As they say in Congress, "I wish to associate myself with the gentle lady's comments."

Lucy, I am black, proud to be black, and I am, admittedly, often the most comfortable in the company of just other African Americans. I am all for the strengthening of the African Diaspora in America.

I grew up in a "black church" but our church did not have a statement of "non-diversity" like the one you have shown us above.

I agree with you that Obama has not gone far enough. I can easily put myself in the shoes of non-blacks in perceiving that church's mission as racist. Obama must distance himself clearly with specificity from the racist "about us" page of his church.

I myself would not approve of, nor belong to, any church that practiced what I call "reverse racism" - and, at the very least, I would want the first black president to do the same - without equivocation.

I think Obama's speech was too long, too wordy, too much "beating around the bush" and did not state clearly that reverse racism is wrong.

If we (African Americans) are going to assume new powers in our government, we will need to be as careful about "reverse racism" as we have expected whites to be about the original racism. Obama is not exempted.

I hope he hears us.

First let me say that I am a supporter of Obama.

Like Barack Obama, I am of mixed race. But, unlike Obama, I don't have any white blood - at least none that I know of. I am Asian, African and Latino.

I would not feel welcome at Obama's church.

I agree that Obama has not addressed the issue at the heart of the matter.

This isn't about Obama's church, and, it's not even about Obama's pastor, Rev. Wright. This is about Obama. I agree that the solution here isn't for Obama to "distance" himself from Rev. Wright, or distance himself from some of Wright's obscure but public political speeches about African American issues. The issue here is about the church. Obama has been a member of it for 20 years and the church (apart from Wright or Wright's statements) has always had an African-centric mission. To the extent that it's divisive and non-inclusive, does Obama even recognize this? And, if so, why hasn't he denounced that which is at the core, apart from Rev. Wright? And, most importantly, if Obama can see that his church is not inclusive for non-blacks, why has it taken Obama 20 years to notice it? This is not about Rev. Wright. Distancing himself from Wright will not eliminate the questions that are being raised here.

For the record, I am a Clinton supporter but if Obama wins the nomination (as I expect him to) - then, I will work hard to get him elected. But, this cloud of what Zola calls "reverse racism" isn't going to go away unless Obama does a better job of addressing it directly. That will harm us all - and - our ability to take back the White House.

WOW. Oops. I think my post strikes a chord. I would venture to say that many of the readers, black, white, asian and latino, that read this site or comment here are somewhat homogeneous in both our religious and political views, to a degree. We, for the most part, admire Obama, and, I think most of us want to see him elected. But, if we agree there's a problem in his omission of statement today, can you imagine how the GOP will go to town with this?

I've been looking around the net too for reactions to Obama and his church. I found this by Jim Wallis, worthy of some consideration:

It has simmered throughout this campaign, and now race has exploded into the center of the media debate about the presidential race. Just when a black political leader is calling us all to a new level of responsibility, hope, and unity; the old and divisive rhetoric of race from both blacks and whites is rearing its ugly head to bring down the best chance we have had for years of finally moving forward.

And that is indeed the real issue here. A black man is closer to possibly becoming president than ever before in American history. And this black man is not even running as "a black man" but as a new kind of political leader who believes the country is ready for a new kind of politics. But a new kind of politics and a new face for political leadership is deeply threatening to all the forces that represent the old kind of politics in America. And all the rising focus on race in this election campaign has one purpose and one purpose alone -- to stop Barack Obama from becoming President of the United States.

Barack Obama should win or lose his Party's nomination or the presidency based on the positions he takes regarding the great issues of our time and his capacity to lead the country and America's role in the world. He must not win or lose because of the old politics of race in America. That would be a tragedy for all of us.

The cable news stations and talk radio are playing carefully selected excerpts of the most potentially incendiary statements from Rev. Jeremiah Wright's fiery sermons, the retiring pastor of Barack Obama and his family's home Trinity Church in Chicago. Obama, while affirming the tremendous work his church has done in his city and around the nation, has condemned the most controversial remarks of his pastor. But the whole controversy points to the enormous gap in understanding between the mainstream black community in America and the experience of many white Americans. And that is what we are going to have to heal if we are ever to move forward.

