As Obama seeks re-election, his former church expands its vision

Trinity United Church of Christ hasn't changed its priorities. But four years after the Protestant church on Chicago's South Side came under siege during the 2008 presidential campaign, it faces fewer distractions.

Now, as Trinity's most famous former member, President Barack Obama, seeks re-election to the White House, the Rev. Otis Moss III is seeking to renew the church's vision for its surrounding neighborhoods and enlarge its definition of social justice.

This month, the church is rolling out its plans for Imani Village, a 27-acre community next door to Chicago State University. The property is now occupied by a charter school. Church members hope to build sustainable housing, an urban farming and agricultural center, retail stores, community health centers and an NCAA-certified sports complex.

"We've moved into a completely different mode of developing a sustainable green ministry, recognizing that green is the new area of social justice for our community," said Moss, Trinity's senior pastor, in an interview with the Tribune. "People would be able to raise their children in a unique and affirming, powerful environment. Send them to preschool, and send them to college next door."

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Old Sarge

Looks like the Rev. Moss may have come up with a scheme to relieve some of his constituents of some cash! Hope the elders or trustees put some kind of governor on this fund raising scheme.
- Winston
  
  It is likely that Moss (there is none revered except God) is expecting Obama to throw a sizable amount of cash his way.
  - http://www.monergism.com Despevile
    
    Lemme guess this sustainable housing, an urban farming and agricultural center, retail stores, community health centers and an NCAA-certified sports complex" will be occupied by leadership and members of this "church" and thus they will accomplish their "vision" of social justice…
- JoJo
  
  I'm thinking that King Obama and his lackys will be sending checks to the church and justify it under "green investments" and "urban renewal". If anyone votes against this (IF congress is ALLOWED to vote on it to begin with) they will be branded a racist. All this is is a scheme to build homes, businesses etc., for a profit (I'm sure the winners of the bids are more Obama donators) and all under the taxfree umbrella of the church. I guess when religion allows kickbacks and enriches certain people, it's all good.
- Shar
  
  LET'S REVIEW!!!!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO DONALD YOUNG????
  WHO COVERED IT UP???? WHY WAS HIS MOTHER TOLD TO GET OUT OF CHICAGO????
  WHO WERE THESE THUGS???? ARE THESE THUGS NOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE WH???
  DIGUSTING!!
Eli Jones

Obama's Rev Wright Lie Part One

Obama fabricated his mentor and hero Jeremiah Wright's upbringing. Obama stated that ex-Muslim, so called preacher of hate Jeremiah Wright is angry at America because he was raised in poverty and humiliation, all because of white oppression. The actual truth is, Jeremiah Wright's upbringing was in a privileged upper middle class family in Philadelphia. Wright grew up in the racially mixed, middle class neighborhood of Germantown. Jeremiah Wright's parents were educated teachers and were paid well. Jeremiah Wright didn't even attend the local school in his own school district. Jeremiah Wright was actually was one of the few and privileged that attended the elite prestigious Central high school across town.
Eli Jones

Obama's Rev Wright Lie Part Two

Wright has lived a charmed life that most of us long for. Jeremiah Wright alone is to blame for his hatred of white America and Jewish people. Wright's racist, "black liberation theology" church built him a 1.6 million dollar mansion. Jeremiah Wright curses America with his belly and bank account full and Obama lied like a rug to cover for his racist mentor. Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright, both embrace the "Black Victimhood Syndrome" mentality, that mentality being, anything that is wrong with black America is the blue eyed devil's fault. Obama sat in the amen corner for twenty years and agreed with racist Jeremiah Wright's sermons of hate for America.
Kenneth

I always thought the purpose of a 'church' was to preach God' word and preach conversion to sinners. I never hear anything about this church in that regards. Seems to me to be just an anti-American group planning to line their own pockets with American money. Most of the black 'pastor' leaders have never pastored or led a church in soul winning. It's strictly a political thing with them. Strange how the typical black person falls for this trick every time. MLK was a communist sympathizer, a womanizer, fathered an illegitimate child, and a law-breaker……and he is the black folk's Moses…their hero. Go figure.
- msjallen
  
  Right, Kenneth, but they have no other, they think. They have been blinded to blacks in their history like George Washington Carver that emphasized what is good for them and even today a man like Allen West who knows and speaks the truth. Those men should be their heroes.
Dennis

This so called "church" is NOT Christian by any stretch of the imagination. They know nothing about Jesus Christ and they do not know Him, period!!
Skip Foss

Have any one noticed that all of these Aand E church's (what everthat stands for) are all involed in nothing but politics. Also they have all kinds of candidates IN there church's ,if a canditate went to a Baptist church all you would hear is that they are not practicing seperation of church and state. As for me I would not want Obama in my church teaching his type of religion . I don't want him in office and sure as hell don't want him in another term,this country can't aford another term. I would not shed a tear if some one was to take him out,well maybe a few of joy
http://www.orovalleychristianreader.com John J Flanagan

Reading the article, I wonder where Rev Wright's sermons were "taken out of context" as the writer states. Wright was pretty clear in in his anti-white statements, leaving little doubt as to his views. As for the idea of a "green ministry," this sounds like another expansion idea that hasn't a thing to do with the church's true mission, which is evangelizing and spreading the gospel, not social activism. This church will also promote Obama for re-election, need we be surprised.?
CHARLIE

I have always understood that any church showing ANY RESEMB:ANCE to preaching politics or anything else closely related loses their non-taxable status. Hmmmmm of course, when you are Obama's buddy, it could makea difference.
- http://www.orovalleychristianreader.com John J Flanagan
  
  Charlie, the IRS is sometimes willing to use the hammer of government threats to silence pastors and threaten the loss of non tax status, as you said, if a church is too political. However, the exception is for any minority churches that promoted the election of Obama, as was done during the 2008 election. It depends on which side you are on. In this regard, most conservative churches do not openly endorse candidates, as they obey the law, however, this requirement is not applied to minority churches. The government we have, consisting of progressives in positions of power, will never admit to a double standard, but that is the reality that we all see around us.
  - http://www.orovalleychristianreader.com John J Flanagan
    
    In my opinion, the IRS should not be involved in free speech areas at all, and should apply this rule to all churches, not playing favorites and applying a double standard, one for minority churches, and one for conservative ones. I also believe Christian churches can and should endorse pro life candidates, pro family (traditional values, traditional marriage), right from the pulpit. Just do it, and let the IRS threaten. Take them to court. Fight them, Contend for the faith.
    - msjallen
      
      There are ways to speak the truth from the Word of God that unbelievers would not understand but believers in fellowship would. Our church never condones preaching politics but when one hears how we are to live as believers from the Bible we know how to vote — conservative.
- Tommy D
  
  This should be a voilation of church and state should it not
Ken

Apart from the name of the church, I found no occurrence of the words "Jesus," "Christ," "cross," "Christian," "salvation" or "gospel" in the Tribune article.

Kind of tells you what this so-called church is about (or not about).
- Paul
  
  What they are about is 'social justice' – legalized covetousness and theft to attempt to make all people equal.
  
  We are already equal – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
  For God has shut up all in sin, so that He may have mercy on all.
  We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.
  
  The iniquity of us all fell on the Lord Jesus Christ.
  By his stripes we are healed.
  
  True social justice is this:
  "He who steals (and here, we can add those who promote and practice 'social justice') must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need."[Eph 4:28]
Marc Jeric

This revolutionary marxist-racist "church" has now gone "green"! Good for them, since now they can join forces with our eco-nazis in their pursuits.
ME KNOW

Having read all replies so far, I agree with all of you. This is the most important Presidential race America has had in years. I pray that the American voters see this president for what he truly is all about. What more do you have to know to enlighten you how this president thinks…I believe Mr. obama follows what MR. SOROS tells him to do and I strongly believe Mr. Soros has planned this for many years and when he found obama, he knew he would follow orders.
Oh! how Mr. Obama has fooled all Americans, but thank The Lord God, we are on to him finally. This President does what he wishes without anyone's permission except for MR. SOROS'S PERMISSION and we know what he is. OH! PLEASE! AMERICA….. I am voting for Newt G. because he has the guts to take these people on. He might not be an angel, but NEWT WILL BE THE LEADER WE NEED RIGHT NOW AND INTO THE NEAR FUTURE………AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE FOLKS AND OBAMA DOES NOT PRAY TO THE SAME GOD MOST OF US AMERICANS PRAY TO, BUT HE TOLD US FOUR HEARS AGO HE WAS A CHRISTIAN…NOW WE KNOW BETTER………..GOD BLESS US and DO WHAT Y0U KNOW IS RIGHT…..HOW MAny more lies do you have to hear, to finally know we cannot trust this man in office now!!!
L.J. Middleton

Just did a look see on what "Imani" means. It is the Arabic word for "belief, faith" and that comes off as strange since Trinity church is stated as a Protestant demonination. My own take on Trinity church is that it isn't Christian at all. It seems to be a mosque based on the Nation of Islam. Every time I find something on Trinity there is the usual catch of Islam or something Arabic. It would be very strange for a Christian church to be using Arabic words for this project. What do you think?
J. Hunter

Classic Agenda 21 activities! If you're not versed on the subject, you had better become so, and soon! Check it out on line, it has been active since 1992 and is pushed by the UN.
PBrown

Does the new, expanded definition of social justice include fathers taking responsibility, caring for and supporting their children? I feel that is the root cause of a lot of social problems in the black community. When is the 'black church' going to loudly address that? The wholesale abandonment and neglect of black children by thier fathers has done more damage to the black community than racism has. Even during slavery and Jim Crow day, black familities stood together and stayed together willingly under the worst types of adversity. I feel the black church has been remiss in not admonishing thier members, and community at large to be more child-centered, and less selfish and hedonistic. But I suppose than would result in drastic reductions at the collection plate. Seems that the 'itching ears' approach is more profitable.
msjallen

Read Isaiah 5:16-25 and see how liberals think.
God will deal with ministers and churches that go against His will in due time. God has a purpose for evil power to punish: this leads to great evangelism. Evil has to run its course when evil leaders rule a nation.
Prov 17:20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good, and he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
Psalm 37:1-10 Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Anne

Do any of you realize this is what agenda 21 is all about???? Look up Agenda 21 scary???/
poss

WHAT A NICE WAY TO GET A HAND OUT FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH DUMBO'S HELP I SWARE THESE BLACKS ARE FOR EVER WANTING HANDOUTS AT OUR COST
fiercelook

What more do you expect from this Marxist theology pseudo church that our Muslim-Marxist attended but didn't pay attention – now if that isn't an oxymoron. Green is the color of the communist movement – as in the color of money! They are taxing America into poverty and then submission. The irony is that these assine liberals will be subjected and subjects of the demagogues that they are supporting. They will get the gover… tyranny that they deserve – the fools!
Daphne Skinner

Hmm….
bonniewheeler

Remember Jones – who led his members to death with false teaching? A godly minister teaches love and forgiveness- Wright teaches hate and raxism. He is a great tool for Satan and whether he is doing this out of ignorance of the Bible or just to increase hate among blacks – the results are the same. I would not want to be in his shoes.