Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Political preaching goes beyond pulpit Date: Sun, 1 Nov 92 20:06:09 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Political preaching goes beyond pulpit \SH Churches feel compelled to act \BY Vincent McCraw \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES For decades, the line separating church and politics has been blurred, particularly in predominantly black churches mobilized to fight segregation. But a renewed activism has taken moral persuasion out of the pulpit and into streets, propelled by a recognition that preaching the gospel on social and moral issues no longer stops at the church door. The finance report recently filed by a coalition opposed to a Maryland abortion referendum, for example, included a $1,700 donation from the Solid Rock Church in Riverdale and enough money from the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Rockville to buy 50,000 yard signs. In the District last month, the manpower and financial support of the Union Temple Baptist Church played a key part in the Ward 8 Democratic primary victory of D.C. Council candidate Marion Barry. The Rev. Albert Gallmon, pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Northwest and an at-large Board of Education candidate, led the city's successful campaign for stricter liability on assault weapons and has been active in the fight against the congressionally mandated death-penalty initiative. "One of the reasons our country is going the way it is, is because churches have not been involved. For a long time churches had isolated themselves in doing their own thing," said the Rev. Paul Black, pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship in Frederick and church coordinator of the Vote Know Coalition, the group leading the opposition to the Maryland abortion measure. "It's an awakening for churches to really not only be concerned about their own issues and congregations but the issues that surround the society," said Mr. Black, whose nondenominational congregation has raised money and provided volunteers for the coalition. The Rev. Willie Wilson, pastor of Union Temple in Anacostia for 19 years, has used the church to aid the Barry campaign, endorse a slew of council candidates, support the presidential bid of independent Ron Daniels and oppose the death-penalty measure on the city's Nov. 3 ballot. "We could not have gotten on the ballot in this city had it not been for this church and Reverend Wilson," Mr. Daniels said last week. Two weeks ago, Virginia commuters were stalled for 20 miles during the morning rush hour when about 100 Union Temple men formed a human chain across the 14th Street Bridge. They called for D.C. statehood and an end to drug and gun smuggling into the city. About 95 demonstrators were arrested after a two-hour standoff. Union Temple members said they plan to work the polls Election Day, urging voters to cast their ballots against the death-penalty measure. The Rev. H. Beecher Hicks, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Shaw and treasurer of the Committee Against All Killing, which is leading the opposition to the death penalty, said the city's high crime rate forced clergy to act. "The drive-by shooting, the carjackings, the death and blood are things we cannot stand by and watch," he said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM