[SDG]

Bishop Arthur Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church of God, said the pastors felt they needed to let the public know the black church supports Obama.

"The black church was unfortunately brought into this, but the black church has nothing to do with this," Brazier said.

"This has to do with one man and the things that he said. We felt that we had to make a statement along those lines so that people do not feel that the black church was somehow injured by what's going on."

Brazier said many church members had expressed concern about the political impact of the Obama-Wright dispute. "Every African-American I know is concerned. . . . We are concerned that this controversy arose at a most crucial time," he said. "I don't want to crucify Rev. Wright, but his comments were unfortunate."

Bishop Horace Smith, senior pastor of Apostolic Faith Church, said several members of his congregation worried about how the controversy could harm Obama's campaign.

Smith said that if the focus remained on Wright, it could cost the Democratic Party the election.

"I see people every day struggling with health care and education. Do we really care what an ex-pastor said when we're going to choose the leader of the free world? Oh, please! We're not that stupid," Smith said. "And for us to continue to focus on this would be a monumental mistake."

From Chicago Tribune article of Pastors meeting to support Obama
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...0,321066.story