Here is a list of Barack Obama’s African American Religious Leadership steering committee. I see some good people on this list.
NATIONAL
Rev. Dr. Claude R. Alexander, Jr.
Senior Pastor
University Park Baptist Church
Charlotte, NC
Rev. Dr. Willie Barrow
Co-founder, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Dr. Michael Battle
President, Interdenominational Theological Center
Atlanta, GA
Bishop Dr. Arthur M. Brazier
Senior Pastor
Apostolic Church of God
Chicago, IL
The Rt. Rev. E. Lynn Brown
Presiding Bishop, 2nd Episcopal District
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
The Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Jr.
Senior Pastor
Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church
Ft. Washington, MD
Dr. Iva E. Carruthers
General Secretary
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
Dean Lawrence Edward Carter
Dean, Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel
Morehouse College
Dr. E.T. Caviness
Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church
Cleveland, Ohio
Rev. Dr. Delman L. Coates
Senior Pastor
Mt. Ennon Baptist Church
Clinton, MD
Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby
Senior Pastor
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
Houston, TX
The Rt. Rev. Philip Robert Cousin, Sr.
Senior Bishop of the A.M.E. Church
Presiding Bishop, Fourth Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley
Senior Pastor
Providence Missionary Baptist Church
Atlanta, GA
Pastor Michael Eaddy
Senior Pastor
People’s Church of the Harvest Church of God in Christ
Atlanta, Georgia
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale
Senior Pastor
Ray of Hope Christian Church
Atlanta, GA
Rev. Dr. Freddie D. Haynes, III
Senior Pastor
Friendship-West Baptist Church
Dallas, TX
Dr. Obery M. Hendricks
New York Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Hilson
Senior Pastor
New Hope Baptist Church
Portsmouth, NH
Rev. Dr. John Hunter, Sr.
Senior Pastor
First African Methodist Episcopal Church
Los Angeles, CA
Rev. Dr. M.L. Jemison
Former President, Progressive National Baptist
Senior Pastor, St. John Missionary Baptist Church
Oklahoma City, OK
Rev. Dr. Charles Jenkins
Senior Pastor
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
Chicago, IL
Rev. Dr. Matthew Vaughn Johnson
Senior Pastor
Christian Fellowship Baptist Church
Atlanta, GA
The Rt. Rev. T. Larry Kirkland
Presiding Bishop, 9th Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Rev. Alvin Love
President
National Baptist General State Convention of Illinois
Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
Civil Rights Icon
Founder, Former President, and Chair, Southern Christian Leadership
Conference
Bishop Cody V. Marshall
Presiding Bishop, Illinois Northern District
Church of God in Christ, Inc.
The Rt. Rev. E. Earl McCloud
Office of Ecumenical & Urban Affairs
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Rt. Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Presiding Bishop, 13th Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr.
Senior Pastor
Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
Rev. Otis Moss, III
Pastor
Trinity United Church of Christ
Chicago, IL
Rev. Dr. Craig Oliver
Senior Pastor
Elizabeth Baptist Church
Atlanta, GA
Rev. Joel R. Peebles
Jericho City of Praise
Landover, MD
Rev. Bertha Perkins
Senior Pastor, New Fellowship Baptist Church
Manchester, NH
Rev. Dr. Paul H. Sadler
Senior Pastor
Mt. Zion Congregational Church
Cleveland, OH
Dr. Kenneth L. Samuel
Senior Pastor
Victory for the World Church
Stone Mountain, GA
Rev. Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner
Co-founder and President
Skinner Leadership Institute
Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Smith, Jr.
President
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith
Senior Pastor
Allen Temple Baptist Church
Oakland, CA
Rev. Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr.
