Dean Snyder, pastor of Hillary Clinton’s former church, warns against using Jeremiah Wright to polarize the nation
I’d like to provide everyone with a statement issued by Dean J. Snyder, Senior Minister of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. Foundry is the church that the Clinton’s attend during their time in the White House.
It should be noted that Syder was not the pastor of Foundry when the Clintons were there. Also, I added the paragraph breaks as the statement appears all together on the Foundry website.
A STATEMENT CONCERNING THE REV. JEREMIAH WRIGHT
The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream.
To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African-American church which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence.
Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear. Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize.
This is a critical time in America’s history as we seek to repent of our racism. No matter which candidates prevail, let us use this time to listen again to one another and not to distort one another’s truth.
Dean J. Snyder, Senior Minister
Foundry United Methodist Church
March 19, 2008
