Christian Ethics Today A Journal of Christian Ethics Volume 22, Number 1 Aggregate Issue 92 Winter 2014

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23

ARTICLES Pope Francis and The Joy of The Gospel Walter B. Shurden...... 2

Evangelicals and Climate Change Charles Redfern...... 5

Black Baptists and Same Sex Marriage Aaron Douglas Weaver...... 9

The Re-assassination of MLK Wendell Griffin...... 14

Sexual Predators Beware! Rita Hoyt Jenkins...... 17

Public Schools are not Religion Free Zones J. Brent Walker...... 20

Marriage and Contraception Nathan C. Walker...... 21

A “Duck Call” For All J. Randall O’Brien...... 22

God as Sister, God and Sister Martin E. Marty...... 23

BOOK REVIEWS The Early Church on Killing, by Ron Sider Reviewed by Tony Campolo....24

By the Rivers of Water, by Erskine Clarke Reviewed by Darold Morgan....25

VERSE Bringing Transcendence in Play James A. Langley...... 27

KUDZU by Doug Marlette Pope Francis and The Joy of the Gospel By Walter B. Shurden

mazon gives it five stars! I think Francis’ intent could not be more Persons, and the Lay Faithful. Surely Ait may be the most important clear or upfront: “In this Exhortation his primary target was the entire religious book of 2013, but I did not I wish to encourage the Christian Church he leads. And while being see it make any of the “Best Religious faithful to embark upon a new cautious about reading non-Catholic Books of 2013” lists. chapter of evangelization marked by biases into the words of Francis, I It is The Joy of the Gospel: this joy [of the gospel], while point- thought Francis had some rather EVANGELII GAUDIUM, written ing out new paths for the Church’s specific Catholic targets in mind. by Pope Francis I. With this, his first journey in years to come.”2 This One of those targets appeared to be Apostolic Exhortation delivered on “Exhortation” from this happy Pope those bishops and priests who would November 24, 2013, Francis I, like is about the “joy of the gospel.” It deny the Eucharist to politicians and John XXIII a half century before him, is about the “joy of the gospel” that leaders whose opinions on social threw open the windows to let some provides the motivation for evange- issues, such as abortion, differed fresh air into the Roman Catholic lism, for missions, and for outreach with their own. Francis said, “The Church. Protestants and all religion- to all people, especially to the poor. It Eucharist, although it is the fullness ists and non-religionists would profit is about the primacy and joy of grace of sacramental life, is not a prize for from inhaling some of this invigorat- that precedes what Francis calls evan- the perfect but a powerful medicine ing air. gelization. This is primarily a work of and nourishment for the weak . . . Shortly after being elected the missiology. Do not listen to anyone Frequently, we act as arbiters of grace 266th Pope, the former Jorge Mario who tells you differently. rather than its facilitators. But the Bergoglio jested with the Cardinals, The document has an introduc- Church is not a tollhouse; it is the “May God forgive you for what you house of the Father, where there is have done.” If The Joy of the Gospel is a place for everyone, with all their a signpost of where he wants to take This “Exhortation” from this problems.”3 the Catholic Church, the Cardinals happy Pope is about the “joy But I suspect that he had a much will need no forgiveness. wider audience in mind than the This warm, joyous, biblical, pas- of the gospel.” Catholic Church alone. His genuine toral, relevant, prophetic, and, at ecumenical embrace is reflected in times, personal statement has been paragraph 201 where he voices his egregiously mischaracterized by the tion and five chapters. Chapter 1 of “trust” in “all Christians” to accept his public media and pundits such as this missionary essay is entitled The renewed call to “spiritual conversion, . This is not a docu- Church’s Missionary Transformation, the intensity of the love of God and ment whose primary purpose is to chapter 2 is Amid the Crisis of neighbor, zeal for justice and peace, assail Wall Street. However, with its Communal Commitment, chapter [and] the Gospel meaning of the comprehensive description of evan- 3, a chapter on preaching from one poor and of .” While he cer- gelization, it certainly does not give who is not an exceptional preacher, is tainly did not direct this Exhortation unregulated capitalism The Proclamation of the Gospel, and explicitly toward “followers of non- a pass. One certainly understands Chapter 4 is The Social Dimension Christian religions,” Muslims, and all why it gives extreme conservatives of Evangelization. Chapter 4 is the “non-Christians,”4 Francis doubtless theological and economic reflux. But chapter that has drawn the most criti- will be pleased if these groups peek contrary to what you may have heard cism, and one suspects that it is the over his shoulder and sense his open- or read regarding the document, you only chapter that the most virulent ness. Moreover, one cannot doubt need to hear Francis clearly say that critics have read, caring little for the that Francis would be especially “this Exhortation is not a social docu- central theological theme of Pope pleased if heads of state and world ment.”1 Surely he must have known Francis. Chapter 5, containing a governmental leaders would heed his that some would interpret it precisely Pentecostal echo, is entitled “Spirit- words on the social dimensions of the as a “social” document, and he obvi- Filled Evangelizers.” gospel. Again, however, Francis is pri- ously did not care. He did not care To whom did Francis address this marily issuing a wide-ranging spiritual because he deeply believes that the Exhortation? Part of the long and call for Christians to evangelize, and “social” is a vital part of Christian awkward title identifies his audience: this includes the transformation of evangelization. To the Bishops, Clergy, Consecrated structures as well as persons.

2 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY The primary theme: the joy of unintentionally dismisses all the slick for tenderness and openness to the the Gospel: But what does Francis techniques and clever strategies in most marginalized among us. actually say in the document? He evangelism textbooks that have come Decentralization and theologi- repeats many of the themes that the from Christian publishers. He says, cal humility within the Catholic public media have picked up and “ . . . anyone who has truly experi- Church: Because he is conscious of spread abroad about him, especially enced God’s saving love does not need “the need to promote a sound `decen- his concern for the poor and the much time or lengthy training to go tralization” in the Church,” Francis lowly. But here you learn that his out and proclaim that love.”11 To be does not believe that “the papal mag- concern for the poor, his motivation sure, this proclamation is not simply isterium should be expected to offer a for lifting the lowly, comes deeply a word we speak. “An evangelizing definitive or complete word on every from his faith. Writing this essay as community gets involved by word and question which affects the Church a pastoral theologian, not a social deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges and the world.” “It is not advisable,” welfare worker, Francis has one over- distances, it is willing to abase itself if he says, “for the Pope to take the place arching and general theme in this necessary and it embraces human life, of local Bishops in the discernment of particular document. It is a theme touching the suffering flesh of Christ every issue which arises in their terri- that the media has not discerned. This in others. Evangelizers thus take on tory.”15 “Excessive centralization,” he theme, as stated above, is that IT IS the `smell of the sheep.’”12 repeats, “rather than proving helpful, JOY, THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL, While the overarching theme is complicates the Church’s life and her THAT CREATES A MISSIONARY abundantly clear, one cannot help but missionary outreach.”16 AND EVANGELIZING CHURCH. notice recurring secondary themes. Along with decentralization, Francis Where there is no joy, where spiri- There are many subthemes one can calls for the Church to rediscover tual ardor has evaporated, there is no identify. Here are four that caught my some theological humility. He speaks reaching out by the church.5 attention. often of the need for the church itself Because “there are Christians whose Inclusion, Not Exclusion: This to be evangelized. “The Church is lives seem like Lent without Easter,”6 Pope has open arms, and he wants a herself a missionary disciple; she needs Francis invites all Christians, with Church with open doors. Speaking to grow in her interpretation of the some Baptist sounding language, “to revealed word and in her understand- a renewed personal encounter with ing of truth.” The social sciences, Jesus Christ or at least an openness to Where there is no joy, philosophy, theology and pastoral 7 letting him encounter them.” When where spiritual ardor has practice “can enable the Church to we encounter or have a renewed grow.” He acknowledges that the call encounter with God’s love, “we are evaporated, there is no for theological growth and open- liberated from our narrowness and reaching out by the church. ness will cause consternation among self-absorption.” And “here we find some. He says, “For those who long the source and inspiration of all our for a monolithic body of doctrine efforts at evangelization. For if we of his invitation to “all Christians” guarded by all and leaving no room have received the love which restores to a renewed personal encounter for nuance, this might appear as unde- meaning to our lives, how can we fail with Christ, Francis says, “No one sirable and leading to confusion.” And to share that love with others?”8 should think that this invitation is not then he adds, “But in fact such variety Again, because “the joy of the gos- meant for him or her, `since no one is serves to bring out and develop differ- pel” is the source of authentic fulfill- excluded from the joy of the Lord.’”13 ent facets of the inexhaustible riches of ment, “an evangelizer must never look Reflecting on the mission of the the Gospel.”17 like someone who has just come back Church, Francis says, “. . . it is vitally Obsession with Secondary Issues: from a funeral.”9 In the pages of his important for the Church today to go In one of the most intriguing sec- Exhortation Francis will not let go of forth and preach the Gospel to all: to tions of his Exhortation, Francis calls the idea that the joy of evangelizing is all places, on all occasions, without the Church back to “the heart of the coupled with our personal encounter hesitation, reluctance or fear,” because Gospel.” When the Church puts “all with the Holy. “The joy of evan- “The joy of the Gospel is for all peo- things in a missionary key,” second- gelizing always arises from grateful ple: no one can be excluded.”14 ary aspects of the “Church’s moral remembrance: it is a grace which we While the positive theme of inclu- teaching” must be kept “secondary.” constantly need to implore. The apos- sivity is affirmed in many ways, the Reaching back to the Second Vatican tles never forgot the moment when more negative theme of exclusivity is Council, he argues that there exists Jesus touched their hearts: `It was soundly rejected throughout the doc- a “hierarchy of truths,” varying in about four o’clock in the afternoon’ ument. I came away from my reading their relation to the foundation of (Jn 1:39).”10 believing that Francis was strongly the Christian faith. “This holds true,” With a single sentence, Francis suggesting that the Church find room he says, “as much for the dogmas of

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 3 faith as for the whole corpus of the nomically disenfranchised. “I want precedents, Francis reminds that the Church’s teaching, including her a Church which is poor and for the key criterion of authentic ministry as moral teaching.” poor,” he exclaims.19 suggested by the apostles to Paul was Francis never identifies the “sec- A privatized gospel truncates the concern for the poor (Gal 2:10). ondary” issues or the lesser truths gospel. While earlier in the statement While theologically based, solidar- within the hierarchy of truths. But Francis calls for a highly personal and ity with the poor for Pope Francis a Protestant cannot but wonder, joyous individual faith, in chapter has significant economic implica- surely Catholics as well, that the Pope four he warns “that the Gospel is not tions. Society in general is sickened may be speaking of homosexual- merely about our personal relation- and weakened by poverty. Welfare ity, abortion, and other hot-button ship with God.”20 An authentic faith, projects are temporary fixes. “As long moral issues. Whatever specifics he he contends, is never comfortable or as the problems of the poor are not has in mind, he calls for the church completely personal, but is always radically resolved by rejecting the to preach the gospel with “a fitting involved in “a deep desire to change absolute autonomy of markets and sense of proportion.” If a parish priest the world, to transmit values, to financial speculation and by attacking speaks within a year about temper- leave this earth somehow better than the structural causes of inequality, no ance far more than justice or char- we found it.”21 Because the task of solution will be found for the world’s ity, an imbalance results. “The same Christian evangelization demands problems. Inequality is the root of thing happens,” Francis said, “when the “integral promotion of each social ills.”25 we speak more about law than about human being,” “it is no longer pos- Some of the “secondary” themes grace, more about the Church than sible to claim that religion should be within the “Exhortation” are unapolo- about Christ, more about the Pope restricted to the private sphere and getically Catholic. After all, this is than about God’s word.” that it exists only to prepare souls for a Catholic Pope writing. A concern So what is the heart of the Gospel? heaven.”22 for the unborn, the centrality of the It is “the beauty of the saving love of Eucharist, a disdain for consumerism God made manifest in Jesus Christ.” and individualism, and the limited “Before all else, the Gospel invites us It is no longer possible to role of women are all here. Regarding to respond to the God of love who claim that religion should the latter, one senses a strong support saves us, to see God in others and to for women. I got the impression--- go forth from ourselves to seek the be restricted to the private and it is only an impression---that if good of others.” All other virtues sphere and that it exists only the Catholic environment were but are in the service of our response a bit more open, this Pope would to God’s love. If this invitation to to prepare souls for heaven. push for far more freedom for women God’s love “does not radiate force- within the Church. One hopes that fully and attractively, the edifice of Francis himself will push on this the Church’s moral teaching risks Christian evangelization entails issue. becoming a house of cards, and this is “working to eliminate the structural While a Catholic document from our greatest risk. It would mean that causes of poverty.”23 And this work a Catholic Pope, this is a statement it is not the Gospel which is being on behalf of the poor is theologi- from which all Christians can receive preached, but certain doctrinal or cally rooted; it does not originate in inspiration and courage. Its ethical moral points based on specific ideo- culture, sociology, politics or phi- concerns, among others, will chal- logical options.”18 losophy. “It presumes the creation lenge all of us. Pray for long life for The poor: Francis chose his papal of a new mindset which thinks in this Pope. ■ name with deliberation and intent. terms of community and the priority He himself has a “hierarchy” of ethi- of the life of all over the appropria- Walter B. Shurden is Minister at Large, cal concerns, and at the top of those tion of goods by a few.”24 Drenching Mercer University concerns are the poor and the eco- his concern for the poor in biblical

