that is sorely missing today. After all, MLK was fighting for equal rights, not integration. He never made us feel bad or "less than" a human being for being born Black, nor did he act as if the answer to our problems was to glue ourselves to White people. He never told us or suggested that we give up anything to be accepted by them. If he did, show me and I will apologize. We have too many Black "leaders" who should be on psychiatrist couches solving their issues instead of being in positions of power encouraging people to follow them. Just look at the mess they have created for us. Sometimes I think they secretly wish they were White. It has to be they only reason why they do the things they do. Just look at the situation in suburban Atlanta. How can a school that excels in everything be "too Black?" What! There is a movement to change the attendance zones to make the school more White, thus relegating Blacks to second class status. Shame on those Black leaders for being at the forefront of this! That mentality does nothing to help Black people feel proud of their ethnicity. Do they always have to be attached to White people for everything? I think these "if it's too Black, it's not good for Blacks" civil rights leaders we currently have are slowly killing our spirits as Black people. I'm not a hater, racist or segregationist, I'm only saying what is obvious to me. Many of our Black leaders have self -hate issues. I just hope us gays don't go down that same road. There is nothing wrong with being Black, gay and proud without the need to compare yourself to other races the way many of our Black heterosexual counterparts do.

marc
January 22 2006, 7:01PM

I think GOD that there is only one GOD that can judge. People spend most of their time looking at the differences that we all have, creating judgemental stero-types and viewpoints. For those to think that it is right to oppress another human being, who breathes and hurts like you makes saddens me. I believe GOD cries his tears daily at the way we treat each other. I am happy that Al Sharpton speaks out pretaining to the issues that the LGBT community deals with. But we all need to have a voice in this movement. We all need to speak out on this social problem that the opressors have created. Someone told me a long time ago that a straight man can't speak on what a gay man feels. If you are part of the LGBT community speak out and create action. This is how all social movements start to evolve.

Peace, Love and Equality

Laura
January 23 2006, 12:16AM

"you've heard it before...it's the lifestyle that must be corrected. "

omg, that is priceless.

certianly you've heard THIS before, or are you one of those christians who just skips over Matthew 7.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

fix your own ignorance-based lifestyle first, then you'll be in a much better spot to run around worrying about how somebody else lives.

jay-one-shot
January 23 2006, 4:56AM

And to think Keith, we had to beg you to cover Sharpton in the 2004 election.

landy
January 23 2006, 6:44PM

We keep flocking back to the church no matter how much money-grabbin' and tail-chasin' we witness--in efforts to fulfill our spiritual needs.

So that we don't get taken, everytime, know that everybody in church ain't saved nor delivered.

I agree with TEXAS76132, powerful leaders have messed up a many of our mentalities and subsequent actions & fortunes--with the "begging to be accepted mentalities." Too much of our dignity and self-respect is stripped.

Nevertheless, seeking to offer praises & thanksgivings, seeking encouragement & fulfillment, we flock.

I'd rather not be in the midst of all the shenanigans. But I flock...tryin' to "get my praise on" within the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). Given the abounding hypocrisy and out-right wrong doings, sometimes I wish I could be as happy as CMONEY and be an "infidel". But that's not me, even when unable to go to my regular church, "I'm gonna find me a place to worship!"

Ms. Roland
January 23 2006, 7:43PM

Good for you Landy! Good for you! Yeah...we got maaaajoooorrrr issues. Who? Black America. Log onto my site for more info. It's all a conspiracy! This is another story. Also, I made a comment in the entry above this one bout the Powerful woman of God who attended that's pastoring. Since you attend church it seems, you may appreciate what I said. Thanks! Ms. Roland

walter armstrong
January 24 2006, 12:14PM

I am an editor at the website THE BODY (thebody.com), which is one of the leading sites for HIV information and empowerment.
We are launching a new African-American Resource Center, and I was wondering if any of you would like to write a piece about your experience at the summit?
contact me at
walterarmstrong3@earthlink.net

Jason
January 25 2006, 1:12PM

Here is my take on "God" spirituality and homosexuality. I believe that God created us all out of love. I also believe that in return all he wants from us is to love him and love one another. There should never be a boundary on love. If two people are in love whether it be man and man or woman and woman or a woman and a man, it should always be accepted and right. Love is love. We as humans should measure our lives in love and live in love by extending ourselves to each other with kindness. Love should be the main focus of our society and world. And to be honest I truly believe that if there is real love, that comes from the heart, God is ok with that. If there is love nothing else matters.

joaquin
January 25 2006, 2:22PM

What a wonderfully positive article that reflects growth for our leaders and our community as a whole...I applaud Rev. Timothy Mc Donald for holding the forum...He is a great part of the Concerned Black Clergy in Atlanta (so is my mother--Apostle YaQar of Alpha and Omega HIV/AIDS Health Initiative International, Inc.--whose influence I hope made some difference for the choices of Rev. Mc Donald when he was trying to decide whether to have the summit at Iconium.) I hope more Atlanta churches get the message to be more humanely minded because we are all Divine. This article reminds me of a quote from the great activist, author, mentor, sister, and mother--Audre Lorde..."When I dare to be powerful--to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." I am glad that Sharpton challenges us to step out and continue to embrace the trauma of being convicted to follow our lives in a trusting and open way eventhough life can be difficult...Let's continue to be committed to "living" even when we experience fear. Love to love.

J. Gregory Griffin
January 25 2006, 4:31PM

Thanks for the life line!... so nice and thoughtful of you to share your prospective of the meeting in atlanta with persons like myself who was not in attendance. Laurels and Bay Leaves to You!

denise
January 26 2006, 10:07PM

Go Texas!!!!!!

I'm sick of it too. If We ain't chasing White folk to love Us...We chasing heathens, liars and hypocrites.
As much as I pray, and as much as I love and trust in God... I refuse to support the church until the church comes correct - the Black Church that is.

The Black Church is estimated at garnering $60 Billion dollars a year off of Black folk (in the mind of the sick and infirmed Po' folk); and it is probably more.... besides that, it has prostituted and pimped itself out for money...under the guise of helping the poor, dying communities...where the church doors are closed Sunday to Sunday.

Y'all know that if you wanna find some gay folk go to church and start at the preacher... if you want to find some fornicators go to church and start with the preacher... if you want to find some liars and thieves go to church.

What's wrong with Us? If you know your bible and have read your bible - then get on your damn knees, get in a closet, rather yet, get your damn friends, your lover... pray together, take up collections and save them, start a community project... do something, but please let's for once get off Our knees and stop begging.

Where is Your Faith?

denise
January 26 2006, 10:11PM

P.S.
As I have stated a million times, nothing is going to make me hate on folk like Al, and Jesse and Farrakhan... how can you hate on folk (and We do it just to make others like Us) who got your back, even when your shit is stupid and/or silly.

They should tire of Us berating them, and running to them and asking for them to give voice to Our shit.... but I digress.

Again, go Texas!