~ The Online Witness ~
UCC member, Barack Obama, having boldly testified to his personal faith in Jesus Christ in his landmark speech before the United Church of Christ Synod in June 2007,
(http://faith.barackobama.com/page/content/faithhome) now finds himself under attack for associating with evangelical Christians. Appealing to Christians across the theological spectrum for support, Obama has appeared with numerous Evangelical leaders who publicly affirm Biblical standard for human sexuality. Now, in his South Carolina campaign, the gospel has created a fierce and intolerant reaction from the politically powerful GLBT lobby who are pushing the presidential candidate to publicly reject historic Christian sexual morality. The controversy has focused on the campaign involvement of Grammy Award winning gospel singer Rev. Donnie McClurkin whose testimony includes a redemptive experience from homosexuality.
The President of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese issued a statement (http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2007/10/human-rights--1.html) in which he said, “I spoke with Sen. Barack Obama today and expressed to him our community’s disappointment for his decision to continue to remain associated with Rev. McClurkin, an anti-gay preacher who states the need to ‘break the curse of homosexuality.’ There is no gospel in Donnie McClurkin’s message for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies. That’s a message that certainly doesn’t belong on any presidential candidates stage.” (http://www.exodus.to/content/view/570/149/ )
Under fire, Obama has compromised with a public statement distancing himself from McClurkin's message and adding an openly gay pastor Rev. Andy Sidden to his campaign appearance in Columbia, So. Carolina. Rev. Andy Sidden, however, has been a controversial figure himself. Failing to gain election as an elder in the Metropolitan Community Church leadership in 2002, Sidden created division by leading his congregation out of its denomination to join with the United Church of Christ. (http://www.queerty.com/news/did-baracks-gay-minister-screw-mcc-20071025/)
Since the Obama controversy surfaced, his African American Christian campaign leadership have issued a joint statement with Obama’s gay campaign leaders which reads in part, “We believe that Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for LGBT Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who believe that their religion prevents them from fully embracing their gay brothers and sisters. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.”
(http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/scottgiordano/CSXL)