Senior Pastor
Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church
Atlanta, GA
Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith
Senior Pastor
Advent United Church of Christ
Columbus, OH
Rev. Edward L. Taylor
Senior Pastor
Emmanuel Baptist Church
San Jose, CA
Bishop Walter Scott Thomas
Senior Pastor
New Psalmist Baptist Church
Baltimore, MD
Rev. Dr. Frank A. Thomas
Senior Pastor
Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
Memphis, TN
Rev. Dr. Robert Thompson
Exeter Academy
Exeter, NH
Rev. Dr. Stephen John Thurston
President
National Baptist Convention of America
Bishop Larry D. Trotter
Senior Pastor
Sweet Holy Spirit Church
Chicago, IL
Rev. Albert D. Tyson, III
Senior Pastor
St. Stephen A.M.E. Church
Chicago, IL
Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian
Civil Rights Icon
Pastor Lance Watson
Senior Pastor
The St. Paul’s Baptist Church
Richmond, VA
SOUTH CAROLINA
Rev. A.C. Robinson Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
Rev. A.R. Kollock Greater Target Church
Rev. Aaron Bishop Grace Church
Rev. Adrian McIlwain Cornerstone Baptist Church
Rev. Alanza Washington Wallingford Presbyterian Church
Rev. Alfred Jefferson Garden of Prayer Church
Rev. Allen Robinson Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Alvin Murdock Christ Deliverance Church
Rev. Andrew Jordan Biggers A.M.E. Church
Rev. Angelin Simmons Johns Island Parish
Rev. Anna Miller St. James United Methodist Church
Rev. Anthony Campbell Folly Road Church of Christ
Rev. Anthony McCallum Bethlehem Baptist Church
Rev. Audrey Deas St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Rev. Benjamin Graham Mt. Zion United Methodist Church
Rev. Bernard Brown Jerusalem A.M.E. Church
Rev. Bertha Jean Burroughs Gospel Tabernacle Church
Rev. Bill Stringfellow (ret.) Cornerstone Baptist Church
Rev. Michael Blue Door of Hope Church
Rev. Boykin Jordan Living Word Baptist Church
Rev. Brown St. Beulah Baptist Church
Rev. Caesar Richburg Williams Chapel A.M.E. Church
Rev. Charles B. Jackson, Jr. New Laurel Street Baptist
Rev. Charles Heyward St. James Presbyterian Church
Rev. Charles Pee Friendship Baptist Church
Rev. Charlie Howard (ret.) Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Church
Rev. Clifford Levine Bethel A.M.E. Church
Pastor Corey J. Williams Giants 4 Christ Ministries
Rev. Daniel McCowan Maxwell Baptist Church
Rev. Deleon McRae Mt. Tema Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor Donald Goodwine St. Paul’s Baptist Church
Rev. Donna Jacobs Insight Ministries
Rev. Doris Haynes Faithworks International
Rev. Drusilla Harvin Trinity A.M.E. Church
Rev. Ed McClain Calvary A.M.E. Church
Rev. Elaine Harvey Gethsemane Baptist Church
Bishop Finas Bush Crown Christian Center
Rev. Frankie Thomas Manning Baptist Church
Rev. Freda Bonner St.Paul MBC
Rev. Freddie Thomas Mt. Bethel Baptist Church
Rev. Garfield Capers God’s Heart Ministries
Rev. George West Royal Baptist
Rev. George Windley Ebenezer Baptist
Assoc. Pastor Gollie Walker Ebenzer Baptist
Bishop Harold Sawyer Greater Zion Tabernacle
Dr. Harris Church Macedonia Missionary Baptist
Rev. Hayes Gainey Edisto Fork United Methodist
Rev. Henry Badie Pentecostal Temple
Rev. Henry Cook Friendship Baptist
Rev. Henry McGill, Jr. Mt. Pisgah Baptist
Pastor Herbert Harvey Gethsemane Baptist
Rev. Jack Peterson New Bethlehem Baptist
Rev. Jacqueline Aiken New Life Mansion
Rev. James Abraham Bethlehem Baptist
Rev. James Elbert Williams Mt. Beulah/New Hope U.M.C.
Rev. James Holiday Bushy Pond Baptist
Rev. James J. Robinson (ret.) Bethel Grove A.M.E.
Rev. James Lane Canaan/Sand Hill
Rev. Jarvis Brown Agape Christian Outreach Ministries
Rev. Jeanette Cooper-Dicks Cumberland United Methodist
Rev. Jerry Corbett Pee Dee Union Baptist
Rev. Jerry Edwards Tabernacle Baptist
Rev. John Berry New Jerusalem MBC
Rev. John Davis Berea Association
Rev. John Elliott Shady Grove United Methodist
Pastor John Smalls Greater Friendship A.M.E.
Minister Johnny Jenkins Maxwell-Pamlico Baptist
Rev. Joseph Mason Glover’s Chapel
Rev. Joseph Williams, Jr. Mt. Nebo Baptist
Assoc. Pastor Josephine Richardson Payne RMUE
Rev. Julius Barnes St. Luke
Rev. Julius McDowell Wesley UMC
Rev. Kay Colleton Manna Life Center
Rev. Keith Hunter Wesley United Methodist
Rev. Kenneth Doe St. Joseph’s Baptist
Rev. Larry Fowler Mt. Sinai Baptist
Rev. Leo Woodbury Bethlehem A.M.E.
