04.10.08

Open Letter - To Judson Press & Editor Laura Alden for their promotion of Jeremiah Wright’s published works. [copy of e-mail attached]

Posted in Bruce at 2:09 pm by ebenezer

Dear …,

Regional Association Minister 

 I received an email today from Judson Press promoting Jeremiah Wright’s sermons. I am not sure what this extension - “the publishing arm of the National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA” and its publisher, Laura Alden, hopes to accomplish by promoting any published works from this gentleman’s pen! It may be that only “sermon bites” are being used in the media, but that does not negate the fact that it was Jeremiah Wright who was making those offensive and very divisive remarks concerning this country and her citizens in the name of religion while in the church’s pulpit. 
 
As a Christian, I was highly offended by Jeremiah Wright’s irreverent remarks when taking God’s name in vain! As an American, I was highly offended by Jeremiah Wright’s unpatriotic remarks when he blamed our government for the destruction brought about on 9-11! As a stepfather, who’s stepson is serving in the US Air Force, I can assure you that Jeremiah Wright’s right to his freedom of speech is being protected by young men and women like him who serve despite those individuals like Jeremiah Wright who disrepect the uniform that my stepson wears! As a man of a different race than Jeremiah Wright, I am highly offended that he has the audacity to accuse me, someone he does not know, as being a racist bigot who owes him because he is of a different race than I. Truly, somewhere this man - “of God” - has forgotten the second of the greatest commandments - “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jeremiah Wright’s actions show little love displayed at all towards those who are different than he.    

As a pastor of an American Baptist Church and with their consent, I urge you as our Regional Association Minister of the Indiana-Kentucky Region Association and the Association to strongly condemn Judson Press and its publisher, Laura Alden, of their untimely and uncalled for promotion of such.   
 
 
Pastor Bruce Allen
Underwood Baptist Church
Underwood, Indiana 47177

Judson Press Offers Jeremiah Wright Sermons of Hope, Joy, Strength

In the wake of negative media attention surrounding the “sermon bites” of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr., Judson Press offers the more contextualized Good News! Sermons of Hope for Today’s Families and What Makes You So Strong? Sermons of Joy and Strength from its backlist.The larger context of Wright’s preaching can be placed in what Temple University Professor Molefi Kete Asante has called Afrocentrism (i.e., Africentrism). Wright, and other Africentrists, seek to bring together Christian theology and African culture in a meaningful way. (See Africentric Christianity: A Theological Appraisal for Ministry by J. Deotis Roberts, Judson 2000). Contained in What Makes You So Strong? is “The Audacity to Hope,” the sermon from which presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama drew the title of his recent best-selling book.     Jeremiah Wright has long been part of a well-respected and leading group of African American preachers and authors associated with Judson Press, the publishing arm of National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA.  For a complete list of African American Christian resources from Judson Press, visit www.judsonpress.com.

Media requests for review copies of Jeremiah Wright Jr.’s books can be sent to: publicity@judsonpress.com Judson PressLaura Alden, Publisher800-458-3766

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