Footnotes and bibliography for articles in this issue can be found on the web version located at www.christianethicstoday.com

4 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY Is The National Association of Evangelicals Wandering in the Darkness? By Charles Redfern

t seems the regal gentleman has ful typhoons.8 Remember Katharine spearheaded the drive, to write in Ifallen off his horse. He now stum- Hayhoe’s cautions in her long post- an e-mail exchange: “The NAE has bles through brambles and thickets Sandy tweet: Climate change does ignored our petition, but we plan to in the dimming light, far behind the not multiply storms but exacerbates continue a variety of means to hold other riders. them, and there is no way to deter- the organization accountable.”12 My Such is the quandary of the mine if it spurred one given event.9 stabs at obtaining an explanation via National Association of Evangelicals But also consider the words of cli- phone and e-mail were met with no (NAE) and many of its 40 mem- matologist Michael Mann: “When response. ber denominations and 45,000 a baseball player suddenly doubles It’s all so eerie, so surreal. The intel- churches. Their acquiescence is pal- the number of home runs he has lectually muscular NAE, supposedly pable while evidence mounts like a been hitting through his career or founded to re-assert orthodoxy as NASCAR pile-up: Last September, season, and he is discovered to have well as cultural engagement, wavers the Intergovernmental Panel on been taking steroids that season, we like the on-the-one-hand-on-the- Climate Change released a 2,000- don’t have to—nor could we ever other-hand theological liberals it page report warning of accelerated hope to—prove that any one of those chides. It’s lost its way. The mannerly warming rates, with 95 percent rider’s britches are ripped; his vest is odds favoring human culpabil- frayed. The evening’s chill bears down ity;1 global 2013 carbon emissions Yet the noble NAE, refuses and the dignified prophet shrivels likely reached 36 billion tons, a to join all other branches of into a haggling negotiator, resem- new record;2 ninety experts say the bling the delegates at the November IPCC previously underestimated in naming the UN climate talks in Warsaw, Poland, probable sea level increases (in other name. who dickered while Philippine bod- words, the allegedly alarmist orga- ies swelled in the rubble. The world nization was timid);3 a geoscientist was underwhelmed. “Warsaw climate team predicts mid-century Atlantic conference produces little agree- City flood levels surmounting “the record season home runs was caused ment,” said a Washington Post head- natural disaster that was Superstorm by the steroids. It is the wrong ques- line; “UN talks limp towards 2015 Sandy;”4 British scientists viewed tion. The right question is, were the climate deal,” said . “Warsaw satellite and other data and found steroids responsible for a good num- climate change talks end on a blurry that the oft-cited global warming ber of those home runs collectively? note,” said Politico, with Andrew “slowdown” is probably illusory. (In And the answer is yes.”10 Restuccia describing frustrated par- simple terms, no thermometers were Yet the noble NAE, which has ticipants dumbfounded by “a lack of planted at key warming spots, which epitomized dignity and aplomb since urgency, particularly given scientific made for inaccurate overall read- its 1942 launch, hedges its bets and reports that paint an increasingly dire ings.)5 The careening didn’t abate refuses to join all other branches of picture of a warming planet.”13 in January: The National Oceanic Christianity in naming the name. The times call for Churchillian and Atmospheric Administration It overlooked last year’s September decisiveness and polite but principled (NOAA) estimated that 2013 tied petition of almost 2100 signatures stands shaped after Nelson Mandela with 2003 as the fourth warmest year urging its board “to affirm publicly and Aung San Suu Kyi, not Neville since record-keeping began in 1880.6 the reality of human-induced climate Chamberlain’s appeasement or the The National Aeronautics and Space change and endorse the responsibil- isolationism of the pre-World War II Administration (NASA), using dif- ity of individuals, churches, and the America First Committee. ferent models, said last year tied with federal government to act to reduce Leadership and pressure 2009 and 2006 for seventh place.7 carbon emissions and protect our The NAE’s silence disappoints part- In other words, it was hot last year natural heritage for our children ly because it once vied for the lead. – polar vortexes notwithstanding. and grandchildren.”11 The direc- Its 2004 framework for social engage- Then there was the catastrophic tors met in October and said noth- ment, entitled “For The Health of roar of one of history’s most power- ing, prompting Richard Cizik, who the Nation,” delineated seven vital

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 5 arenas: religious freedom, family …”) on climate change. Invoking Change and the return of the life and children, the sanctity of life, “unity” often knocks the debate off wise man caring for the poverty-stricken and the merits. Suddenly, a thousand The year 2006 proved pivotal. helpless, human rights, peacemaking, eggshells rattle across the floor, freez- In February, 86 evangelical lead- and creation care. One eventual out- ing us in our tracks lest we break our ers – including pastors, 39 Christian come was Dorothy Borse’s 56-page delicate bonds. Don’t even dare ask college presidents, and not a few cur- pamphlet, “Loving The Least of These: about your own position’s potential rent NAE board members – signed Addressing A Changing Environment,” divisiveness. Have you pondered our the “Evangelical Climate Initiative,” which stresses that “environmental possible disunity with Christianity’s which asserted the reality of human- change” strikes the poor most severe- other legitimate branches? induced global warming, saying it ly.14 Cizik, once its vice- president of It worked. The NAE blinked. imperiled national security and the government affairs, spurred seismic Haggard answered in late January poverty-stricken. “Love of God, love shifts that would free the movement by defending the organization’s pro- of neighbor, and the demands of from reactionary captivity. environment stance but demurring stewardship are more than enough Push-back arose, of course. James on climate change, assuring all that reason for evangelical Christians Dobson bullied and tried to get Cizik his executive committee “directs to respond to the climate change fired. Then-president Ted Haggard the NAE staff to stand by and not problem with moral passion and was unimpressed. “The last time exceed in any fashion our approved concrete action. Christians must care I checked,” he told Dobson, “you and adopted statements concern- about climate change because we are weren’t in charge of the NAE.”15 ing the environment contained called to love our neighbors.”16 In A muted approach came early in within the Evangelical Call to Civic May, one of the last credible denial 2006 from the so-called “Interfaith Responsibility.” Catch a glimpse of hold-outs, Gregg Easterbrook, cried Stewardship Alliance,” since renamed American ’s blind spot uncle in : “Based the “Cornwall Alliance for the on the data I’m now switching sides Stewardship of Creation.” The sig- on global warming, from skeptic to natories – among whom were the Do the Scriptures rally to convert.”17 In November, Haggard distinguished along free enterprise? And pro- resigned in the wake of a sexual scan- with a who’s-who in the Religious dal. Right, including Dobson, John creation statements ring Former NAE President Leith Hagee, James Kennedy, and Richard hollow without identifying Anderson was recalled to the helm Land – said they’ve “appreciated the and brought his steady hand. The bold stance that the (NAE) has taken its destructive agents. evangelical world breathed a sigh of on controversial issues like embracing Imagine federal authorities relief. “There’s an enormous trust a culture of life, protecting tradition- that people have with (Anderson), al marriage and family, promoting banning the mention of and that allows him to lead,” said abstinence as AIDS prevention, and cigarettes while promoting Jo Anne Lyon, general superinten- many others.” But they requested it cancer-free living. dent of the Wesleyan church. The lay off climate change as it was “not Minnesota mega-church pastor a consensus issue.” An official stance brought administrative efficiency and should be filtered through official showed he was no right-wing poster channels, and “individual NAE toward the end: “I believe there are boy. He opposed the death penalty, members or staff should not give the pro-environment, pro-free market, supported immigration reform, impression that they are speaking on pro-business answers to the environ- and signed the Evangelical Climate behalf of the entire membership, so mental questions facing our com- Initiative. A Religion News Service as not to usurp the credibility and munity.” profile said he “continues to press good reputation of the NAE.” Then Do the Scriptures rally to free the issue of justice for the poor in came the twist: “We respectfully enterprise? Cultural standards were the developing world, working hard ask that the NAE carefully consider now mixed into a back-to-the-Bible behind the scenes to craft an official all policy issues in which it might organization, a charge evangelicals NAE statement on climate change.” engage in the light of promoting often levy against theological liber- His political moderation and par- unity among the Christian commu- als. And pro-creation statements tisan neutrality did not help one of nity and glory to God.” ring hollow without identifying its his church regulars and presidential The irony is that NAE officials destructive agents. Imagine federal hopeful Republican Governor Tim were “bold” when advocating their authorities banning the mention of Pawlenty.18 Anderson’s pastoral style positions, but potentially divisive cigarettes while promoting cancer- seemed the right prescription for a (“… in the light of promoting unity free living. stunned organization laboring under

