A New Coalition Emerges to Protect Marriage

The group, which included pastors, community activists and
denominational leaders, decided to send out a group letter to the
president and to develop a pro-biblical marriage resource that could
be used around the country.

The summit culminated with a press conference in which black,
Hispanic, white and Asian leaders stood shoulder-to-shoulder. We
wanted to let the nation know that Christian leaders will not be
silent on the issue of same-sex marriage. We also wanted to ask the
president and the legislators of both parties to convey to us their
specific strategies.

Many of the leaders who attended our press conference voted for
President Obama in 2008; nonetheless, they wanted clarity on what the
president, the Senate and the Congress planned to actually do as a
result of the president’s “evolution” concerning same-sex
marriage.

We are deeply concerned about what this means for the future of
the already dangerously weakened social fabric of our country. The
first media responses to our press conference were predictable. Many
outlets seemed to dismiss us as simply anti-Obama “Neanderthals.”
One of CNN’s press team even accused Tony Perkins, president of
Family Research Council, of having a personal hatred for homosexuals.

While traditional news outlets continue to create and misread
their own tea leaves (polls), pro-biblical marriage masses are
rallying. For example, I was present Tuesday when marriage advocates
delivered 113,000 petitions to the Maryland State House in order to
add a marriage amendment to the 2012 ballot (twice as many petitions
as needed, delivered five weeks early).

Those who misconstrue our concern about same sex marriage as rank
bigotry would do well to keep in mind several facts:

First, we must be clear that this is not primarily a political
issue. Democratic President Bill Clinton understood this when he
signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. People across the
political spectrum believe that marriage is the union of one man and
one woman. It is a shame that an issue of such magnitude is being
intellectually suffocated and pushed into a partisan political
package.

Second, African-Americans have been among the most difficult to
sway on this issue. While some may indeed change their minds because
of President Obama’s endorsement, word of mouth around our
community indicates that many more no longer feel they can
wholeheartedly support the president. They may not become
Republicans, but their sentiments may be similar to those of a former
president who said famously, “I didn’t leave the Democratic
Party. The party left me.” The Obama endorsement seemed like a slap
in the face to grass-roots black and Hispanic Christians.

Third, the overwhelming majority of African-Americans do not
believe that the redefinition of marriage to include homosexual
unions is in keeping with the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) activists have
repeatedly attempted to hijack the moral authority of racial
minorities who suffered under centuries of legalized racial
discrimination at the hands of the government.

Americans as a whole should know that most black Americans find
this deeply offensive. At the core of this new coalition is a
commitment to biblical marriage that transcends race, class or
culture. The Hispanic community shares the common-sense understanding
that same-sex marriage is not a civil right.

Both major minorities understand that rights must be granted from
some superior source such as the Constitution or the Bible. To make
same-sex marriage a 14th amendment issue would desecrate the
sacrifices of black and brown champions of yesteryear.

Further, the Bible can hardly be seen to endorse either
homosexuality or same-sex marriage. Therefore, our group realizes
that same-sex marriage is a request for special rights. As a result
of this kind of thinking, black and Hispanic Christian leaders have
become uniquely aware that they are the last stronghold of protection
for traditional, biblical marriage as we know it.

Fourth, many Americans who do not profess religious faith are
deeply concerned about the social effects of redefining marriage.
Similar legislative decisions in Scandinavian countries in the 1990s
have been associated with skyrocketing out-of-wedlock birthrates and
an overall decline in marriage. Common sense reminds us that words
that mean everything mean nothing. The broader the definition of
marriage becomes, the weaker it becomes as an institution.

This new coalition has not yet been given a formal name, but the
concept has gripped our hearts. We have agreed to take three
immediate steps of action:

1.) Join in a 40-day fast through which we will beseech God to
heal the soul of our nation.

2.) Recruit a diverse group of churches around the nation to
affirm traditional marriage on Father’s Day (June 17). They will do
this by preaching an appropriate message on marriage and by reading a
declaration of commitment to defend and uphold God’s first
institution.

3.) Participate with the High Impact Leadership Coalition, City
Action Coalition, Renewing American Leadership (ReAL), Charisma Media
and the National Hispanic Leadership Conference, along with others of
faith, in a “vertical vote” campaign this election season
designed to inform, inspire and register groundswell Christians to
vote. (More information to follow.)

In conclusion, if you want to be part of this growing coalition
that transcends traditional ethnic boundaries, party lines and
denominations, go to thetruthinblackandwhite.com. Click on the
Stand for Marriage graphic, read the information and sign the letter
to the president. Next, you should order the DVDs and CDs (available
June 7) and take the important three steps listed above. Together, we
can make the difference in our communities and nation!

Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr. is the senior pastor of Hope Christian Church, a 3,000-member congregation in the Washington, D.C., area.