View From a Height

Black Church Rally

Of greatest interest is a march that barely got play outside Atlanta. As we learned at the "W Rocks" Rally at Red Rocks, mega churches come in all colors.

Thousands of Christian soldiers marched through one of Atlanta's most storied neighborhoods Saturday, opposing gay marriage and promoting what they see as a moral agenda for the country --- especially African-Americans.

Bishop Eddie Long, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, led the march arm-in-arm with the Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Long organized the demonstration and carried an Olympic-style torch lighted from the eternal flame at the King Center, where the march began.

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According to New Birth's Web site, the march advocated "a constitutional amendment to fully protect marriage between one man and one woman." But some who participated said gay marriage was only one of the issues motivating them.

"As a result of today's march," said New Birth member Janice Russell, "I feel like people will realize that the church --- the kingdom of God --- is alive and that we have risen up as one voice to let the world know we will stand for what is right, morally and ethically."

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But some critical clergy suggested that he might be trying to garner favor with Republicans to position New Birth as a recipient of funds from President Bush's faith-based initiative. Long would not comment Saturday.

Bush supports a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Political polls during this election year have shown that many African-American Christians --- like their white evangelical brethren --- agree with the president on social issues such as gay marriage and abortion, even though black voters remain heavily Democratic.

The anti-gay marriage sentiment is part of a larger fear on the part of many conservatives, black and white, that the culture is shifting away from the values they hold.

Polls show that almost three-quarters of African-Americans --- a larger percentage than Americans as a whole --- believe the nation is losing its "moral compass" by removing prayer from public schools and banning display of the Ten Commandments on government property.
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Maressa Penderman, a lesbian who serves as deacon at Unity Fellowship Church in Atlanta, said she believes the Republican Party is using black churches as a "Trojan horse" because of the black community's homophobia.

That Republican touch is nice. I'll bet that not one in 10 of those marching voted Republican this time. But this is clearly a mindset and a set of issues that Republicans can use to help establish a working relationship with the black community.

President Bush has tried to bypass the traditional NAACP-Jesse Jackson-Al Sharpton leadership. Maybe this foundational work will pay some political dividends. Maybe not. But 9/11 created War Democrats who support the President on the war, while opposing him on social issues and economics. Perhaps the black community is reaching a tipping point where significant numbers of voters will support the Republicans on moral and social issues. This may not help Republicans win elections, but it may help pass referenda.

Also, it gives the lie to the self-comforting northeastern liberals who portray religion-and-politics as the province of undereducated rural whites. It'll be interesting to see how the next Democratic candidates play to this group.