Black Pastors Urge Congressional Black Caucus Not to Skip Netanyahu Speech in Open Letter
Contact: Ryan Hughes, Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, 224-723-8688, 703-739-5920
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following open letter is released:
The Congressional Black Caucus
2305 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
To the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus,
It is to the great disappointment of the Black Christian Community to discover that Members of the Black Caucus plan to sabotage the speech to Congress of Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
All Americans should welcome with enthusiasm the thoughts of the Israeli Prime Minister, who leads a nation that has fought for its survival in the Middle East every single day since its founding.
Black caucus members walking out on the Prime Minister violate the principles of freedom of our nation and the Biblical principles by which the black church understands their relationship with the descendants of Abraham.
They betray the unique relationship of black Christians, and America in general, to the Jewish people and the state of Israel.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was outspoken in his support of Israel and today there is a street named for him in Jerusalem.
The civil rights movement was animated by imagery from the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. Historian Taylor Branch's biographic trilogy about Dr. King's movement are called "Parting the Waters," "Pillar of Fire," and "At Canaan's Edge."
The words inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia – "Proclaim liberty throughout the land to the inhabitants thereof" – are from the book of Leviticus.
Welcoming the Israeli Prime Minister is by no means partisan. Two prominent Democrat Senators, New Jersey's Robert Menendez, former chairman of the House Foreign Relations committee, and New York's Chuck Schumer, have co-sponsored a bill, which President Obama opposes, to tighten sanctions on Iran if current talks do not succeed by March 24.
The Black Caucus is out of step with black Christians by not welcoming this visitor bringing the "gospel of freedom" from abroad. They should recognize that welcoming Mr. Netanyahu means, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values of our Judeo-Christian heritage."
We, the undersigned African American pastors, call on you, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, to listen to the church and the American people. DO NOT walk out of Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress.
Sincerely,
Star Parker
Founder & President of Urban CURE
Bishop David A. Richey
Gulf Coast Christian Center,
Mobile, Alabama
Pastor Levon Yuille
The Bible Church
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Congressional District of Representative John Conyers
Pastor Cecil Blye
More Grace Ministries
Louisville, Kentucky
Pastor Dexter D. Sanders
Rock Center for Transformation
Orlando, Florida 32804
Congressional District of Corrine Brown
Rev. Ralph Chittams, Sr.
Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church
District Heights, Maryland
Pastor Carlton Smith
Antioch Fellowship Assembly
Cleveland, Ohio
Congressional District of Representative Marcia Fudge
Pastor Owen Alston
Harmony Ministries
Lakehurst, New Jersey 08733
Pastor Stephen Broden
Fairpark Bible Fellowship Church
Dallas, Texas
Congressional District of Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson
Pastor Harvey Burnett
New Bethel COGIC
Peoria, Illinois
Pastor Corey Tabor
Full Life Community Church
Pflugerville, Texas
Pastor James David Manning
ATLAH World Missionary Church
New York City
Congressional District of Representative Charles Rangel
Pastor Claude May
Oasis of Hope Christian Church
Detroit, Michigan
Congressional District of John Conyers
Pastor Bruce Rivers
CURENET Clergy Council Member
Los Banos, California
www.urbancure.org/mbarticle.asp?id=584&title=Black-Ministers-Welcome-PM-Netanyahu-to-Congress