| Trinity United Church of Christ | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | US |
| Denomination | United Church of Christ |
| Membership | Over 8,500 |
| History | |
| Founded | December 3, 1961 |
Trinity United Church of Christ is a predominantly African-American megachurch with more than 8,500 members. It is located in the Washington Heights community on the South Side of Chicago.[1] It is the largest church affiliated with the United Church of Christ, a predominantly white Christian denomination with roots in Congregationalism, which historically branched from early American Puritanism.[2]
The church's early history coincided with the American civil rights movement, subsequent murder of Martin Luther King Jr., and the tumultuous period that engulfed the civil rights movement after King's death due to intense competition among actors over who would carry King's mantle. During that tumultuous period, an influx of radical black Muslim groups had begun to headquarter in Chicago, and Trinity sought to recontextualize Christianity through black theology in order to counter the influence of radical black Muslim leaders, who taught that it was impossible to be both black and Christian.[3][4][5]
In early 2008, as part of their presidential election coverage, news media outlets and political commentators brought Trinity to national attention when controversial excerpts of sermons by the church's long-time former pastor Jeremiah Wright were broadcast to highlight Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's pastoral relationship with Wright and the church. Obama responded with a speech, A More Perfect Union, which addressed the criticisms and largely alleviated them from popular political criticisms at the time.[6] On 31 May 2008 Obama severed links with the church, over comments by Wright[7] and visiting priest Michael Pfleger.[8]
Trinity is best known today for its national and international social programs on behalf of the disadvantaged, although in its earliest days such outreach did not figure into its mission.[3][4][5]
- ^ Keogh, Diana (October 1, 2007). "Chicago's Trinity UCC prepares to welcome new pastor for new generation". United Church News. United Church of Christ. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
- ^ Marty, Martin E. "Keeping the Faith at Trinity United Church of Christ". Sightings Available online.
- ^ a b Nelson, Hart M.; Anne Kusener Nelson (1975). Black Church in the 1960s. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 74. B000H1VXOY
- ^ a b "Why Oprah Winfrey Left Rev. Wright's Church". Newsweek. May 3, 2008.
- ^ a b Speller, Julia (2005). Walkin' the Talk: Keepin the Faith in Africentric Congregations. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press. p. 79. ISBN 0-8298-1522-8.
- ^ Dilanian, Ken (March 18, 2008). "Defenders say Wright has love, righteous anger for USA". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2008.
- ^ "Obama severs ties with Trinity United Church". The Globe and Mail. June 2, 2008.
- ^ "Obama Severs Ties to Trinity Church". www.npr.org. June 1, 2008.