6 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY a recent leadership scandal – and it Fosdick and Carl Henry would never blogged on November 13th: “Much fit with the NAE’s gentlemanly and have written The Uneasy Conscience of the worst hysteria about apocalyp- lady-like ethos. of Modern Fundamentalism. Perhaps tic Global Warming has cooled, espe- When being nice is not enough the NAE ails with a malady posing cially after more than 15 years of no But a consensus-at-all-costs as a vaccine -- conflict avoidance in global temperature increases, evincing approach has its weaknesses. Witness the guise of conflict resolution. Many at least that climate computer models a 2008 Christianity Today interview in its institutions and churches offer are less than infallible.”20 He then immediately after Cizik’s resignation. courses in communication and nego- skipped past warnings from President (He stepped down after an enigmatic tiation in an attempt to quell their Reagan’s Secretary of State, George answer to a National Public Radio internecine battles. Such efforts are Schultz,21 The World Bank,22 query about civil unions for homo- laudable, but they can lead to unin- the US commander of the Pacific sexuals, for which he later apolo- tended consequences. Argument (the Fleet,23 a dozen retired admirals and gized.) Anderson said NAE officials process of defending a viewpoint by generals,24 two hundred evangelical should speak for the association, not marshalling facts in a quest for the scientists,25 the Christian Reformed for themselves. When asked about truth) is deemed intrinsically bad. Church (an NAE member),26 Cizik’s climate change advocacy, Hear the rattling eggshells. and the many leaders who signed he replied: “’For the Health of the Suddenly, we’re nomads in the Evangelical Climate Initiative, and Nation’ does state that creation care labyrinth of passive aggressiveness, declared: “Some of the most com- is one of our priorities. It does not choked by stilted “I statements” and mitted believers in the theory that state in that document that we have confined by the tyranny of the sensi- human activity is uniquely fueling a a specific position, because we don’t, tive – and, for the sake of “unity,” disastrous increase in temperature are on global warming or emissions. So absurdities attain equal status with on the Religious Left.” He singled- he (Cizik) has spoken as an individ- actualities. Representatives from the out former Chicago Theological ual on that. However, to most of our Seminary President Susan Brooks constituents, marriage and related Thistlethwaite, “who’s ordained in moral issues are of greater impor- To most of our constituents, the ultra liberal United Church of tance and significance than specific marriage and related Christ” and who “faulted Global stances on the climate.”19 Warming skeptics for the murder- The question hovers: But is it moral issues are of greater ous typhoon in the Philippines.” right? Does the Bible prioritize fam- importance and significance She allegedly displays “unwavering ily moralities over others? Did you faith in apocalyptic global warm- not sign a statement underscoring than specific stances on the ing” and “strict adherence to climate the moral imperative entailed in cli- climate. fundamentalism.” His last line evokes mate change? Post-interview quarter- Greek mythology’s earth goddess: backing is easy (and let’s shout “take “But zealots like Thistlethwaite will two” on Cizik’s NPR conversation), Flat Earth Society and the American not likely forsake the solace of Gaia’s but we’re left with that vague “oppor- Astronomical Society sit at the same temple, from which they’ll continue tunity lost” feeling. Reel back the table – and Luther withdraws his 95 to issue thunderbolts against the her- tape. Say this: “The NAE has no for- Theses because he did not “validate” etics who dare to doubt.” mal position on climate change, but the bishop’s feelings. Meanwhile, Congrats on the promotion to Richard was educating us and I’m on bullies see concessions as weaknesses: Mount Olympus, Dr. Thistlewaite. record as agreeing with him. I hope The Flat Earth-ers pound the table, Make yourself at home. We could the education process can go on.” yield nothing, display offense when dismiss Tooley’s incivility as bluster A risky reply, to be sure. No doubt the astronomers show photographs of from the fringe but for this: The some would have screamed for a round planet, and demand a wider IRD has bended the NAE ear before. Anderson’s professional head so they audience. Jerald Walsh, the organization’s vice could line it up on Cizik’s platter, but The sad fact is that enemy-cen- president of operations from 1997 aren’t mega-church pastors writing tered, antagonistic parties do not play to 2009, sat on the NAE board books on “courageous leadership?” for win-win resolution. They grab and tried to muffle Cizik just after Did NAE heroes like Luther, Calvin, olive branches and use them as whips Haggard’s resignation. It seems IRD and Wesley – or founding President in their battle for all-out victory. personnel see no irony in raising their – poll their con- Sample climate-change denier Mark pitch while trying to silence their per- stituents? Haven’t evangelicals always Tooley, president of the Institute on ceived enemies. claimed that truth trumps popular- Religion and Democracy. While All of this highlights a danger ity? Otherwise, Ockenga would have dazed Philippine survivors picked for Anderson and the NAE. They fawned before Henry Emmerson through debris, he inaccurately may be sealing themselves in a clan-

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 7 nish cultural cul-de-sac, perhaps never mind mainline Protestants. Evangelicals even in churches that isolating themselves from their See the tragedy in a possible are not part of an NAE member own tribe. The world’s evangelicals future. The NAE, founded partly to denomination.” They requested that embrace the imperative of address- break evangelicals out of their funda- the organization maintain “a broad ing human-induced climate change: mentalist shells so they’d engage the Christian moral agenda – rooted in The Lausanne Movement teamed up surrounding culture, fades into irrel- the Gospel and relevant to the full with the World Evangelical Alliance evance while struggling to preserve a range of moral challenges facing us in 2012 and rendered Thislethwaite unity on the fringe. in the 21st century.” docile: “We are faced with a crisis Such would be a sad fate. Those graceful words – written in that is pressing, urgent, and that anguish but with sympathy – remain must be solved in our generation salient. Many will turn a deaf ear ...” We’re devastating nature with Society’s ills – greed, to the NAE unless it soon grapples “violence,” and, “We can no longer with this century’s starkest challenge. afford complacency and endless materialism, cheap grace, Society’s ills – greed, materialism, debate. Love for God, our neighbors pleasure at the price of cheap grace, pleasure at the price of and the wider creation, as well as responsibility – interlock here, at our passion for justice, compel us responsibility – interlock human-induced climate change. to ‘urgent and prophetic ecological here, at human-induced Fortunately, it is not too late. The responsibility.’”27 American orga- steed awaits, ready for the gentleman nizations including the Evangelical climate change. to mount once more. He can race Environmental Network, the Young up to the rest of the riders and, once Evangelicals for Climate Action, and again, lead the chase with his usual the New Evangelical Partnership for Perhaps Anderson and his board grace and courage. ■ the Common Good – along with can remember a statement signed denominations such as the Christian by dozens of well-known evangeli- Charles Redfern is an American Baptist Reformed Church, the Evangelical cal leaders after Cizik’s resignation. pastor, journalist, writer, and speaker. Covenant Church, and the Many were grieved, but they incited He is known as a “New Evangelical” Wesleyans – each have statements on none of Tooley’s bluster: “The and can be reached at charlesredfern@ their web sites. And then there are NAE exercises a powerful leader- hotmail.com the Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, ship role in the family of American

8 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY From Proposition 8 to Amendment One: Black Baptists, Same-Sex Marriage and Visions of the Beloved Community By Aaron Douglas Weaver

n November 4, 2008, history whoa [referring to an image of two dom, justice and equality — rooted Owas made as Barack Obama was men holding hands] — where are in an incarnational theology — the elected President of the United you two going?”4 Black Church has often, according to States. More than 69 million voters The passage of Proposition 8 in African-American scholars Kelly cast their ballots for the junior sena- California put a bright national spot- Brown Douglas and Ronald Hopson, tor from Illinois. The same day that light on the conservative attitudes of served as the “vanguard for social witnessed the election of the nation’s African-Americans toward homosex- change.” However, as Douglas and first African-American President, vot- uality and rights. An examina- Hopson note, the Black Church can ers in California passed the tion of the attitudes of also be a “stubborn antagonist” social “California Marriage Protection Act,” African-American Baptists toward change.6 Perhaps no issue reveals the popularly known as “Proposition 8,” gay rights and same-sex marriage, Black Church’s complex relationship which added a section to the reveals that while most Black Baptist with these foundational values than California Constitution eliminating leaders (traditionalists) have been gay rights. Sociologist Elijah Ward the legal right of same-sex couples to steadfastly opposed to same-sex mar- explains that the responses of the marry. Pollsters and pundits immedi- riage, a small but growing minority majority of African-American congre- ately interpreted exit polls to con- gations and denominations toward clude that African-American homosexuality and gay rights general- opposition to same-sex marriage A small but growing ly range from “verbalized hostility combined with high African- minority of dissenters have toward homosexuals to, at best, American voter turnout sealed the silence on the issue.”7 Black theolo- passage of the controversial publicly challenged the gian Horace Griffin echoes this senti- Proposition 8.1 The General Election anti-gay rights orthodoxy in ment, pointing out that black Exit Poll showed that 70 percent of congregations have “entered the dia- African-American voters backed Black Baptist life. logue on homosexuality in grudging- Proposition 8 while candidate ly or in reactionary ways.”8 Obama, an opponent of Proposition Opposition to gay rights has been 8, received the support of 94 percent of dissenters have publicly challenged expressed in Black Baptist life at both of African-American voters in the the anti-gay rights orthodoxy in the institutional and individual levels Golden State.2 Black Baptist life. Additionally, these with Black Baptist denominations The media backlash against traditionalists and dissenters have ref- generally employing a strategy of African-Americans was immediate erenced the Civil Rights Movement silence. While not reluctant to speak and forceful. Newspaper headlines and invoked the legacy of Dr. Martin out on the subject of many moral placed blame for the passage of Luther King Jr. in their sermons and issues in American society, no major Proposition 8 squarely on the shoul- other arguments dealing with gay African-American Baptist group has ders of black voters. The front-page rights. In doing so, these two groups taken an official position on gay headline of in Black Baptist life have adopted rights. During the presidency of read: “Blacks, Hispanics nixed gay different understandings of Dr. George W. Bush, conservative activ- marriage; Loyalists defied Obama” King’s vision of a beloved communi- ists attempted to woo African- and the reported ty, a vision described by theologian Americans to the Republican Party that black voters “played a crucial Charles Marshall as “the realization by appealing to their high level of role in the outcome [of Proposition of divine love in lived social rela- opposition to same-sex marriage. 8].”3 Even political satirist and come- tion.”5 Concepts central to Black Responding to this intentional target- dian Jon Stewart of The Daily Show Baptist identity and the identity of ing of black voters, Rev. Jesse weighed in with a segment on his the larger Black Church such as bib- Jackson, speaking before a 2005 joint television show declaring that lical authority and liberty of con- gathering of Black Baptists, asked the African-American celebrations of science help explain the existence of audience how many ministers had Barack Obama’s victory amounted these differing understandings. fielded requests to perform same-sex to, “Free at last, free at last — whoa, With foundational values like free- weddings. After a moment of silence,

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 9 Jackson declared, “Then how did that marriage is not a civil rights issue. defined as three-fifths human, when get in the middle of our agenda!”9 Womack asserted that African- homosexuals have been denied the This institutional strategy of silence Americans “look at the faces of the right to vote and own property has not been adopted at the individu- same-sex marriage demonstrators… because they are homosexuals, then al level. Many visible and influential and cannot connect this to the Civil we can begin a discussion of the par- Black Baptist pastors have not hesi- Rights Movement.”13 allels between the civil rights and gay tated to speak out against homosexu- Black pastors in the Southern rights movements.16 ality and oppose gay rights and the Baptist Convention have also McKissic described equating gay “love the sinner, hate the sin” theo- expressed outrage at the characteriza- rights and civil rights as “insulting, logical perspective has been reflected tion of gay rights activism as an offensive and racist.” He elaborated, in the rhetoric of some pastors. This extension of the Civil Rights move- “Civil rights are rooted in moral perspective can be seen in a 2007 ment. Advocating for the passage of a authority. Gay rights are rooted in a statement issued by the Memphis federal constitutional amendment to lack of moral restraint. Civil rights are Baptist Ministerial Association, an ban same-sex marriage at a gathering rooted in constitutional authority. organization of African-American in 2004 of Southern Baptist pastors, Gay rights are rooted in civil anar- Baptist pastors, denouncing legisla- Rev. E.W. McCall exclaimed, “To chy.” McKissic concluded his fiery tion to expand the definition of a place homosexuality’s sin rights move- sermon by emphasizing that the Civil “hate crime” to include crimes target- ment on the same platform as the Rights Movement was birthed in the ing persons on the basis of sexual ori- struggle of African-Americans for civil Black Church while the gay rights entation. The association called on rights is appalling.”14 Rev. Fred Luter movement was “birthed in the closet Christians to distinguish between — the current SBC president and the and it should stay there.”17 homosexuals and homosexuality first African-American to hold that While this heated rhetoric and because “God loves the homosexual position — told the same gathering catchy, but hostile one-liners has char- but hates homosexuality.”10 acterized the responses of some Black Two years earlier, a group of mostly Baptist pastors, others have advanced Black Baptist pastors issued a “We did not march, die, more civil arguments against gay 10-point “Christian Family struggle and donate so that rights. For example, Rev. Gerald Manifesto” which offered “love, Durley, then pastor of Providence mercy, grace and truth to those two men or two women Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, involved in a homosexual lifestyle” could have raw sex with one Georgia, argued shortly after the pas- and urged gays and lesbians to sage of Proposition 8 that voting “receive God’s forgiveness and seek another.” Rev. Anthony Evans rights, housing rights and transporta- fellowship, restoration and counseling tion rights are “sanctioned by God.” in a Bible believing local church.”11 According to Durley, African- Unfortunately, the shrill rhetoric and of pastors: “Gays have all the rights in Americans have struggled for those condemnation of some Black Baptist the world to live as free citizens. We particular rights solely because they traditionalists has drowned out these didn’t. I think it’s being insensitive to are “ordained” by God. Therefore, more civil expressions of love and what we have gone through as Durley contended that Christians mercy toward gays and lesbians. African-Americans to compare what should not spend energy advocating Many Black Baptist leaders have they’re going through to the civil for a legal right such as same-sex mar- made clear through countless public rights struggle.”15 riage not ordained or sanctioned by remarks that their struggle for civil No black Southern Baptist pastor God.18 rights should not be compared with has received more media attention for Rev. Clenard H. Childress, pas- the fight for gay rights. In the midst his opposition to gay rights than Rev. tor of New Calvary Baptist Church of the effort to legalize same-sex mar- Dwight McKissic, pastor of in Montclair, New Jersey, made riage in the District of Columbia, Cornerstone Baptist Church in a similar Bible-based argument Rev. Anthony Evans, a D.C. Baptist Arlington, Texas. In 2004, McKissic against gay rights in the aftermath pastor and president of the National put together a coalition of black pas- of the Proposition 8 vote. Childress Black Church Initiative, said, “We tors to oppose same-sex marriage. strongly disputed the claim that did not march, die, struggle and Preaching at Southwestern Baptist homophobia is widespread among donate so that two men or two Theological Seminary just days prior African-Americans. Black opposition women could have raw sex with one to the 2004 presidential election, to gay rights does not indicate the another.”12 Writing a column in the McKissic told the mostly white presence of homophobia, accord- aftermath of Proposition 8, Rev. crowd: “When homosexuals have ing to Childress. Rather, in his view, Rolen Womack of Milwaukee, spent over 200 years in slavery, when this opposition is merely proof that Wisconsin, reaffirmed that same-sex homosexuals have been legally African-Americans are generally