Rev. Leon Winn Rock Hill Missionary Baptist
Rev. Leonard Huggins New Covenant United Methodist
Rev. Leroy Cannon New Bethel
Rev. Lewis Duckett Shiloh Baptist
Rev. Lonnie Jones Millway Baptist
Rev. Lowman L. Jamison Antioch Baptist (ret.)
Rev. Marvin Kelty Centerville Baptist
Rev. Matthew Furness Poplar A.M.E. Church
Rev. Michael Barr Snow Hill Baptist
Rev. Michael Peppers Fairfield Baptist Church
Rev. Minnie Chapman Pee Dee Union Baptist
Pastor Monroe Bush, Jr. Smyrna Baptist
Rev. Norman Gamble New Ebenezer Baptist
Rev. Norman Jenkins Grays Hill
Assoc. Pastor Norman Kithcart Living Word Baptist
Rev. Norman Pearson First Baptist
Rev. Odonald Dingle Shiloh Missionary Baptist
Rev. Otis Scott, Jr. Camden First U.M.C.
Rev. Ralph Canty Savannah Grove Baptist
Rev. Randolph Scipio Bula Land
Rev. Reggie McLeod, Sr. Kay Branch
Rev. Rickey Syndab Morris Chapel
Rev. Robert Capers Salem & Bethel Presbyterian
Rev. Robert Deas Lovely Hill Baptist
Rev. Robert Dennis Cedar Grove
Rev. Robin Dease Wesley United Methodist
Rev. Rodney James Mt. Hermon Baptist
Rev. Sam Whack, Jr. Chaney Grove Baptist
Rev. Samuel Burgess St. Stephen’s Baptist
Rev. Sandra Harrison Macedonia Baptist
Rev. Sandra Muldrow New Ebenezer Baptist
Rev. Sean Dogan Long Branch Baptist
Rev. Steven Singleton Mother Emanuel
Pastor Telley Gadson St. Mark’s United Methodist
Rev. Thomas Sims Mt. Zion United Methodist
Minister Verneda Temoney Savannah Grove Baptist
Rev. Victor Wilson United A.M.E.
Rev. Virgil Johnson New Revelations
Rev. Waymen Coleman Flat Rock A.M.E. Church
Rev. William Pee Pleasant Grove Baptist
Rev. William Swinton Ebenezer A.M.E.
Rev. William Thompson Mt. Claire Baptist
Rev. Willie Dennis Union Baptist
Rev. Willie Fant Miracle COGIC
Pastor Winnifa Clark Shephard’s Outreach
Rev. Winston Olithant Rosa Spring Baptist
UPDATE 12/26: Two ministers on the original list told the AP that they have not endorsed Senator Obama. I deleted their names above. Read more.
UPDATE 3/14: As of today, Rev. Jeremiah Wright is no longer on the steering committee. His name has been deleted. Read more.
January 6, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I gave the following article to Senator Barak Obama and his wife the week after his announcement in order to encourage them and to strengthen his faith in God’s Providence. But because of the nature of the prophecy, I could not make it public. I am moved by the Holy Spirit that now is the time for African American Pastors across South Carolina and the South to be made aware that this is more than History.
Please be kind enough to read and then disseminate . . . and may God defend the right!
SONS OF ISSACHAR
A Biblical Rationale for the Presidential Campaign of Barak Obama
by
Kenneth R. Adderley, Ph.D., M.Div., M.A.
Professor of Religion & Theology
Bethsaida Bible Institute
http://www.bethsaidabible.org
The devil hit us with Osama,
But God raised up Obama,
The devil hastily made a death-launching push
By stealing elections and approving Bush,
But God, whose Will is not slack,
Remembered the prophecy and raised up Barak. ©
I. Jacob’s Prophecy
A. Issachar’ Prophecy (Genesis 49: 14-15)
1. Before Jacob died, he was moved by the Spirit to prophesy about the future of his sons.
2. The twelve disciples Jesus chose mirror the twelve tribes of Israel—since He was the New Israel.
3. Thus, the names of the twelve tribes written over the twelve gates of the Holy City presupposes that even black people who make it to Heaven will have to enter through one of those gates. So the theological question remains: “Which gate fits the typology for Black People?”
4. The prophecy about Issachar demonstrates quite clearly that Blacks are numbered by God in the tribe of Issachar.
5. Jacob prophesied that Issachar will be forced into slavery by their brethren (the other 11 tribes), and will be forced to carry two heavy burdens while they engage in the agricultural work.
