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Jeremiah Wright

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Wright in 1998

Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr. (born September 22, 1941) is the former Pastor Emeritus of the Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC), a megachurch in Chicago with around 10,000 members.[1] In early 2008, Wright retired after 36 years as the Senior Pastor of his congregation and no longer has daily responsibilities at the church.[2][3] Following retirement, Wright's beliefs and manner of preaching were scrutinized when short segments from his sermons were publicized in connection with presidential campaign of Barack Obama.[4] Obama addressed the issues raised by the Wright controversy in his speech entitled "A More Perfect Union" .[5] To explain more fully his actual positions on these issues, Wright gave a speech before the NAACP on April 27, 2008, in which he stressed that he was not "divisive", but "descriptive", and that the black church experience, like black culture, was "different" but not "deficient".[6]

His wife is Ramah Reed Wright, and he has four daughters, Janet Marie Moore, Jeri Lynne Wright, Nikol D. Reed and Jamila Nandi Wright, and one son, Nathan D. Reed.[7]

Early years

Wright was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a racially mixed section called Germantown.[8] His parents are Jeremiah Wright, Sr. (1909-2001), a Baptist minister who pastored Grace Baptist Church in Germantown, Philadelphia from 1938 to 1980,[9] and Mary Elizabeth Henderson Wright, a school teacher who was the first black person to teach an academic subject at Roosevelt Junior High. She went on to be the first black person to teach at Germantown High and Girl's High, where she became the school's first black vice principal.

Wright graduated from the Central High School of Philadelphia in 1959, among the best schools in the area at the time.[8] At the time, the school was around 90 percent white.[10] The 211th class yearbook described Wright as a respected member of the class. "Always ready with a kind word, Jerry is one of the most congenial members of the 211,” the yearbook said. “His record in Central is a model for lower class [(younger)] members to emulate."[8]

Education and military service

Jeremiah Wright (second from right, behind I.V. pole), in 1966, as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. He is tending to President Lyndon Johnson, standing behind him is Bill Moyers.[11] (A letter of thanks on behalf of the President is superimposed on photo).

From 1959 to 1961, Wright attended Virginia Union University,[2] in Richmond. In 1961 Wright left college and joined the United States Marine Corps and became part of the 2nd Marine Division attaining the rank of private first class. In 1963, after two years of service, Wright joined the United States Navy and entered the Corpsman School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.[12][7] Wright was then trained as a cardiopulmonary technician at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Wright was assigned as part of the medical team charged with care of President Lyndon B. Johnson (see photo of Wright caring for Johnson after his 1966 surgery). Before leaving the position in 1967, the White House Physician, Vice Admiral Burkley, personally wrote Wright a letter of thanks on behalf of the United States President.[13][14][15]

In 1967 Wright enrolled at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master’s degree in English in 1969. He also earned a master's degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School.[7] Wright holds a Doctor of Ministry degree (1990) from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he studied under Samuel DeWitt Proctor, a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr.[16]

Career as minister

Wright became pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago on March 1, 1972; it had some 250 members on its rolls, but only about 90 or so were actually attending worship by that time.[17]By March 2008 Trinity United Church of Christ had become the largest church in the mostly white[18] United Church of Christ denomination. The President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ, John H. Thomas, has stated: “It is critical that all of us express our gratitude and support to this remarkable congregation, to Jeremiah A. Wright for his leadership over 36 years.”[19] Thomas, who is a member of the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Cleveland, has also preached[20]and worshipped at Trinity United Church of Christ (most recently on March 2, 2008).[19]

Trinity and Wright were profiled by correspondent Roger Wilkins in Sherry Jones's documentary "Keeping the Faith" broadcast as the June 16, 1987 episode of the PBS series Frontline with Judy Woodruff.[21]

Wright, who began the "Ministers in Training" ("M.I.T.") program at Trinity United Church of Christ, has been a national leader in promoting theological education and the preparation of seminarians for the African-American church.[22] The church's mission statement is based upon systematized Black liberation theology that started with the works of James Hal Cone.[23][24]

Wright has been a professor at Chicago Theological Seminary, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and other educational institutions. Wright has served on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union University, Chicago Theological Seminary and City Colleges of Chicago. He has also served on the Board Directors of Evangelical Health Systems, the Black Theology Project, the Center for New Horizons and the Malcom X School of Nursing, and on boards and committees of other religious and civic organizations.[7]

Relationship with Barack Obama

Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for President, first met Wright in the late 1980s, while he was working as a community organizer in Chicago before attending Harvard Law School.[25] Wright officiated at the wedding ceremony of Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as their children's baptism.[5] The title of Obama's memoir, The Audacity of Hope, was inspired by one of Wright's sermons.[25][5]