10 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY “Christ-centric” and desire to faith- anywhere is a threat to justice every- existed for most of the twentieth fully follow the teachings of Jesus where,” was certainly applicable to century on interracial marriage. Not Christ. Like many Black Baptists, the struggles of sexual minorities.23 surprisingly then, Lewis has sharply Durley and Childress believe that King explained that she had always disagreed with those who believe it following the teachings of Christ felt that “homophobic attitudes and is outrageous and offensive to make must involve opposing same-sex mar- policies were unjust and unworthy of a connection between the gay rights riage.19 a free society and must be opposed movement and the Civil Rights Durley’s appeal to the teachings by all Americans who believe in a Movement. Instead, Lewis sees a of Christ as revealed in the Bible democracy.”24 real and clear connection between demonstrates the important and Like Coretta Scott King, United the two anti-discrimination move- central role of biblical authority States Congressman John Lewis — a ments.26 among Black Baptists and in the veteran civil rights leader, former Julian Bond, the former chairman Black Church. Black theologian Baptist seminarian and member of of the NAACP, is another prominent Kelly Brown Douglas argues that Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church Black Baptist dissenter on gay rights. the Bible serves as the “cornerstone” — has been a faithful proponent of While still chairman, Bond testified for opposition to homosexuality and gay rights for many years. In a 2009 in late 2009 before the New Jersey gay rights in the African-American interview, Lewis provided his ratio- Senate Judiciary Committee in sup- community. “By invoking biblical nale for supporting gay rights and port of legislation to allow same-sex authority [African-Americans] place a same-sex marriage: “It doesn’t mat- marriage. He told the committee that sacred canopy, a divine sanction, over ter if someone is gay or straight or like race, sexual orientation is not a their views toward gay and lesbian whether someone believes in a differ- preference: It’s immutable, unchange- people,” according to Douglas.20 ent philosophy or different religion. able and the Constitution protects Despite strong opposition to gay We’re one people, we’re one family, us all from discrimination.”27 Citing rights among many Black Baptist Coretta Scott King’s comparison leaders, there exists a small but of homophobia with racism, Bond growing minority of Black Baptist “There is not any room emphasized that “Black people, of all dissenters who have loudly champi- in American society for people, should not oppose equality.” oned equal legal rights for gays and In his testimony, Bond specifically lesbians, including the right to marry. discrimination based addressed religious opposition to This group of Black Baptist dissent- on sexual orientation… same-sex marriage. Like those who ers is comprised primarily of elite, opposed interracial marriage in ear- well-known and well-respected lead- discrimination is lier decades, opponents of same-sex ers including civil rights icons and discrimination and we have marriage also “invoke God’s plan,” megachurch pastors. Most notable Bond noted. Reflecting on the fact among these dissenters is the widow to speak up and speak out that faith communities in the United of Dr. King. against discrimination.” States now believe interracial mar- Throughout the decade prior to riage to be compatible with “God’s Rep. John Lewis her death in 2006, Coretta Scott plan,” Bond observed: “Well, God King established herself as a com- seems to have made room in his plan mitted advocate for gays and les- for interracial marriage. He will no bians. In 1998, King identified and we’re one house. There is not doubt do the same for same-sex mar- homophobia as a vicious form of any room in American society for riage. …Black Christians have always bigotry and compared it with rac- discrimination based on sexual orien- discarded scriptures that damned us ism and anti-Semitism.21 In another tation…discrimination is discrimina- in the name of religion, like the curse speech, King reminded her audi- tion and we have to speak up and of Ham in Genesis or support for ence that gays and lesbians were speak out against discrimination.”25 slavery in Ephesians. We should just involved in many of the campaigns In his support of gay rights, Lewis as easily and just as eagerly discard of the Civil Rights Movement.22 Just has frequently cited the words of Dr. those which marginalize others.28 days before the 30th anniversary of King. When speaking specifically While Black Baptist dissenters like her husband’s assassination, King about same-sex marriage, Lewis has John Lewis have been elected time issued an appeal “to everyone who recalled Dr. King’s famous dictum and time again to serve predomi- believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s that individuals, not races, fall in love nantly African-American congres- dream to make room at the table of and get married. Lewis has used this sional districts, very few Black Baptist brother and sisterhood for lesbian quote to draw an explicit comparison pastors have come out in favor of and gay people.” According to her, between current legal bans on same- gay rights. Perhaps the most note- Dr. King’s popular refrain, “Injustice sex marriage and legal bans which worthy dissenting-preacher is the

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 11 Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes, who has riage in New York state. Noting that Community? Or have African- served as the senior pastor of ’ his Christian convictions were the Americans been operating from dif- 12,000-member Friendship-West driving force behind his support for ferent understandings of Dr. King’s Baptist Church since 1983. same-sex marriage, Braxton wrote in vision of a Beloved Community — a At a 2009 summit on homophobia, The Huffington Post: “Our support for vision grounded in a Christian theol- Haynes offered his public support marriage equality is motivated by our ogy affirming that “God is on the for gay rights. In a stirring sermon, religious commitments, not in spite side of truth and love and justice” and Hayes spoke of a “dream come true” of them. Our Christian faith teaches where the nonviolent quest for free- in the election of Barack Obama. us the uncompromising, uncondi- dom, justice and equality always ends Haynes noted that the inaugura- tional love of God for all people. with the formation of “a new relation- tion of Obama as president came on Bound together by that love we are ship…between the oppressed and the January 20, just one day after the all deserving of dignity, equality and oppressor.”34 I argue the latter. annual national commemoration of justice.”31 These disparate understandings of the “Drum-Major for Justice,” Dr. Braxton believes that there exists what Dr. King means by a “Beloved Martin Luther King Jr. “You can’t no real conflict between same-sex Community” are best represented have January 20 unless you appre- marriage and religious freedom. In in the view of Dr. King’s wife, ciate the 19th,” said Haynes. He fact, he contends that religious free- Coretta Scott King, and his young- recalled that the joy he experienced dom is endangered in states where est daughter, Bernice King. While in witnessing “the great victory of same-sex marriage is prohibited and Mrs. King understood her husband’s Barack Obama” began to disappear stresses that the denial of marriage dream of a Beloved Community to with the passage of Proposition 8 in to same-sex couples infringes upon include justice and equal rights for Haynes’ home-state of California. He their religious freedom since “no one gays and lesbians, Bernice King, for- explained that it “blew [his] mind” Christian position about marriage” merly an elder at Atlanta’s New Birth that “the same persons who voted for Missionary Baptist Church, has been Barack Obama in the name of faith an outspoken opponent of gay rights. and ethnic pride also voted in a real I know in my sanctified soul On December 11, 2004, Bernice sense as cohorts, as allies of injustice that he did not take a bullet King led an estimated 25,000 people in the state of California.” Haynes in a march in downtown Atlanta continued, “How can you stand up for same-sex marriage.” in support of the Federal Marriage in church on Sunday, praising God, Bernice King Amendment to ban same-sex mar- celebrating the goodness of God, riage.35 King once remarked about who gave birth to an Amos, and yet her father’s assassination: “I know in your love ethic, your sense of justice exists due to the theologically diverse my sanctified soul that he did not does not embrace all of humanity.” nature of the Christian tradition.32 take a bullet for same-sex marriage.”36 The Dallas pastor concluded the During the 2008 presidential cam- Clearly, Bernice King has embraced sermon, rebuking his fellow African- paign, then-Senator Barack Obama a different understanding of her Americans for failing to carry “the made a campaign stop at Dr. King’s father’s vision that her late mother. love ethic of Jesus Christ to the former church, Ebenezer Baptist in She and other Black Baptist tradition- polls.”29 Atlanta to celebrate Martin Luther alists cling to a vision of the Beloved Following the passage of King Jr. Day. Speaking before a Community that sees no connection Proposition 8, Rev. Brad Braxton, an packed sanctuary, Obama reminded between gay rights and civil rights. It ordained Baptist minister and then- the crowd that historically African- is a vision in which same-sex marriage senior pastor of the historic Riverside Americans had been at the “receiving is, without a doubt, not a civil right. Church in New York City, issued a end of man’s inhumanity to man.” Why? Because the Bible tells them so. call to action on behalf of gay rights. However, Obama noted, “If we’re According to pastors such as Rev. Braxton stated: “I call upon all people honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowl- Durley, a civil right is that which God of good will to work together to edge that our own community has explicitly ordains. The Black Baptist craft public policies and foster com- not always been true to King’s vision gay rights opponents or traditionalists munal practices that will usher in of a Beloved Community.” In an cited here believe strongly that when the Beloved Community of which introspective moment, Obama added, it comes to gay rights issues there is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke, “We have scorned our gay broth- indeed a direct route from the Bible in which all God’s children can have ers and sisters instead of embracing to the ballot box. Scripture and spe- their life-giving, loving covenant them.”33 cifically the teachings of Jesus about affirmed.”30 Is Obama correct? Have African- marriage compel these Black Baptists Braxton also lobbied on behalf of Americans failed to live up to to stand firm against same-sex mar- the legalization of same-sex mar- Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved riage in the political arena.

12 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY Meanwhile, Black Baptist dissent- dom found in Christ or liberty of the coalitions of African-American ers embrace a vision of the Beloved conscience — informed by the love clergy who campaigned against Community that sees the movement ethic of Jesus — necessitates dogged, Amendment One, have revealed for gay rights and “marriage equal- unwavering support for gay rights. that Black Baptist dissenters remain ity” to be one of many extensions The contentious debate over gay a minority but a quickly growing of the Civil Rights Movement. As minority. With the NAACP’s recent John Lewis suggested, a connection vote to support “marriage equality” must be drawn between the Civil This vision of the Beloved and a national poll showing that a Rights Movement and others move- Community, necessitates record-high 59 percent of African- ments fighting legal discrimination. Americans support giving same-sex Emphasizing community and con- dogged, unwavering couples the right to marry, up from science, these dissenters reject argu- support for gay rights. 41 percent, Black Baptists and the ments based on specific Bible verses larger Black Church will continue used to justify opposition to equal to consider and perhaps reconsider legal rights for gays and lesbians. rights and same-sex marriage will their particular vision of the Beloved For dissenters, the Beloved inevitably continue in the foreseeable Community and whether it can tran- Community is a vision in which future. Recent developments such as scend differences in sexual orientation rights are expanded not restricted. the passage of Amendment One in alongside racial differences.37 ■ Consequently, legal prohibitions on North Carolina banning legal rec- same-sex marriage are viewed as a ognition of any same-sex union and Aaron Weaver’s Ph.D. in Religion and major impediment to the realization President Obama’s endorsement of Politics was eanred at Baylor. He is cur- of the Beloved Community. In this the legal right of same-sex couples to rently communications manager for the vision of the Beloved Community, marry prove that the debates will not Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and is a dissenters contend that the free- cease. These developments, especially scholar, writer, and editor.