Here is what I mean.

There is a deep well of both frustration and anger in the African American community in these United States of America. And those feelings are borne of the concrete experience of real oppression, discrimination, and blocked opportunities that most of America's white citizens take for granted. African Americans across the spectrum of income and success will speak personally to those feelings of frustration and anger, when white people are willing to listen. But usually we are not. In 2008, to still not comprehend or seek to understand the reality of black frustration and anger, is to be in a state of white denial which, very sadly, is where many white Americans are.

The black church pulpit has historically been a place of prophetic truth-telling about the realities that black people experience in their own country. Indeed, the black church has often been the only place where such truths are ever told. And, black preachers have had the pastoral task of nurturing the spirits of people who feel beaten down week after week. Strong and prophetic words from black church pulpits are often a source of comfort and affirmation for black congregations. The truth is that many white Americans would indeed feel uncomfortable with the rhetoric of many black preachers from many black churches all across the country.

But if you look beyond the grainy black and white clips of the dashiki clad Rev. Wright and the angry black male voice (all designed to provoke stereotypes and fear) to actually listen to what the words are saying about America being run by "rich white people" while blacks have cabs speeding by them, and about American misdeeds around the world, it's hard to disagree with many of the facts presented. It's rather the angry tone of Wright's comments that provides the offense and the controversy.

Ironically, a new generation of black Americans is now eager and ready to move beyond the frustration and anger to a new experience of opportunity and hope. And nobody represents that shift more than Barack Obama. There is a generational shift occurring within the black community itself, between an older generation who are sometimes perceived to be stuck in the politics of victimization and grievance, and a younger generation who believe that opportunity and progress are now possible--not by ignoring, but by being committed to actually changing the facts of oppression and discrimination.

Barack Obama represents that hope of dealing with the substance of the issues of injustice while at the same time articulating the politics of hope, and even the possibility of racial unity. Obama's attraction to many who are white, especially a new generation, demonstrates the promise of a new racial politics in America. But to be a leader for a new generation of black Americans, Barack Obama had to be firmly rooted in the black church tradition, where the critique of white America, the sustenance of the African American community, and God's promise for the future are all clearly articulated. That's why he began attending Trinity Church where he was converted to Jesus Christ in the black liberationist tradition of, among others, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

So it would be a great tragedy if the old rhetoric of black frustration and anger were to now hurt Barack Obama, who has become the best hope of beginning to heal that very frustration and anger. Obama has never chosen to talk about race in the way that Rev. Jeremiah Wright does on the video clips that keep playing, and indeed has never played "the race card" at any time in this election. It's been his opponents that have, especially the right-wing conservative media machine that wants America to believe he is secretly a Muslim and is from a "racist" church.

This most recent controversy over race just demonstrates how enormous the gap still is between whites and blacks in America -- in our experience and our capacity to understand one another. May God help us to heal that divide and truly bless America.

I agree with Wallis and his appeal for closing the gap, but, I also agree with Lucy that Obama will need to do more than distance himself from Wright. In fact, it saddens me too that Obama has distanced himself from his and Oprah's pastor. What Obama needs to do, as Lucy has said, to close the gap, as Wallis suggests - is Obama needs to distance himself from a church that only welcomes one race, if indeed that's the case.

The bloggers are talking:

Taylor Marsh: "Senator Obama gave a speech today that is larger than politics, but it in no way ends his political challenges. The national wound of race Barack didn't want to touch is now reopened nationally and in the spotlight again. While his campaign wants to move on, the country will not, because everyone will be talking about race, through the invitation of Obama's speech today."

Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic: "I do think that Obama's speech was a marvel of contemporary political rhetoric. Politically, analytically and emotively, it hit many high notes. His acknowledgment of white working class resentments (busing) and about the perception that there's been no racial progress, his willingness to stick by his friends, his grasp of history, his sense that our views of race are cramped and caricatured."

David Kurtz, TPM: "It is remarkable for its nuance, for its long view of history, and for its decency. I am not sure, on first take, how effective it is politically. Your thoughts? Late Update: The text is one thing. Delivery is another. And Obama doesn't seem to have his A game today."