Wright was scheduled to give the public invocation before Obama's presidential announcement, but Obama withdrew the invitation the night before the event.[26] Wright wrote a rebuttal letter to the editor disputing the characterization of the account as reported in an article in The New York Times.[27]

In 2007 Wright was appointed to Barack Obama's African American Religious Leadership Committee, a group of over 170 national black religious leaders who supported Obama's bid for the Democratic nomination;[28] however, it was announced in March 2008 that Wright was no longer serving as a member of this group.[29]

Political controversy

Main article: Jeremiah Wright controversy

The Jeremiah Wright controversy gained national attention in March 2008 when ABC News, after reviewing dozens of Wright's sermons,[30] excerpted parts which were subject to intense media scrutiny.[31][32] Wright is the former pastor of Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama.[33] Obama denounced the statements in question, but after critics continued to press the issue of his relationship with Wright he gave a speech titled "A More Perfect Union", in which he sought to place Dr. Wright's comments in a historical and sociological context. In the speech, Obama again denounced Wright's remarks, but did not disown him as a person. The controversy began to fade, but was renewed in late April when Wright made a series of media appearances, including an interview on Bill Moyers Journal, a speech at the NAACP and a speech at the National Press Club.[34] After the last of these, Obama spoke more forcefully against his former pastor, saying that he was "outraged" and "saddened" by his behavior, and in May he resigned his membership in the church.[35]

Honors

Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary.[7] Wright was named one of Ebony magazine's top 15 preachers.[14] He was also awarded the first Carver Medal by Simpson College in January 2008, to recognize Wright as "an outstanding individual whose life exemplifies the commitment and vision of the service of George Washington Carver".[36][37] On May 1, 2008 Northwestern University withdrew its invitation for him to receive an honorary doctorate, in light of the controversy over his recent remarks.[38]

Works

  • Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr. and Jini Kilgore Ross, What Makes You So Strong?: Sermons of Joy and Strength from Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Judson Press, November 1993, ISBN 978-0817011987
  • Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr. and Colleen Birchett, Africans Who Shaped Our Faith (Student Guide), Urban Ministries, Inc., May 1995, ISBN 978-0940955295
  • Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr. and Jini Kilgore Ross, Good News!: Sermons of Hope for Today's Families, Judson Press, December 1995, ISBN 978-0817012366
  • William J. Key, Robert Johnson Smith, Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. and Robert Johnson-Smith, From One Brother to Another: Voices of African American Men, Judson Press, October 1996, ISBN 978-0817012502
  • Jawanza Kunjufu and Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., Adam! Where Are You?: Why Most Black Men Don't Go to Church, African American Images, June 1997, ISBN 978-0913543436 (also African American Images, 1994, ISBN B000T6LXPQ)
  • Frank Madison Reid, III, Jeremiah Wright Jr. and Colleen Birchett, When Black Men Stand Up for God: Reflections on the Million Man March, African American Images, December 1997, ISBN 978-0913543481
  • Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr., What Can Happen When We Pray: A Daily Devotional, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, June 2002, ISBN 978-0806634067
  • Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr., From One Brother To Another, Volume 2: Voices of African American Men , Judson Press, January 2003, ISBN 978-0817013622
  • Iva E. Carruthers (Editor), Frederick D. Haynes III (Editor), Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. (Editor), Blow the Trumpet in Zion!: Global Vision and Action for the 21st Century Black Church, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, January 2005, ISBN 978-0800637125
  • Ernest R. Flores and Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., Tempted to Leave the Cross: Renewing the Call to Discipleship, Judson Press, November 2007, ISBN 978-0817015244
  • Wright, Jeremiah A, Jr. (2004), "Doing black theology in the black church", p 13-23, 213-214. In Linda E. Thomas (Ed.), Living Stones in the Household of God: The Legacy and Future of Black Theology, Minneapolis: Fortress. ISBN 0-8006-3627-9
  • Wright, Jeremiah. "Here I am, send me". In Awakened to a calling: reflections on the vocation of ministry, Ann M. Svennungsen and Melissa Wiginton (Eds.), Nashville: Abingdon Press, c2005. ISBN 0687053900
  • Wright, Jeremiah. "In the Lord's house, on the Lord's day". In Awakened to a calling: reflections on the vocation of ministry, Ann M. Svennungsen and Melissa Wiginton (Eds.), Nashville: Abingdon Press, c2005. ISBN 0687053900
  • Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., "Music as Cultural Expression in Black Church Theology and Worship," Journal of Black Sacred Music 3, 1 (1) (Spring 1989).