Footnotes and bibliography for articles in this issue can be found on the web version located at www.christianethicstoday.com

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 13 The Re-Assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By Wendell Griffen

he Reverend Dr. Martin Luther will soon cause us to question the fair- and psychologically deranged, cannot TKing, Jr. would have been 85 ness and justice of many of our past and be reconciled with wisdom, justice and years old on January 15, 2014. present policies. On the one hand we love. A nation that continues year after His assassination on April 4, 1968, are called to play the Good Samaritan year to spend more money on military silenced his voice and robbed the on life’s roadside; but that will be defense than on programs of social uplift world of his presence. In the after- only an initial act. One day we must is approaching spiritual death. America, math of Dr. King’s death, the issues come to see that the whole Jericho road the richest and most powerful nation in of militarism, racism, and material- must be transformed so that men and the world, can well lead the way in this ism—the triplets he identified as the women will not be constantly beaten revolution of values. There is nothing, cause of so much suffering in the and robbed as they make their journey except a tragic death wish, to prevent us and across the world— on life’s highway. True compassion is from reordering our priorities, so that have not been conquered. Instead, more than flinging a coin to a beggar; the pursuit of peace will take precedence they remain dominant, if not domi- it is not haphazard and superficial. over the pursuit of war. There is nothing nating, factors for suffering around It comes to see that an edifice which to keep us from molding a recalcitrant the world. produces beggars needs restructuring. status quo with bruised hands until we A year to the day before he was have fashioned it into a brotherhood.2 assassinated Dr. King publicly defined the war in Vietnam as a civil rights We must rapidly begin the Public reaction to King’s words issue on April 4, 1967 in an address shift from a “thing-oriented” was swift and hostile. A number of titled Beyond Vietnam: A Time to editorial writers attacked him for con- Break Silence to a meeting of Clergy society to a “person-oriented” necting Vietnam to the civil rights and Laity Concerned about Vietnam society. Martin Luther King Jr. movement. The New York Times at Riverside Church in New York issued an editorial claiming that King City. Dr. King uttered the following had damaged the peace movement prescient statement in that address: as well as the civil rights movement. A true revolution of values will soon Life magazine assailed the speech as The war in Vietnam is but a symp- look uneasily on the glaring contrast “demagogic slander that sounded tom of a far deeper malady within the of poverty and wealth. With righteous like a script for Radio Hanoi.” The American spirit, and if we ignore this indignation, it will look across the seas Pittsburgh Courier, an African- sobering reality we will find ourselves and see individual capitalists of the American publication, charged King organizing clergy-and laymen-con- West investing huge sums of money with “tragically misleading” black cerned committees for the next genera- in Asia, Africa and South America, people. And at the White House, tion.… In 1957 a sensitive American only to take the profits out with no President Lyndon Johnson was official overseas said that it seemed to concern for the social betterment of the quoted as saying, “What is that god- him that our nation was on the wrong countries, and say: “This is not just.” damned nigger preacher doing to me? side of a world revolution. … I am It will look at our alliance with the We gave him the Civil Rights Act of convinced that if we are to get on the landed gentry of Latin America and 1964, we gave him the Voting Rights right side of the world revolution, we say: “This is not just.”… A true revo- Act of 1965, we gave him the War on as a nation must undergo a radical lution of values will lay hands on the Poverty. What more does he want?”3 revolution of values. We must rapidly world order and say of war: “This way King was assassinated in Memphis, begin the shift from a “thing-oriented” of settling differences is not just.” This Tennessee exactly one year after he society to a “person-oriented” society. business of burning human beings with delivered the speech. Nine years after When machines and computers, profit napalm, of filling our nation’s homes his death Dr. King was posthumously motives and property rights are consid- with orphans and widows, of inject- awarded the Presidential Medal of ered more important than people, the ing poisonous drugs of hate into veins Freedom by another Baptist from giant triplets of racism, materialism, of peoples normally humane, of send- Georgia, President Jimmy Carter. A and militarism are incapable of being ing men home from dark and bloody federal holiday has been established conquered. A true revolution of values battlefields physically handicapped to honor his birthday. His statue has

14 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY been placed in Washington, DC. produced the tragedy that King making continues to hamstring efforts Numerous cities and towns have re- denounced concerning Vietnam led to make our society and the world named major traffic arteries for him to the travesty of Iraq. Although safe. Thus, militarism has joined in the United States, and he is revered President Obama could not persuade forces with materialism so much that throughout the world as one of the U.S. officials and global allies to American schools run the serious most prophetic souls of the 20th cen- embrace a military response to Syria risk of becoming fortresses. We seem tury, if not the modern era. When he the way President George W. Bush unable to recognize the moral and eth- took the oath of office to begin his did concerning Iraq, U.S. militarism ical contradiction of singing Let There second term, President Barack Obama continues to cast an ominous cloud Be Peace on Earth while we are arming placed his hand on a Bible that over the world and hinder efforts to school teachers and cheering people belonged to Dr. King and alluded to address glaring problems at home. who openly brandish handguns. him during his inaugural address. Jonathan Tran’s 2012 essay in The moral and ethical disconnect Yet the veneration of Dr. King has Christian Ethics Today about the war between the rhetoric used to vener- not included any significant or seri- policies of the Obama administration ate Dr. King and the persistence of ous effort by U.S. policymakers, social reminds us that President Obama entrenched racism in American life commentators, and moral leaders to has articulated what Tran described continues to afflict us. Policymakers embrace the “radical revolution of “a theology of war.”5 It is more than refuse to acknowledge the plain truth values” King called for in A Time to sadly ironic that the first African- that the “law and order,” and “war Break Silence. The “giant triplets” of American to hold the office of presi- on drugs” mantra used by every U.S. racism, militarism, and materialism dent of the United States currently president since Lyndon Johnson has have not been confronted. The U.S. oversees a policy of killing American actually produced the mass incarcera- currently devotes more of its budget citizens by using armed drones. The tion of millions of people who are dis- on national defense and homeland same militarism that King criti- proportionately persons of color. The security than on educating children, oppressive law enforcement policies fighting disease, feeding the hungry, that gave rise to civil unrest during and alleviating poverty. The “giant triplets” of racism, Dr. King’s lifetime still operate against We may never learn the true finan- militarism, and materialism people who are black and brown. cial cost of the tragic exercise in mili- Five years after President Obama and tary adventurism known as the war have not been confronted. Attorney General Eric Holder became in Iraq. As the 10th anniversary of the first black persons to hold their the war in Iraq approached, Reuters respective offices, racial profiling is reported on a study by a team of aca- cized is also evident in the virulent as much a reality as it was when Dr. demicians which tallied the cost of response by President Obama and King was assassinated. Insensitivity the war at $1.7 trillion, a figure that other U.S. leaders to the disclosures to the insidious nature of racism that did not include $490 billion owed by Edward Snowden that the U.S. has characterized American thought when to Iraqi war veterans. The study pro- been engaged in wholesale spying on Dr. King was killed has not changed. jected that expenses related to the war American citizens and others through- Trayvon Martin,6 Oscar Grant,7 and in Iraq could grow to more than $6 out the world—including the leaders Amadou Diallo,8 like Martin Luther trillion over the next four decades.4 of nations considered its allies. King, Jr., were black men shot to At the same time that U.S. leaders Forty-four years after Dr. King was death by people who claimed the are venerating King’s memory they murdered by a gunman, the nation moral and legal right to take their have callously rejected his call for the witnessed the massacre of 20 children lives. These and other less-notorious United States to use its wealth and and six adult staff members of Sandy examples show that Americans clearly prestige to lead the world in a radical Hook Elementary School in New have not become more informed or revolution of values that rejects war Town, Connecticut by a gunman who responsive to racial injustice since Dr. as the preferred means of resolving had already killed his mother and King died. differences. President Barack Obama later killed himself. The militarism Simply put, we have not confronted could not have been guided by the that drives U.S. global policy seems to or corralled the giant triplets of milita- vision of the Baptist preacher whose have turned on our own children. The rism, materialism, and racism. The sad Bible he used for his second inau- response to the Sandy Hook massacre truth is that political, commercial, and guration. Had that been the case, has not been, however, to confront the even religious leaders have become Mr. Obama would not have tried to giant of militarism. Firearm manufac- skilled at bestowing platitudes on Dr. recruit U.S. global allies and members turers and their lobbyists, like defense King’s life and ministry while actively in Congress for launching military contractors and their lobbyists, now and deliberately disregarding his warn- strikes against Syria in 2013. hold more influence than ever before. ings. These leaders play on (pimp) Dr. The same spirit of militarism that Sadly, devotion to corporate profit- King’s moral authority at every oppor-

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 15 tunity. However, they question the mood and conduct of American lead- same way President Johnson respond- relevancy of his teachings and warn- ers and the public at large since Dr. ed to Dr. King. ings for our time. King was assassinated in Memphis, it Now, more than ever, the evidence Such contradictory behavior becomes clear that we have not cho- shows that Dr. King was correct. amounts to a re-assassination of Dr. sen to embrace the “radical revolu- “America, the richest and most powerful King. Martin Luther King, Jr. is tion of values” Dr. King articulated. nation in the world, can well lead the being re-murdered by drone warfare, way in this revolution of values. There NSA surveillance, and the half-truths is nothing, except a tragic death wish, and outright falsehoods uttered by It is more than sadly ironic to prevent us from reordering our prior- policymakers who defend those ities…” Sadly, we seem unable to real- actions. Dr. King is re-murdered that the first African- ize that by rejecting his call to reorder by fiscal policies that promote the American to hold the office our values and priorities we not only corporate interests of investment of president of the United “re-assassinate” King. By rejecting his bankers over the lives and fortunes values while pretending to venerate of workers, homeowners, retirees, States currently oversees a King as our greatest prophet we are and needy people. King’s dedication policy of killing American destroying ourselves and run the risk to attack and eliminate the causes of permanently forfeiting any moral of systemic poverty is currently citizens by using armed authority as agents for peace, justice, being re-assassinated by policies that drones. and truth in the world. Sooner or widen the glaring income inequality later, those who feed a death wish between the super-wealthy and the find a way to destroy themselves. ■ poor. And King’s righteous indigna- We have not weakened the giant tion against injustice is murdered by triplets of racism, militarism, and Wendell Griffen is a district court judge proponents of the so-called “prosper- materialism. We have nourished in Arkansas and pastor of the New ity gospel” and those who use reli- them. Religious leaders such as the Millennium Baptist Church in Little gion as a weapon against people who Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. Rock. He is a writer, speaker, and justice are homosexuals, poor, immigrants, who have followed Dr. King’s model advocate and is a member of the Board women, or otherwise vulnerable. of prophetic criticism have been of Directors of Christian Ethics Today. When one honestly assesses the rejected and condemned in much the

Footnotes and bibliography for articles in this issue can be found on the web version located at www.christianethicstoday.com