Josh Marshall, TPM: "I think I have to dissent from David's view that Obama didn't bring his A-game to the speech this morning. I was only able to listen/watch out of the corner of my eye because I was on deadline for something else. But my sense was that the tempo and tenor was suited to the occasion. The kind of stirring delivery he's made a trademark of in his victory celebrations would not have been appropriate for the moment."

Ben Smith, Politico: "A smart colleague notes that this speech is the polar opposite of this year's other big speech on faith, in which Mitt Romney went to Texas to talk about Mormonism, but made just one reference to his Mormon faith. Obama mentions Wright by name 14 times."

Andrew Sullivan: "Alas, I cannot give a more considered response right now as I have to get on the road. But I do want to say that this searing, nuanced, gut-wrenching, loyal, and deeply, deeply Christian speech is the most honest speech on race in America in my adult lifetime. It is a speech we have all been waiting for for a generation. Its ability to embrace both the legitimate fears and resentments of whites and the understandable anger and dashed hopes of many blacks was, in my view, unique in recent American history."

Scout Finch, DailyKos: "This speech is amazingly honest and will hopefully spark a long overdue discussion on race in America. We'll see if it is enough to blunt to criticism of his relationship with Reverend Wright. I think he's done a spectacular job thus far of denouncing specific remarks by Reverend Wright, while still standing steadfastly by him and his community."

Hhhhm.

This is a lot to think about.

As a rule, I try not to be judgmental. I find myself asking, "Who am I to judge another's church?" Then, I find my way back to Lucy's original opening where she asks if we would think it right for a church to be "white" focused or anglo-centric? I then again find myself asking who am I to judge? Finally, I end up realizing that it doesn't matter what I think because perhaps Americans will judge. By and large, Americans are judgmental. If whites feel disenfranchised by Obama, will there be a problem in his electability? I do care about electability.

I'm still mulling this all over...

Lucy, I've been listening to the media today. Their spin or focus is different than yours and also different from Obama's. The media (and Obama) are addressing the attacks that Wright made on racism. I don't disagree with Wright on that. He has every right to attack racism.

Lucy you, though, bring up something new. You are focussing on Obama's church, not on Wright.

It seems like you are saying that it bothers you that your future president attends a church where you do not think you would be welcome or you would not feel welcome. Or maybe you are saying that other Americans may react this way.

This is what I've been mulling over. Jews would not feel unwelcome at Romney's Mormon church, provided that they eventually converted to Mormonism. Would whites feel welcome at Obama's African-centric church, is your question, if they cannot convert to Africanism or change the color of their skin?

I'm still mulling...

My whole life, I have attended the same church. Its the same with my parents. Our church has the word "African" in the name of the church. We are African Methodist Episcopal. SO see its not unusual for the word African to be used liberally in a black church's name. What i do think is unusual is - as the writer above points out - is that the "about us" or mission of the church seems to exclude people of other colors. I don't think I like that at all. It's like a reversal of circumstances. Two wrongs don't make a right.

It doesn't change my feelings about Barack - altho I agree with some here and elsewhere that say he hasn't squarely put to rest the fact that his church seems exclusionary. I guess I don't blame non-blacks for feeling offended. I have confidence that Barack will figure this out and make it right.

Just in case the point gets lost - I want to reiterate that I didn't accuse Obama of "reverse racism" but did suggest that others could or would or might or may already be doing so. It's time this sort of thing came to the fore - issues of black against white racism as well as issues of white against black racism. Regular racism as well as reverse racism - no matter what - it's still racism. All racism is bad. Like one of the commenters above, I think this will all get worked out.

You guys still at it? LOL
I don't like the idea of "dueling churches" - that is comparing the faiths of candidates. I did become curious though to see what the "about us" pages at Hillary's church says. Apparently Hillary has had a significant relationship with three Methodist Churches, first one in Illinois, then on in Arkansas and most recently for several years the one in Washington DC. I haven't yet found the websites for the first two but I spent some time on her current church site - Foundry United Methodist.