Wright has written several books and is featured on Wynton Marsalis's album The Majesty of the Blues, where he recites a spoken word piece written by Stanley Crouch, and on the Odyssey Channel series Great Preachers.[39][40]

Notes

  1. ^ Church official site
  2. ^ a b Pastor Trinity United Church of Christ
  3. ^ Ramirez, Margaret (2008-02-11). "Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., preaches last sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Banks, Adelle (2008-03-22). "Obama Finds Pulpit in Center of Racial Divide". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Barack Obama (2008-03-18). "Text of Obama's speech: A More Perfect Union". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-03-18. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Obama's ex-pastor gives fiery speech to NAACP". CNN. Retrieved 2008-04-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e "Dr. Jeremiah A Wright Jr". Corinthian Baptist Church. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  8. ^ a b c "Obama's Rev. Wright Mythology". Newsmax.
  9. ^ Gabrielle Brochard and John DeVecchi (2006). "Biographical Essays". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  10. ^ Wright, Jeremiah A. (1989). The pilgrimage of a pastor: The autobiography of Jeremiah A. Wright, Sr. Aaron Press, ASIN B0006F1LD4
  11. ^ Bill Moyers Journa . Transcripts | PBS
  12. ^ Factor military duty into criticism - Lyndon B. Johnson, Dick Cheney, The White House - chicagotribune.com
  13. ^ Korb, Lawrence and Ian Moss. "Factor military duty into criticism". Available online. Archived.
  14. ^ a b "Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Biography". The History Makers. 2002-01-11. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "The Biography of the Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr". Charter Day 2004 Distinguished Alumni Biographies. Howard University. 2004-03-04. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  16. ^ Emily Udell, "Keeping the Faith", In These Times, February 8, 2005. Available online. Archived.
  17. ^ Yearbooks of the United Church of Christ, 1971-72
  18. ^ Gorski, Eric (2008-03-18). "Message of Obama Pastor Forged in Civil Rights Movement". Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Retrieved 2008-03-27. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ a b Guess, J. Bennet (2008-03-14). "Chicago's Trinity UCC Is "Great Gift to Wider Church Family". United Church of Christ. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  20. ^ "White People Welcome at Trinity United Church of Christ". YouTube. Retrieved 2008-03-27. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Jones, Sherry (producer & director), Wilkins, Roger (correspondent), Woodruff, Judy (anchor). FRONTLINE: reports: Keeping the Faith. Alexandria, Va.: PBS Video. OCLC 18127027. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |month2= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |year2= ignored (help), OCLC 21357978, OCLC 18126496, OCLC 42508237
    Ruth, Daniel (June 16, 1987). "Chicago minister exalts `Faith'" (paid archive). Chicago Sun-Times. p. 50.
    McBride, James (June 16, 1987). "On leaving the ghetto" (paid archive). The Washington Post. p. F3.
    "'Sunday morning worship America's most segregated hour'". Post-Tribune. June 21, 1987. p. 4.
  22. ^ "Donor Profiles". The Fund for Theological Education. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  23. ^ Talev, Margaret (2008-03-20). "Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines". The McClatchy Company. Retrieved 2008-03-28. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Wright, Jeremiah (2007-03-01). "Talking Points". Trinity United Church of Christ website. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  25. ^ a b Brachear, Manya (January, 21, 2007). "Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.: Pastor inspires Obama's 'audacity'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ Kantor, Jodi (2007-03-6). "Disinvitation by Obama Is Criticized". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Wright, Jeremiah (2007-03-11). "Letter to The New York Times (pdf)" (PDF). Trinity United Church of Christ - Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Renowned Faith Leaders Come Together to Support Obama". Democracy in Action. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Smith, Ben (2008-03-14). "Wright leaves Obama campaign". The Politico. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11 Brian Ross and Rehab el-Buri, ABC News, March 13, 2008
  31. ^ Dilanian, Ken (2008-03-18). "Defenders say Wright has love, righteous anger for USA". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  32. ^ Adubato, Steve (March 21, 2008). "Obama's reaction to Wright too little, too late". MSNBC.
  33. ^ Johnson, Alex (2008-03-14). "Obama Strongly Denounces his ex-Pastor". MSNBC. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  34. ^ "Listening to Rev. Wright" OnPoint, 29 April 2008.
  35. ^ Michael Powell (2008-06-01). "Following Months of Criticism, Obama Quits His Church". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-02. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ Jeremiah Wright receives Simpson’s first Carver Medal
  37. ^ Schettler, Emily (2008-03-27). "Medal Recipient's Recent Comments Stir Controversy". The Simpsonian. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  38. ^ Goldman, Julianna (2008-05-01). "Rev. Wright's honorary degree canceled by Northwestern". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  39. ^ The Majesty Of The Blues - Track list
  40. ^ Great Preachers: Jeremiah Wright (1998)
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