16 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY Don’t Mess with Texas: (Sexual Predators Beware!) By Rita Hoyt Jenkins

exual predators should think long Secrecy shrouds sexual abuse in aftermath of their acts of violence. Sand hard, as well as count the costs, children. Many times sexual preda- Sexual abuse is a second-degree felony before choosing to make Texas home. tors inflict fear to prevent children in the state of Texas warranting pros- “Don’t Mess with Texas,” a registered from sharing the horrors they experi- ecution, and if convicted, punishment trademark of the Texas Department of ence. These fears may manifest in by stiff prison sentences. Throughout Transportation, is recognized widely several ways: depression, drug abuse, the state, district attorneys investigate as the no-nonsense attitude Texans self-degradation, inability to trust and and prosecute sexual abuse claims at the have about keeping the highways lit- love, guilt, alcoholism, and thoughts expense of the state. Prosecutors need ter free, but this slogan may just as or attempts of suicide.6 The horrors of only discover apparent facts through easily describe the position Texas laws the abuse cause a rippling effect. The inquiry that would lead them to believe exert against sexual misconduct against incidents devastate the innocence of the that an accused person had committed children and adults. The strong-armed child, which may cause physiological, a crime to support the filing of charges; approach, taken by the state, insti- emotional, and spiritual problems well however, proof beyond a reasonable tuted laws to designate sexual abuse as into adult life. Others never overcome doubt is required for a conviction.7 a criminal offense. One of the more the problems relating to their abuse. Convicted sex abusers must register aggressive states, it stands firmly on the Unfortunately, some even commit as sex offenders with a national regis- issue of protecting children and vulner- suicide because they are unable to try. The U. S. Department of Justice able adults from injury at the hands of maintains a website, http://www.nsopr. sexual predators. This paper concen- gov/, which provides information on trates primarily on the impact of Texas Everyone affected by the sex offenders by state, leaving limited laws on members of the clergy; not- sexual abuse of children is space for offenders to hide. This regis- withstanding, the state administers the try is important to parents of children laws impartially and comprehensively, a victim except the child because the recidivism rate in sexual regardless of the profession. molester. predators is high. Most sexual offend- Committing an act of sexual assault ers repeat the offense again if given the in Texas occurs if the person intention- opportunity. The actions of sex abus- ally or knowingly engages in sexual reconcile the contradiction of the act ers should receive continuous scrutiny activity without the consent of the of violence perpetrated by “men or because of the nature of the crime and other person or intentionally or know- women of the cloth” to a God who the potential for repeat. A repetitive ingly engages in any sexual contact or would allow them to cause such pain. cycle of sin continues because the sexu- activity with a child.1 A “child” means Everyone affected by the sexual abuse ally abused, in turn, become sexual a person younger than 17 years old of children is a victim except the child abusers themselves. Other punishments who is not the spouse of the person.2 molester. The victim spiral extends to by the law include the loss of basic con- For a member of the clergy, “without include the family of the accused or stitutional rights, such as being able to consent” includes causing the other convicted clergy. Marriages dissolve vote, post bail, or hold public office.8 person to submit or participate by and leave in their stead the broken lives The completion of a jail sentence does exploiting the other person’s emotional of wives, children, and other family not reinstate these rights. dependency on the clergyman in his members. The church receives a mark A convicted sexual predator is at professional character as spiritual advis- of contempt that damages weaker risk of the “double whammy” effect in er.3 Federal guidelines established by Christians and causes some to abandon the state of Texas. The consequences the United States Equal Employment the faith and never return. The disap- for a sexual predator do not stop with Commission (EEOC) define sexual pointment they experience overflows conviction by a jury that leads to harassment as unwelcome sexual into developing a lack of trust and imprisonment, but also includes the advances, requests for sexual favors, confidence in authority figures. Like possibility of the victim filing a civil and other verbal or physical conduct the effects of any sin, sexual sins cause suit. Any evidence discovered and cited of a sexual nature.4 Sexual conduct is death, not necessarily physical. The in a criminal case by the prosecutor is unwelcome whenever the person sub- alarming realization is that the major- admissible evidence in a civil liability jected to it considers it unwelcome. ity of sexual predators fail to see and suit. The burden of proof in civil cases These guidelines set the standard for acknowledge the harm they cause to is less than in criminal cases.9 In order appropriate conduct in the workplace.5 the bodies and psyche of victims in the to prevail, the attorney must prove only

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 17 by preponderance of the evidence, ment or Child Protective Services, sex- of sexual advancement from parish- rather than beyond a reasonable doubt, ual abuse complaints by a 17-year-old ioners should cancel any counseling that the sexual offender committed the male student and a 16-year-old female agreements. Clergy should attempt to alleged acts of child abuse.10 student within the required forty-eight live holy lives without the appearance Psalm 127:3 declares that children hours.13 of improprieties. The law does not are a gift of the LORD. They are pre- Texas disallows the use of the clergy- distinguish between a clergy who care- cious in the eyes of God and should be penitent privilege as grounds for fail- lessly or negligently becomes involved loved, nurtured, and protected. The ing to report suspected child abuse or with a parishioner and a “predator psalmist also says that a man is blessed neglect. All residents of Texas must clergy” who intentionally and actively when he has many children. God loved report child abuse. No one is exempt, preys on the sexual vulnerabilities of men so much that He called them His including information received their flock.18 children; “children of God.” Children through privileged communication.14 The fact is that an act of sexual abuse have a special place in the kingdom. Authorities require reporting of any occurred at the hand of a person of Matthew records that unless men privileged communications and con- trust, power, and authority regardless become as little children they will not fessions that members of clergy hear of the circumstances. The seemingly enter the kingdom of heaven. Chapter relating to sexual misconduct against innocent action of a single minister 18:6 in Matthew declares that any- a child.15 Mandatory reporting guide- dating a single member of the church one who causes a child, who believes lines leave little space for a sexual can result in allegations of sexual in Christ, to stumble, should have a predator to operate without being abuse.19 A single minister dating in the millstone tied around his neck and exposed, but many times small cracks church constitutes reckless behavior drowned in the sea. The sacred trust of opportunity exists in churches. The and is imprudent because situations given to adults by God to preserve the church culture perception that all men that appear consensual at the onset can sanctity of children resonates in the are sinners forgiven by God should not backfire and cause problems because of laws of the state of Texas. These laws the position of trust ascribed to clergy. vigorously support keeping children The pastor or spiritual leader holds a safe from abuse and neglect and sup- Psalm 127:3 declares that position of trust and authority that can port pursuing those who decide to do children are a gift of the exert influence over the parishioner’s otherwise by causing them harm. will to act pragmatically. People living in Texas who believe LORD. They are precious in False accusations are as damaging that sexual misconduct does not con- the eyes of God and should as allegations leading to convictions. cern them need to reconsider their The path is equally destructive and the decision. All persons are required to be loved, nurtured, and fallout indistinguishable from those report child abuse or neglect accord- protected. leading to convictions. Allegations ing to Texas law. Non-reporters of of sexual abuse against any clergy child abuse and neglect become cul- members cause irreparable harm to pable under the law for their failure preempt prudence in employee and the character of the individual, gov- to report. “In approximately 18 states volunteer screening and accountability. erning authority, and the ministry of and Puerto Rico, any person who sus- The upside of the law is that reporters the church, even if unsubstantiated. pects child abuse or neglect is required of child abuse receive confidentiality As devastating as child abuse is to the to report. Of these 18 states, sixteen of identity unless waived in writing by individual child, the damage of false states and Puerto Rico specify certain the reporter.16 accusations incurred by the minister, professionals who must report but also Many times clergy enter into precari- ministry, and the church trails close require all persons to report suspected ous predicaments when they attempt behind. The consequences extend abuse or neglect, regardless of profes- to minister to the needs of their beyond criminal penalties because the sion.”11 parishioners, especially in the counsel- person also suffers social disdain.20 Texas falls within the list of states ing area. “More sexual sin involving The ripple effect of allegations of that itemizes certain professionals to pastors has been committed in the sexual abuse contributes to divorce, report but also requires all persons to context of counseling than in any bankruptcy, loss of employment, and report. Recently charged with three other setting.”17 Clergy should remain friendships. counts of failure to report child abuse above reproach by establishing strict These effects disrupt the lives of Mr. Gasparello, the Sharpstown High guidelines to alleviate vulnerable situ- everyone involved, including families School principal, faces a Class A mis- ations. Private closed-door meetings and relationships. The clergy member’s demeanor, which carries a maximum with the opposite sex are inadvisable. reputation is marred, his position of punishment of one year in jail.12 He Referring parishioners who need long- trust and honor topple, resulting in allegedly did not report to law enforce- term counseling to specialized profes- loss of membership, and loss in financ- sionals is prudent and wise. Any hints es to support what might have been a

18 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY vibrant ministry. Failure of the ministry and overlooked atrocities committed Texas potentially assure a loss of per- causes harm to the parishioners, but by clergy and litigation was virtually sonal and corporate assets. These suits there is comparable harm to the testi- unheard of. This case broke the trend, filed against clergy usually link them as mony of the whole of Christendom. resulting in the filing of numerous suits an employee to an employer, who negli- All acknowledge that Christians are and the changing of mindsets regarding gently failed to supervise them. Recent sinners saved by grace, but the world legal actions against the church. The court findings show that employ- sees hypocrisy in the ranks of people case against Catholic priest Rudolph ers incur liability for the behavior of who represent Christ. Future employ- Kos received the largest clergy abuse managers and workers and legislatures ment opportunities become difficult verdict in history in 1998. “The jurors created new penalties for sexual harass- to impossible for accused sex offenders had found for the plaintiffs and award- ment.29 This shifted some of the assign- because of the stigma of not knowing ed actual and punitive damages of ment of responsibility away from the definitively if the person were guilty or $119.6 million to be shared by about clergy to their employers for potential simply got away with the alleged crime. a dozen victims, an amount sufficient recovery. Victims seek recovery from False accusations are as feathers released to bankrupt the Diocese of Dallas.”26 personal assets, as well as the assets of in the wind, unrecoverable. Who can The final award was substantially less, churches or denominations that regu- determine where the wind blew them? but everyone received a clear message late the activities of the accused clergy. The question of guilt or innocence regarding the liability of churches. They became aware of the potential for remains in the minds of people after Monetary settlements paid by the larger payouts by going to the govern- the dust settles. Catholic Church from 1998 to 2003 ing bodies. “Although acts of sexual In several states, such as Georgia and for Texas totaled $31 million, higher misconduct are committed by people Kentucky, sexual abuse victims received than any other state.27 – individual, not denominations or large settlements through civil actions, The sentiments of a large number of churches – it is usually the denomina- but the prosecution of the clergy preda- people at the time believed that clergy tion or church that victims turn to for tors never occurred. A case in Kentucky recompense.”30 Insurance companies alleged that a Catholic bishop molested rarely payout in these scenarios; con- three former altar boys. The bishop Sexual predators gamble and sequently losses hit the pockets at the denied the allegations but the claim risk losing freedom, assets, ministry level. would eventually be resolved as part of The plight of clergy sexual preda- a $25 million settlement. The bishop and reputation by choosing tors in Texas is a “lose, lose” situation. was not prosecuted.21 The state of to live in Texas. Sexual predators gamble and risk los- Texas closes this loophole by imposing ing freedom, assets, and reputation by criminal penalties on sexual abuse. choosing to live in Texas. Potential loss- One can view the tenacious atti- should pay for the harm they caused es originate from accusations and pro- tude of the state of Texas for justice innocent children and that the statute ceed through to civil actions. Unproven against sexual predators by looking of limitations should not hinder them allegations result in loss of reputa- at the Warren S. Jeffs case. Mr. Jeffs, from recovering financially for their tion leaving the looming question of the leader of a polygamous sect of emotional and psychological scars. innocence or guilt of the accused, as The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus After Dallas, things spiraled downward well as disruption in family relations. Christ of Latter-Day Saints () for the Catholic Church as they lost Allegations leading to conviction result fought extradition from Utah to other cases filed against them. Sexual in loss of liberty, constitutional rights, West Texas to stand trial on charges abuse cases have cost the Catholic reputation, and disruption of family of bigamy and sexual assault for two Church in the United States alone over and relationships. Successful civil suits years.22 In the end, Texas won and a billion dollars over a ten year peri- include loss of personal and church he lost his bid to stay in Utah. Mr. od.28 These significant payouts began ministry assets and further erode repu- Jeffs later received a sentence of life in with the Dallas, Texas verdict. Prior to tation. Therefore, if clergy members prison plus twenty years for sexually then, recompenses were negligible. have pedophilic tendencies, sexual assaulting two girls he claimed were Victims of sexual assault derive a abuse inclinations, or are convicted his “spiritual wives.”23 Texas did not benefit from the state handling the sexual offenders, they should keep mov- stop with his conviction, but zealously investigations because they do not have ing because Texas is not a friendly place prosecuted his polygamist bishop who to expend funds for attorneys, private for them. The careless, unintentional married him to a twelve-year-old girl.24 detective, and other investigative type clergy, ensnared in a sexual abuse claim, The bishop received a ten-year prison expenses. The findings gathered from should establish and follow policies sentence.25 investigations in criminal cases can and procedures to protect vulnerabili- Prior to the case tried against be used in future civil actions against ties long before any claims arise. The Rudolph Kos in Dallas, Texas, many the sexual predators. Civil suits filed laws of the state do not view them dif- law enforcement agencies discounted against convicted sexual offenders in (continued on page 20)