Here's my observation. Foundry church seems to be equally black and white. They have pictures of their ministry staffs and I see female, male, white and black faces in about equal numbers. Rather than being ethnic-centric, Hillary's church talks about the importance of diversity. This comes from her church's "vision" page:

Hillary's 3rd Church: Foundry United Methodist, Washington DCVision
We, the fellowship of Foundry United Methodist Church, seek to build a vibrant, diverse, and welcoming faith community through:

• Worship, prayer, and study that nurtures us spiritually and strengthens us for Christian Service
• Mission work that is a force for social justice in our community and in the world
• Active ministries that prepare the entire congregation, especially youth, to engage in every aspect of Church life
• Responsible stewardship that sustains our historic building, provides abundant resources for ministries, and allocates those resources wisely.
• Responding to God’s call, we will be a reflection of Christ at all times and in all places.

OK, so there's mention of "diversity" in the beginning but no identification with any race after that. Let me repeat: I dislike comparing these churches. I see though that there's a difference. That's all. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just digging for information.

I once went to an Asian American church in Silicon Valley. They welcomed people from other races, but overall they were mostly Chinese and Chinese Americans. For a while it was good being in that church, but after a while it got to be very insular. But I think that is the temptation of any group. Just as the views of people in that church did not necessarily reflect mine, it may be jumping the gun to presume that Trinity reflects the opinions of Obama. We all befriend and associate with people who have different opinions as we do. From what I've read in the latest Newsweek, Trinity has a wide variety of viewpoints within its congregation. I think the greater danger is if we associate only with people who think like ourselves.

I support Hillary, but I like Obama too. I think his message of transcending the divisions in America is a good message. Hopefully he could use this controversy to talk about issues of race in a constructive way to two groups that often seem to be talking past each other.

I have to admit that replacing the word "black" with "white" in the "white" church's description was riveting, but more so as I read on. I came to appreciate a form of honesty in Trinity's mission statement. It did not try to tell you as a non-black you couldn't come there, it does tells you what to expect; what they have been and intend to be about and why, especially as you read how they understand God to have been their support through slvery, etc....something that was glaringly missing from the revised "white church" version.

I also realized, that if many churches attended by white parishoners were honest, this is EXACTLY what they would say and that they act accordingly. Sunday morning service, by and large IS the most segregated hour of the week.

Persons, not of color, writing on the Obama blog have shared their experiences at that church and found a welcome like none they have experienced before. Perhaps such a welcome is considered to be part of the "black" experience? Are we reading too much into this mission statement, yellowed with time, but still relevant to at least some of it's members, as Barack exlained so well? For them, and I feel we dare not judge, this validation seemed necessary at one time and who are we to question it? Barack found his first church home there and was not likely to go off looking for another based on your or my evaluation of how pure that form of Christianity might be.

People who don't want Barack as President will find reasons to continue not wanting him. His leaving his church or demanding they update their mission statement is not going to make a difference. He will be going to church in Washington DC now and probably already often does. He has explained where HE stands. It is in fact on the quicksand that our society provides for people of mixed race. He isn't black enough, but hey, wait a second, now he is TOO black. So, is he BLACK MUSLIM then? No he 's Christian, but not Christian like normal people.

Give him a break! He told you where HE stands and did so eloquently, clearly and with great wisdom. He did so much better at this speech than practically ANYONE else could have. He shows the ability to deal with complex issues, educate and inspire to our mutual uplifting.

Just when everybody thought, "Well, I guess THEY must have him NOW," he spoke calmly, honestly and perceptively. I don't see how anyone who REALLY listened to that speech could have trouble with it. I suggest everyone read it again.

I was glad to see people understand it is NOT about this Pastor Wright. In the preaching styles of some black and in some white "holy roller' churches, they do get "exercised" at times in sort of a condemnatory fashion to emphasize how wrong something is...how displeased God must be and so forth. Immediately after such a sermon, they can revert to affable pleasantries and go on with life. It is not considered "disturbed" at all and just a preaching style.

In the midst of that raw emotion which I think Barack gave great insight into, exaggerations and hyperbole are not unusual and should not be taken too seriously. Obviously white America was definitely tempted to do just that. I am so pleased that Barack was able to define and defend and reaffirm what is important. I ask you, does anyone REALLY believe, Barack is racist?