6. Those two burdens suggested by the Hebrew and its cognates are “high rents” and “taxes.”
7. But because he is burdened down with these encumbrances, and forced to labor in the fields, Issachar is too tired to fight and contents himself to “bow his shoulder to bear, and become a servant unto Tribute (task work)” because he saw that the rest was good.
B. Blacks in America
1. History records the “forced” enslavement of Blacks in the Americas.
2. Their white brothers forced them to do the agricultural work, but still burdened them with high rents and taxes or tributes in the sharecropping system after slavery was abolished.
3. Because the task work or gang labor was from before sun-up till after sun-down, Blacks were too tired to carry forward a successful resistance to that injustice, and contented themselves to bow down until God raised up a ‘Moses’ in Martin King.
4. But just like the prophecy on Issachar’s experience in Israel, so the historical record of Blacks mirror the Biblical typology.
II. Barak’s Victory (Judges 4: 3-5:15)
A. Winning the War
1. The next time the Bible mentions Issachar is when he moved from being a slave to becoming a soldier.
2. God’s people were fighting for their lives, and God moved upon Deborah, a prophetess and a judge (counselor) in Israel to go to Barak (same name) and encourage him to lead the fight to save the nation and the people.
3. Barak hesitated (Judges 4:8) but agreed to go if God’s prophetess would go with him to battle.
4. The bible says that Deborah arose and went with Barak (v.9) and that he called Zebulon and Naphtali, armed soldiers of war to go up with them. (I do not know if this reference is to Michele) but notice that Bible does not mention that Barak called out Issachar to fight. However, all through the wilderness wanderings Issachar is always encamped somewhere between Zebulon and Naphtali, with three tribes on each of the four-sided encampment.
5. Nevertheless, when the war is won, Judges 5:15 says that “the princes (leaders) of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak:”
6. The implication here must be that even though Issachar gets no credit or recognition as men of war, soldiers if you please, they are instrumental in the battle.
7. The proof of this is seen in the last clause of Judges 5:15, which says that “he (Issachar) was sent on foot into the valley.” The importance of this is only seen in American History and the bravery of men like the 54th Massachusetts (portrayed by Denzel Washington in the movie Glory, and Company E of the 4th U.S. Colored Infantry at Ft. Lincoln, District of Columbia).
B. Recognition & Medals
1. Just like in the Bible, Blacks who moved from being slaves to becoming soldiers fighting for America received no recognition for anything they did. In fact, President Bill Clinton was the first of the modern Presidents to award, posthumously, medals to seven of the Tuskegee Airmen who hundreds of thousands of lives. The last living one was from the State of Iowa.
2. The importance of Judges 5:15 is seen in how the black soldiers, who were former slaves, were sent over the mountain and into the valley in the dead of night to destroy the Confederate guns, which were massacring white Union soldiers trying to open the Road to Richmond, Virginia.
3. Some 536 or more of them were slaughtered by the big guns, but every time the standard-bearer fell another black picked it up and pressed forward with a rallying cry until, in the light of day, they stood atop the hill victorious and had opened the Road to Richmond. This was the Battle of Chafin’s Farm. But just like the Bible gives credit to only Zebulon and Naphtali for risking their lives in the fight (5:18), so in U. S. History, the textbooks are silent about the sacrifice and bravery of the former Black slaves turned soldiers. They got no recognition and no medals.
III. Political Savvy (I Chron. 12:32)
A. The Nation Is Deeply Divided
1. Israel is deeply divided. David is King in Hebron ruling the two tribes that eventually become known as Judah (the Jews). The other ten tribes are resisting his rule, even though God swore that he was the chosen one.
2. We meet Issachar again, but this time he has moved from being a slave to being a soldier, and now is a politician with “understanding of the times.”
3. The bible says that “the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” were all under the command of their leaders, or princes, or brethren, which numbered 200.
4. The phrase understanding of the times in the Hebrew can only mean “political understanding.”
5. Israel was deeply divided, and Issachar sensed that the best political move was to unite the entire nation behind David with David as King since he was chosen by God.
6. There were those who resisted God’s choice, but Issachar, being the only ones with the political savvy and the knowledge that the present course was too dangerous for the nation, brought the food and drinks (I Chron. 12:40), convince Zebulon and Naphtali to help them, and united the others to join their cause.
7. Their solution to the problem was to make David King over all Israel (12:38) and they came together with one heart to do just that.