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 19 Public Schools Are Not Religion-free Zones By J. Brent Walker

or the past 50 years, much of clothing and orally--in the same way be excused from lessons that are objec- Four church-state jurisprudence other messages are allowed. Generally, tionable based on religious convictions if has been informed by how we treat they may wear religious garb, such as the school does not have a sufficiently religion in the public schools. Simply yarmulkes and head scarves, as well. compelling interest in requiring all put, our effort always has been to Students may distribute religious students to attend and participate. say “yes” to voluntary expressions material and literature, under the Teachers and other school personnel may of religion by students; but, at the same rules as other material may be meet with one another for Bible study, same time, say “no” to official, distributed. This right is subject to prayer and other religious discussions, as school-sponsored religious exercises. reasonable time, place and manner long as such gatherings are voluntary Although we continue sometimes restrictions, such as requiring material and outside the classroom (in the to struggle to find the appropriate to be placed on a table rather than teachers’ lounge, for example) during balance, we have made dramatic being handed out. lunch breaks or other free time. improvements. The start of a new Students may speak to and even try These are just a few of the many school year provides an opportunity to persuade other students on religious ways in which it is abundantly clear to review the many ways religion can topics, including inviting them to that God has not been kicked out of properly be exercised, studied and participate in religious services and the public schools. But let’s not abuse otherwise included on public school events. But, such speech and invita- our freedom. We always need to be campuses in ways that naturally arise tions cannot be allowed to turn into mindful of the importance of model- in our very religious--and religiously religious harassment. A “no thanks” ing good behavior and responsible diverse--country, while keeping must end the conversation. citizenship. This includes not insisting school officials out of the business Students are allowed to include reli- upon governmental help, like using of promoting a particular religion gious themes and ideas in their school- a school-controlled microphone to or even religion in general. Here are work and homework assignments, as pray or to proselytize. It also means reminders of a few ways this can be long as those religious references are allowing students to participate in done. germane to the assignment. school-sponsored activities without Students may pray--alone or in a Students may be taught about reli- being subjected to other students’ group, silently or even out loud--as gion where the topic naturally arises in religion, even when it is arguably per- long as it is voluntary, nondisruptive the curriculum. The teaching should sonal student speech. As is the case in and respectful of the rights of other be academic, not devotional, and many other contexts, what we have students not to participate. This have an expressed educational goal in the right to do is not always the right would include vocal prayer events mind. In other words, schools may thing to do. Please visit the Baptist before classes start and silent prayers expose students to religious views but Joint Committee website at www. after math tests begin. may not impose any particular view. BJConline.org for more information Students may form and lead reli- A religious holiday may serve as an on religion in the public schools. ■ gious clubs in secondary schools if occasion to teach about that particular other non-curriculum related groups religion, but it is not to be celebrated J. Brent Walker is the Executive are allowed. Outside adults may not as a religious event. Along the same Director of the Baptist Joint Committee lead or regularly attend club meet- lines, religious music may be played on Religious Freedom. This article ings, and teachers may be present or sung and sacred artwork observed originally appeared in the September only to monitor the meetings. and appreciated as long as there is an 2013 Report from the Capital and is Students may display and com- educational goal in mind. reprinted here with permission. municate religious messages--on their Students may (and sometimes must)

(continued from page 19) ferently from the intentional sexual chance. “Don’t mess with Texas.” ■ She is the mother of two grown chil- predators. Knowledgeable consultants dren: a daughter and a son who also are available to help ministries reduce Rita Hoyt Jenkins is a licensed minister reside in Houston, Texas. exposure to sexual predator claims. and Master of Divinity candidate at The stakes are too high to leave to Houston Graduate School of Theology.

20 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY Marriage and Contraception Will Dominate Religious Headlines in 2014 By Nathan C. Walker

n the domestic front, there are tionships should not receive legal rec- Given that this same court ruled in Otwo obvious frontrunners for the ognition. By 2012, their opinion had favor of for-profit corporations seek- religion headlines likely to predomi- changed: 54% supported civil unions ing free speech rights, it is likely that nate in 2014. Both involve imminent and 8% supported marriage equality. a majority of the justices will (mistak- decisions by the US Supreme Court: Just as the LDS Church’s stance enly) grant “person” status to corpora- same-sex marriage and insurance- has changed, so has the country’s. In tions. covered contraception. 2004, 41% of the general public sup- In this case, the justices will proceed With regard to same-sex marriage, ported same-sex marriage; in 2009, with the second question: Are the cor- “equal protection” will likely be the 57% supported civil unions but not poration-owners’ religious views “sub- catch phrase. A significant number of marriage equality; by 2013, 58% stantially burdened”? The RFRA says lower courts are preparing to examine thought that gay marriages should be that if a person’s exercise of religion is the constitutionality of Defense-of- legally recognized and that same-sex found to be materially hampered by Marriage-Act (DOMA) laws in several marriage-partners should benefit from the general laws that apply to every- state governments. To the country’s the same rights as married men and one (neutral laws), exemptions must surprise, Utah is 2014’s leader for this women. be granted. In the past, Justice Scalia trend. If looking back gives us insight into has led the court in ruling that the use On December 20, 2013, federal dis- what is ahead, then the major religion of peyote by Native Americans did not trict judge, Robert J. Shelby, held that story of 2014 may be a non-story. exempt teachers from anti-drug laws. Utah’s DOMA law violates the equal Rather than a vitriolic backlash from If the religious views of the cor- protection guaranteed by the due pro- conservatives, religious and otherwise, porations’ owners are not deemed cess clauses in the US Constitution’s the country may, like Utah, surprise “substantially burdened,” the justices 14th amendment. By the time Shelby spectators with a relatively subdued will affirm the mandate and require issued his ruling, nine additional outcry. Likely causes: widespread the owners to provide contraception state courts, along with the District fatigue about this subject and grow- coverage. Otherwise, the judges will of Columbia, had issued similar deci- ing support for same-sex marriage. proceed with the third and fourth sions. Utah has since successfully Will 2014 prove to be the year that interpretations. They will ask whether convinced the US Supreme Court to the two-decades-old topic of same-sex the federal government’s contracep- block temporarily Shelby’s ruling until marriage becomes a non-issue? tion mandate advances a “compelling the high court definitively determines With regard to insurance-covered government interest” and whether the whether state governments, not the contraception, “equal access” will Affordable Care Act does so with the federal government, have the right to likely be the catch phrase. The US “least restrictive means” possible. The establish a definition of legal marriage. Supreme Court is currently consid- Obama Administration has to demon- Meanwhile, reporters have been ering this question: Does the 1993 strate that universal access to contra- writing about the surprise absence of Religious Freedom Restoration Act ception is a public health concern, and Mormon outrage. After (RFRA) exempt Hobby Lobby and that there is no less substantially bur- became the Republican nominee Conestoga Wood Specialties, both densome way of achieving this goal. for president in the 2013 election, for-profit corporations, from the fed- The fervor on both sides of the con- the Church of the Latter Day Saints eral requirement to provide employees traception debate suggests that regard- (LDS) stopped organizing protests with contraceptive coverage because less of who wins, the US Supreme and lobbying against marriage equal- these corporations’ owners object on Court rulings will likely cause a pro- ity. religious grounds? longed engagement in religion and What does this shift say about Utah, The Supreme Court justices’ ruling public life. If so, 2014 could be the where 58% of the state’s population will likely hinge on their interpreta- year that the legal and political agen- are LDS, a once national force in tions of four particular sections of das for various political camps are set helping to define legal marriage as RFRA. First, they will need to deter- for decades to come. ■ a union between one man and one mine whether a corporation is legally woman? In 2004, 69% of Utah’s equivalent to a “person” who has the Nathan C. Walker, is an Ed.D. Mormons believed that same-sex rela- right to exercise his or her religion. (continued on page 26)

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 21 A “Duck Call” for All By J. Randall O’Brien

he moral outrage surrounding a rule, one might anticipate conserva- Paul judged the sinful; Daniel judged TDuck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson’s tives like Phil Robertson to be intoler- the Babylonians. The prophets judged remarks published in a recent issue ant of any real or perceived erosion kings and screamed “No!” to their of GQ Magazine, and his suspension of traditional values. One might also society. Without judgment there can and subsequent reinstatement from expect liberals to be more comfortable be no justice, no repentance, no right the popular television show produced with evolving cultural values, perhaps or wrong, no morality nor immoral- by A&E Network, has long since sub- proving impatient, even agitated, with ity, no law and order, no fairness, no sided. Perhaps some modest theologi- conservative condemnation of cultural hope, and no conversion. cal reflection on the matter is still in change. Perhaps what Jesus meant by His season. Although millions were jolted “judge not” admonition was that we In his interview with GQ, by Robertson’s words and A&E’s should not set ourselves above others, Robertson expressed graphic intoler- response, each position represented a arrogantly counting ourselves better ance of homosexuals and appalling major segment of American society. than them. Once He asked, “Why insensitivity to the plight of African- Each party was intolerant, but for look for the speck in your neighbor’s Americans during the Jim Crow Era. different reasons due to competing eye when you have a beam in yours?” Accusations of intolerance, and cries worldviews. Then when some wanted to stone for tolerance, were aggressively leveled Since intolerance implies judgment, a woman caught in adultery, He at both Robertson and the televi- or suppression of freedom, Christians responded, “Let him who is with- sion network, depending on the side may disagree on its practice. On one out sin cast the first stone.” Then, taken by the crier. Despite the hostile hand, Jesus admonishes believers say- by equating lust with adultery and verbiage directed at the two central ing, “Judge not lest you be judged.” sustained anger with murder in the parties in the drama, prevailing reason Also, in America, the land of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made concluded the following: The first free, who are we to take freedom it clear that we are all adulterers and amendment protected Robertson’s away from others while God and the murderers. right to free speech, but not his right Constitution grant freedom to them? Therefore, “we” not “you” have a sin to a television show. In other words, On the other hand, Jesus judged the problem. “All have sinned and fallen both parties were within their legal Pharisees and Sadducees, as well as short of the glory of God.” “There is rights. Was there not, however, anoth- his own culture. Doesn’t the Good none righteous, no not one.” It is true er critical issue involved, one worthy Book encourage believers to “contend that the Bible knows nothing of toler- of our attention? for the faith,” a difficult assignment ance for sin, willful living contrary to Beyond the particular and obvious to complete without judging when a the will and Spirit of God. However, issues raised in the interview lies a battle should be joined? and this is the rub, all of us are guilty. larger Christian debate over tolerance The people of God are called to “do Not “you” but “we.” Not “them” but in moral matters. For many, toler- justice.” However, justice is impossible “us.” And all of us are eligible for for- ance for liberal speech and behavior apart from judgment. The Hebrew giveness. “If we say we have no sin, we equates to political correctness, widely word translated as both justice and deceive ourselves and the truth is not considered a modern virtue by the judgment is one and the same. Even in us. If we confess our sin he is faith- political and religious Left, but often forgiveness depends upon judgment. ful and just to forgive our sin and to a vice by the Right. For others, toler- Forgiveness says, “I judge you guilty; cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ance of a cultural shift away from tra- and I forgive you.” Tolerance, on the other hand, leaves ditional Christian values is considered So how are we to think? To tolerate sin unaddressed. The Good News is betrayal of the conservative cause and or not, judge or not, that is the ques- Christ came to address our sin prob- evidence of the baptism of an apostate tion. The answer is “yes, of course.” lem, not to condemn the world, but church by secular society. Or, as the We judge all things, meaning some- to save it, that while we were yet sin- lament goes, the world is winning the times we inevitably practice tolerance, ners Christ died for us. Radical Good Church; the Church is not winning while other times we do not. Jesus News, indeed! As Brennan Manning the world. judged the money-changers in the puts it, “The Good News means we Is tolerance a virtue or a vice? The Temple, turning over their tables, but can stop lying to ourselves.” easy answer is that it depends upon understood when two sisters blamed If we lose the doctrine of sin, we the issue, and to whom one speaks. As Him for the death of their brother. (continued on page 26)

