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Warren Reaches Out in Bad Form
OK.
Somebody help me out here.
I had already written about my feelings about Pastor Rick Warren being chosen by President-Elect Rick Warren to pray the invocation at his inauguration. I stated my case and was done with it.
Then Pastor Warren did the most amazing thing, and now I need someone to help me understand.
Last week, not a few prominent African American preachers got emails from Pastor Rick. At first, those who received letters were honored, I guess. Pastor Rick, due to speak Monday (Martin Luther King's holiday) at Ebenezer Baptist Church, was asking these revered and respected African American preachers for their input.
That was OK ...except it was form letter. That's right. The exact same letter was sent to all of these clergy, with the first paragraph changed to include the name of the person to whom the email was sent. The email, supposedly penned by Pastor Rick, said that he had recently gone through some old copies of African American Pulpit, which contains sermons of preachers from all over the country.
His email told each preacher that he was moved by what he had read ...and asked the preachers for help. I mean, each preacher got asked the same question.
"What would you say," he asked, in reference to the sermon he was due to preach at Ebenezer Baptist Church on the King holiday.
Well, the preachers got to calling each other and found out first that the email was authentic, and then, that everyone had gotten the same letter.
One of my colleagues, who happens to be one of the editors of the African American Pulpit and who received the email, wrote Pastor Rick after learning that it was a form letter that had been sent out. His note to Pastor Rick informed him that he was angry and insulted, and suggested that a better way to be reconciling with his African American clergy brothers and sisters would be by talking with them and forming relationships. The way he had "reached out," was really not a reach at all, this colleague suggested, and really showed that Pastor Rick had no respect for the clergy to whom he had sent the email.
What happened? Pastor Rick sent a form letter response. It said, basically that he, Pastor Rick, thanked the clergyperson for answering his email and helping him out.
OK. Someone who is wise, help me to understand.
Because in my limited purview, this whole thing wreaked of patronization, disrespect and even disdain for the whole notion of genuine reconciliation.
It felt like a slap in the face, like Rick Warren, weathering the storms of protest over his selection as the person to pray the Invocation, was doing whatever he must to do to placate the natives.
Surely he knew that how he "reached out" would not be received well. Surely he knew that it was an insult to assume that black preachers could be "hushed" because the great Rick Warren had somehow gotten their email addresses and contacted them.
His "reaching out" didn't go over very well, as you might imagine. I am now even more leery of this man praying for this new administration. I wonder what he is praying for, honestly?
There was no wisdom, no genuine reconciliatory gesture, no honesty, and no integrity in what Rick Warren did. He absolutely showed that he has not a clue about race in America, and the strained relationship between whites and blacks. I cannot for the life of me figure out why he did it.
So, someone, help me.
By
Susan K. Smith
|
January 19, 2009; 9:27 PM ET
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Posted by: Kay30 | January 27, 2009 5:45 PM
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Dr Smith,
In my opinion this was just not a priority for Pastor Warren hence the form letter to the African American community. If he had true sincerity then he would have taken the appropriate time for this manner.
Posted by: Kay30 | January 27, 2009 1:11 PM
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In Rick Warren's attempt to "reach out" to the African American clergy, he clearly showed that he had no concern or respect whatsoever for their opinions. He was simply trying to placate the other side, a somewhat political move, perhaps to try to calm the controversy surrounding his views and his choice to deliver the prayer at the inauguration. But his decision to send a form letter showed that it was simply a move of strategy and nothing more. And it was quite an insulting move at that. If Pastor Warren did not care about the black clergy, which it was obvious he didn't, then he shouldn't have made a move to reach out at all. Phony sentiments are not needed Pastor Rick, you can keep them along with your divisive and hateful views about some of God's children. If he truly wanted to build a relationship and valued the opinions of the black clergy, he would've tried to do so in a more personal way, instead of trying to send out form letters to get in on their good side, when it was clear he cared nothing about what they truly might've had to say. Pastor Rick, do better.
Posted by: spellady08 | January 24, 2009 12:22 PM
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matter.