8. The typology here is too great and too serious to miss or to discard in a flippant manner; and while no-one can state with absolute assurance that the prophecy speaks as set out, one thing is certain. Issachar started out as a slave. He became a soldier. And the children of Issachar emerged as the only ones in Israel with “understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do. (I Chron. 12:32)
B. Who Has the Political Answers
1. If the imagery of Genesis 49 is correct and the typology is sound, then that of Judges 5:15 must follow in the continuum.
2. And if Judges 5:15 points in typology to African American slaves who fought in America’s wars trying to get whites to change their image of Black people, then I Chronicles 12: 32-40 has greater significance for this time.
IV. Conclusion
Please draw your own conclusion after the facts are in, and while it may seem that the references to Deborah pre-shadowed Oprah, I can only say that in Judges 6:11, when Israel was again beset upon by the Midianites, the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and sat under the “Oprah tree.”
2. Thus, does this mean that we have been languishing from King’s time, and that now our Barak is to be like Gideon?
January 23, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Obama was not of slave ancestry and anyone can fit prohesy to meet their vision. “And your daughters shall prophesy. ” For such a time as this has God called women to raise their voices, and weep. “Call for the mourning women”.
Obama and Hillary have two things in common, elite educations and white mothers and grandmothers who loved and nutured them.
January 28, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Why does Obama deny his whiteness?..He is biracial. He should be proud to be half & half..Being half white is not a dirty word.
February 5, 2008 at 9:34 pm
The fact that I am from BAMA–OR ALABAMA sends chills up my spine everytime I hear that name. It means so much to our community. Not just a Black Man, but a man who is getting the JOB done. One who for the lack of better termonology a
“WORLD CHANGER”, A VISIONARY, A FRESH PRODUCE, WHO WILL PRODUCE IN DUE SEASON.. I am on his side because even though he does not know my family personally, he is on our side too. Let us live in a time when DREAMS really do come true. A time when the crooked places can be make straight, and some wrongs made right and some injustices flip from sickness to wellness. some wrongs made right in the sight of GOD and MAN. Perfect–far from it, REAL right on time. Change willingly or change by force…But CHANGE has arrived !!!!!
February 11, 2008 at 10:39 am
It is ashame that God had His hands tied when Bush was in office, as if He was not in control then but is in control now that Obama is on the scene. I think you people need to read Scripture. Especially the reign of Saul.
March 15, 2008 at 8:49 am
Obama has a white mother and a black father. He learned Islam from his father and his step-father as a child. Did he learn Christianity from his mother? From this article I understand that the Rev. Wright was the one who taught him Chritianity.
March 16, 2008 at 3:01 am
Three years ago I was transformed from a political aware individual to a political activist in large part because I heard Bush proclaiming the U.S. a “Christian nation.” I didn’t think that was appropriate in a nation where we are supposed to be a melting pot where people of all religious stripes can live together in peace. In the same vein, I don’t think it is appropriate for a political figure to have a religious advisory committee.
Being a white man who has dated and lived with a black woman, being personally color blind, I also take issue with limiting any such committee to African-Americans. It is racist on its face just as surely as if Senator Clinton had a Caucasian Economic Advisory Committee.
I will be voting Libertarian this time around.
March 16, 2008 at 11:03 am
While reading an article about Rev. Jerimiah Wright I learned that Senator Obama has a African-American Religious Leadership Committee. If this committee truly represents the African-American then were is the Muslim Leadership?
There are plenty of imams from California to the District of Columbia that would have done well to sit and advise on this committee. To just name a few I will throw out some names: Imam Faheem Shuaibe of Masjidul Waritheen, Oakland, CA; Imam W.D. Mohammed of Mosque Cares, Chicago, IL; Imam Plemon Elamin of Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, Atlanta, GA; Imam Rudolph Muhammad of Al-Inshirah Islamic Center, Kansas City, MO; and Imam Izak Pasha of Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, New York, NY.
March 24, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I hope that some way you are capable of keeping That Reverends ways o.k
Thank you Gil Wainwright
October 9, 2008 at 10:00 am
Rev. Adderley,
Fleetwood, Hilton, and Veale were each issued the Medal of Honor just over six months later, on April 6, 1865, for their bravery at Battle of New Market Heights (Chaffin’s Farm) near Richmond on September 29, 1864. A total of 14 men were given Medal of Honor awards for their actions.
Somehow, you missed this little detail in your hurry to proclaim Obama as a prophetic leader.
I would think a religious leader would be more careful, not wanting to discredit his own words and leadership.