Presidential wannabe Barack Obama has featured his church-going habits in his campaign for the Democratic nomination. However, the tenets of his Church, Trinity United Church of Christ, could prove problematic for the inexperienced Senator. This is apparently not a new story, but I’m just coming across it. From their website:

Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:

1. Commitment to God
2. Commitment to the Black Community
3. Commitment to the Black Family
4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethic
7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community
10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions
11. Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System
12. Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.

First of all, I in no way think this church is doing something which they should not be able to do. They have a right to associate whatever values they want with their church. Rather, I believe they should recognize on their own that the values they are choosing to highlight do more harm than good. What I take issue with is the social ramifications this type of self segregation has on society. As long as we continue to emphasize lines within the community, there will be strife in America between different ethnic groups.

America would be far better off if we had fewer churches declaring a dedication to just one part of a community instead of the community as a whole. We don’t need a Black Value System and a White Value System and a Latino Value System…etc. We need an American Value System. Martin Luther King understood this, which is why he is so highly regarded still today. A man who wants to be the first black President should understand this as well. In this regard, the religious institution he chooses to associate with tells us a good deal about him.

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