Poll on race stresses need for ‘sacred conversations’

Poll on race stresses need for ‘sacred conversations’

Source: Dallas Baptist Standard - Dallas, TX, USA

Author:

Date: 14 August, 2008

A recent New York Times/CBS News poll revealing deep national divisions along racial lines is an urgent reminder of the need for “sacred conversations on race,” the head of the National Council of Churches said …

The call for sermons on race was issued earlier this year by John H. Thomas, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, and promptly endorsed by Kinnamon and other church leaders. Thomas made the call as church leaders gathered on the steps of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and defended Jeremiah Wright, then the target of a storm of criticism for remarks deemed unpatriotic and radical by critics.

Thomas, other ecumenical leaders ask Congress for 'compassionate' federal budget

Thomas, other ecumenical leaders ask Congress for 'compassionate' federal budget
United Church News: 02-19-2007

"Leaders of five Christian denominations, including the UCC, sent a letter on Feb. 15 to all members of the U.S. Congress, calling for a compassionate and just federal budget in 2008."

UCC President to Speak at Gay Megachurch

UCC President to Speak at Gay Megachurch
Gay Religion: news of religion and GLBT folks: 2 February, 2007

The president of the largest Christian denomination to endorse gay marriage will officially welcome a Dallas gay megachurch as a member Sunday. The Rev. John H. Thomas of the United Church of Christ will be the first leader of a mainline denomination to address a predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregation when he preaches at the Cathedral of Hope, said The Rev. Jo Hudson, the cathedral's rector and senior pastor. The cathedral, which claims 4,300 members and will be the fourth-largest in the UCC, decided to join last year after the denomination endorsed gay marriage in 2005.

UCC president to speak at Cathedral of Hope

UCC president to speak at Cathedral of Hope
KTRE-TV: 01-31-2007

"United Church of Christ will officially welcome Dallas' Cathedral of Hope into its fold on Sunday.

"The Reverend John H. Thomas will do the honors. The U-C-C president will preach at both morning services at the gay Dallas megachurch. He'll also participate in an afternoon induction service at the 43-hundred member church.

"The cathedral becomes the denomination's fourth largest church. It decided to affiliate with the U-C-C last year after the denomination's decision in 2005 to endorse gay marriage. It's the largest Christian denomination to do so."

Churches oppose troop surge in Iraq

Churches oppose troop surge in Iraq

(The Christian Century: 01-29-2007)

“When King "broke his silence" about the Vietnam War 40 years ago at the Riverside Church in New York City, said John H. Thomas, the top official of the United Church of Christ, the black Baptist minister warned that "procrastination is the thief of time" and "too late" is the pathetic excuse of remnant civilizations.”