22 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY God as Sister, God and Sister by Martin E. Marty

ut “God” in a headline and two-year waiting list was 600-people approaching what Sister was saying Pwe can’t help sighting it. Neil long. and doing. My own church body Steinberg, columnist in the Chicago Yet somehow, without violating has the motto: “God’s work—our Sun-Times (Feb. 13, 2014) did so: her self-imposed rules against show- hands.” Every other church body has “’Who’s God but us?’ Sister tells ing favoritism, Sister was able to analogues to it. But most of us are it like it is.” My wife, Harriet, the help. How is less important than why. not much moved by these more cau- monitor of syntax and scorner of Steinberg and the luncheoners gasped tious ways of expressing the matter, clichés who reads the papers over when Sister asked, and then answered while risk-taking Sister takes risks coffee across the table from Put this her own question: “Who’s God but here, ready to face her Maker. A little “Sighter” might well have questioned us? If we don’t do it, it’s not going to theological over-reach can be forgiven the syntax in line one and the cliché happen.” in a world where indifference usually in line two. But she and I would Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike keeps believers from making a differ- quickly have gotten over any uneasi- assert that there is no God but God. ence. ness as we eased into Steinberg’s So Steinberg recoiled: “Who’s God And I can’t resist adding a word column. He was celebrating Sister but us?Who’s God but us? Pardon me, about how “we in the media” often Rosemary Connelly, whom he heard sister, but daaaaamn?” He did not distort the world of religion or reli- speaking at a fund-raising lunch. divulge whether her words were at gious people by the decisions we There she said something he’d “never the edge or the center of blasphemy make about what makes news and heard spoken before, never mind by a or idolatry. Instead he contrasted what readers’ or listeners’ or bloggers’ nun.” We’ll talk about her words in a them with all the ways others use appetites we want to feed. Conflicts, moment. “God” to justify their indifference or controversies, stories of abuse, deserve Steinberg reminded Sun- evil acts. to be told and need to be told. Times readers that Sister, forty- Then Steinberg imagined what But the world of faith and of the five years ago, was the founder of went through Sister’s mind: “OK faiths also has countless participants Misericordia, “the city’s pre-eminent then, Mr. Lord of the Universe, if who may be less eloquent or capable home for those with Down Syndrome you’re going to fail this boy, I guess or dogged than Sister Maureen. and other cognitive disabilities.” we’ll have to do the job for you.” It They are there, quietly working and Originally she was to care for found- took two years but Sister raised the singing and praying and fund-raising lings left by their mothers on church money and the boy has now been at and doing and saying “edgy” things doorsteps but, against the will of the Misericordia for fifteen years. that merit attention. ■ Archdiocese of the time, she trans- Steinberg: “‘Who’s God but formed Misericordia’s mission and its us?’ That’s edgy stuff, Sister, practi- Reference: Steinberg, Neil. “‘Who’s site. cally sacrilege.” But not over the God but us?’ Sister tells it like it Steinberg told of Sister’s tale of a edge, if you think about what Sister is.” Chicago Sun-Times, February 13, heart-breaking moment when she Rosemary Connelly knows and 2014.http://www.suntimes.com/ had to turn away a 15-year old whose does about priorities in worship and news/steinberg/25532506-452/whos- desperate mother could no longer expressions of faith. god-but-us-sister-tells-it-like-it-is. lift or care for him. The problem: I suppose there are more nearly- html Misericordia’s beds were full, and the acceptable orthodox ways of

Footnotes and bibliography for articles in this issue can be found on the web version located at www.christianethicstoday.com

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 23 Book Reviews

“Of making many books there is no end. . . “ Ecclesiastes 12:12 NRSV

The Early Church must be considered when endeavoring raises the question as to what their on Killing to interpret Scripture and applying role should be if not engaging in kill- by Ron Sider what it has to teach us to the contem- ing their enemies. A Comprehensive Sourcebook on War, porary situations in which we live. Sider makes the interesting point, Abortion, and Capital Punishment Too often we present-day Christians that Tertullian, another early Church Reviewed by Tony Campolo act as though two thousand years of theologian, cites his opposition to saintly Christians interpreting the Christians being soldiers, not because Scriptures can be ignored and that he is opposed to bloodshed, but on Sider’s newest publica- our own personal interpretations take because Roman soldiers, prior to Rtion, The Early Church on Killing, precedence over what have been tra- going into battle, were required to is, as the subtitle suggests, a fairly ditional interpretations of the Bible go through a cultic ritual in which comprehensive source book for any- declared down through the ages. they called upon pagan gods to sup- one who is investigating what early The book of Hebrews reminds us port them and give them victory over Christians had to say about war, abor- that we are “surrounded with a great their enemies. It was this idol worship tion, and capital punishment. This crowd of witnesses” to which we must associated with being in Caesar’s army book should be of great interest to be responsible in all that we do, but that Tertullian claimed made being a Red Letter Christians because it deals especially in our interpretations of the soldier impossible for a true Christian. with these three hot-button subjects Holy Writ. As Ron Sider makes his While Sider makes it clear that the that inevitably emerge whenever Red case against Christians participating in case in favor of Christians killing in Letter Christians get together and dis- war, supporting capital punishment, the context of battle is very weak, he, cuss social issues. or justifying abortion, he supports his nevertheless, points out that there Firmly rooted in an Anabaptist tra- beliefs by resorting to the writings of is some evidence among the early dition, it is not surprising that Ron some of the earliest Church leaders, Church Fathers that such behavior has a bias against any form of violence thus taking Church tradition seri- might be acceptable for soldiers with- against persons, born or unborn. He ously. out their losing their salvation. acknowledges right up front that he It might be suggested that Sider is I was especially impressed with the is a pacifist. He turns to the early biased because of his a priori commit- way Sider shows that the early Church Church Fathers to make the case that, ments to his Anabaptist theology; but Fathers adamantly condemned abor- from the earliest days of the Christian as his commentaries on the Church tion, and at times gave vivid descrip- era up until the time of Constantine, Fathers make very clear, he has done tions of the special torments of Hell the Church Fathers tended, for the his best to overcome any bias that that women who had abortions would most part, to oppose any justification may exist on his part. While he makes have to endure. for Christians to be engaged in kill- it clear that he believes that the over- In reviewing the translations of the ing, whether it be on the battlefield or whelming evidence supports his belief early Church Fathers’ writing which at the hands of executioners, or in the that the Church Fathers maintained a Sider included in this book, I could womb of a woman. pacifist view when dealing with war- find no support for an endorsement The importance of understanding fare, he makes sure to include those for capital punishment. It is interest- what the pre-Constantinian church passages written by the leaders of ing to note that the new Pope sup- leaders had to say about these three the early Church which create some ports this tradition, even though many important subjects is clear to anyone ambiguity on this subject. Specifically, Evangelical Christians on the political who has tried to do theology. Too he cites some passages from Clement right endorse capital punishment, often, Christians have acted as though of Alexandria which suggest that given the “right” circumstances. in their interpretations of Scripture Christians who were in the army The theological and biblical con- they can disregard how those in the need not disengage from their voca- servatism of the author is never ancient Church read and understood tions as soldiers in order to be faithful concealed; but any reader of this the Bible. Over and against this short- Christians. However, he then goes book will have to admit that he tries sightedness the declarations of the on to cite the fact that, according to hard to be objective. He does in this Roman Catholic Church, as well as Clement of Alexandria, Christians book what you would expect an hon- those in the Wesleyan tradition, have who were in the army ought not to est scholar to do. ■ contended that Church tradition kill in the context of battle — which

24 • WINTER 2014 • CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY to emigrate back to Africa with turned to leadership of missionary By the Rivers of Water them. This strategy prepared the support throughout America for the by Erskine Clarke (New York: Basic Books, way for Presbyterians, Methodists Presbyterian denomination. 2013, $29.99) and Baptists to support this work The third and final chapter of their Reviewed by Darold Morgan financially and to give it a spiritual work developed with brutal sudden- rationale. ness as America was plunged into hile browsing through our pub- The heart of this engaging book is Civil War. The reader can sense the Wlic library recently, I discovered the actual travel to the mission field conflict the Wilsons experienced as a new prize-winning book on early as it were, preparing supplies for the Southerners living in New York as 19th century mission ventures in West work, overcoming massive difficul- the nation divided. As the war began, Africa. It turned out to be one of those ties of getting to Africa, deciding they moved back to Georgia to be gems, not only of exciting and infor- where to settle, obtaining land from with their families despite their strong mative reading, but a book brimful of indigenous persons, and determin- convictions about the evils of slavery. insights about the challenges the ing how to establish a Christian During the years of the Confederacy, first generation of American protestant work in the context of a supersti- the Wilsons were able to move about missionaries faced on distant shores. tious and violent culture. The initial throughout the territory organizing The hero and heroine of this mis- plans included mission schools, the Southern Presbyterians into a new sion story, interestingly related to the medical services, and churches. Felt and separate denomination. They influence of the famed “haystack prayer almost immediately was the impact raised money for missionary support meeting” of Congregational-Baptist of African diseases on the new mis- abroad, and this small but vibrant fame, were a husband-wife team of sionaries. The Wilsons survived, but effort at organized support for world Presbyterians, James Leighton and many of their associates did not. missions survived throughout the war Jane Wilson. These natives of Georgia They faced the strange enigma of and functioned even with the emer- and South Carolina, products of a local slavery as well as the continued gence of the Ku Klux Klan and the era slave-owning society, lead us in their presence of European slave ships of Jim Crow. life story through the clash of North- transporting newly-captured slaves All of these disjointed facts are South cultures in their decision to go to the New World supplied by the woven together in a competent style to West Africa. That era of the 1830s very people the missionaries were that holds the reader’s attention of American history and protestant life working with. These were unexpect- throughout. This book about mis- is vitally important when related to the ed challenges to be sure. sions in its infancy gives us some rare crumbling influences of New England’s But the resiliency of these pioneer insights into American missionary rigid Calvinism, along with the anti- missionaries is powerfully depicted development and the business of get- missions theology it spawned, which in the pages of this book. The erratic ting Jesus to people everywhere. One also resulted in a groundswell of mis- financial support from America comes away from reading this book sion energy in the mainline protestant complicated things greatly as did with genuine and helpful insights churches. the infrequency of mail from home, from the bleak history of slavery to Sadly, some of this motivation was the depths of the cultural differences the place of the church in the post-war attached to a dead-end solution of the and the superstitious beliefs, and South. Problems which were endemic American slavery dilemma which was the arrival of new missionaries who then are still with us today to a dis- the widespread effort to return slaves were unprepared for the challenges turbing degree. But as God raised to their native African shores. Complex in Africa. But still, the sheer tenacity up the Wilsons to do a truly remark- and tangled issues are discussed in and dedication of this first couple able work, so today is the calling and this book and the result is some and those who followed them shines empowering people to do the work of original insights about these strains of through the telling of their story. Christ still valid. ■ American history. After 20 years of overseas minis- Some of the issues in conflict include try with only a brief trip or two to Darold Morgan is retired Southern the Wilsons’ freeing their own slaves in America, the Wilsons, with their Baptist executive and a member of Georgia, an action violently opposed health severely weakened, returned the board of Christian Ethics Today by their neighbors. Then comes the to America permanently. They Foundation. somewhat unsuccessful effort to were restored with rest and time encourage both slaves and freedmen with family and their ministries

CHRISTIAN ETHICS TODAY • WINTER 2014 • 25 Bringing Transcendence in Play

If I can lift up hope to a soul despairing,

Or strive for justice with the will to stay,

If I befriend another in burden-bearing,

Forgive a wrong through Christlike caring,

Oppose any of myriad evils with daring,

Or guide a wanderer lost to find the way,

Show compassion to the poor from day to day,

Or inspire fresh courage that may

defeating fears allay,

I shall share in bringing transcendence in play.

—James A. Langley

(continued from page 21)

Candidate in Law, Education, and a Theolegal, Democracy? with fore- published by the Martin Marty Center Religion at Columbia University. He is word by former British Prime Minister at the University of Chicago Divinity the co-editor of Whose God Rules: Is Tony Blair. This essay first appeared in School and is printed with permission. the United States a Secular Nation or the January 9, 2014 issue of Sightings

(continued from page 22) lose the doctrine of salvation. Simply So, in the skirmish ugly head. Our mistake is in failing put, no sin no Savior. Bonhoeffer in the , who is the sinner to understand we are all part of the surely had it right. The last word -- Phil Robertson’s targets or Phil problem, and that a solution awaits. ■ with Christ, when He gets His way is Robertson, A&E executives or you or grace; but you cannot speak the last me or all of us? The answer is all. J. Randall O’Brien is President of word, he noted until you speak the Our mistake is not in addressing Carson Newman University. next-to-last word. And that word is the sin problem of the human race, “guilty.” whenever and wherever it rears its

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