Washington, DC – The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 15 denominations and 15.7 million African Americans, is well aware of the political transformation that is taking place in our society as a result of the election. We will not be considered from this day forward, a part of the Democratic Coalition which has been traditionally associated with the Black Church. Neither will we be a tool of the Republican Party going forward. The Black Church will no longer pick sides, for we have seen the damage that has come from close association with either party. We will remain politically active in the areas of educating ourselves about public policy issues and making our own judgments according to Scripture, tradition and the condition of Black Christians all over this country.
When one speaks of coalition politics we want to make it very clear that we will not be a part of any coalition based on tradition or history. We will only be a part of a coalition based on issues. NBCI continues to hold these issues as its primary pillars of concern, that is healthcare, education, housing, economic development, financial literacy, immigration and religious liberty. What we have found in the past two elections is that neither of these parties adequately represents our interests. This is why we are reiterating our independence.
Rev. Anthony Evans, President of the National Black Church Initiative says, “This is why we are not concerned who becomes the chair of the Democratic Party because it will not affect us one bit whatsoever. We will determine our own fate and we will not look to the DNC to do so. The Black Church is determined not to be anybody’s water boy. We will make our determination through prayer and revelation and understanding what is decent and moral to the core of the historic soul of the Black Church. We do not need the Black Caucus to teach us about theology, neither Al Sharpton. And we also do not need them to teach us about social activism. We are capable ourselves of coming up with a strategy to deal with the Trumps of the world and the Sharptons of the world.”
During the last election we issued a press release declaring our independence form the political interests of the Congressional Black Caucus and Rev. Al Sharpton because both of these organizations rejected our claim to religious liberty and told us to shut up as a Church, accept the principles of the religious coalition, and follow without question. This is why we did not join the march against Trump, even though we denounced him. We asked Al. Sharpton a basic question, after we march then what? Do we have a strategy moving forward? The National Black Church Initiative has a strategy moving forward for African American Christians and the African American community.
The first thing we must do is pray, that is why we have launched the one million prayer warriors. The second thing we must do is register to vote in every district there is. The third thing is to not accept the arguments of the traditional liberal organizations as if they have the solutions to our problems. The National Black Church Initiative has written Crime Prevention plans for the cities of Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee, New Orleans and Memphis. In other words we have the solution to our own problems and we do not need Al Sharpton or radical Republicans and their liberal coalitions pushing unethical teachings like gay marriage and unprotected sex down our throats as if we are children.
Another issue that we will not tote any of the liberal waters on, is the comprehensive immigration plan. We will out rightly reject a comprehensive immigration plan because of its effect on African American economics, especially the poor and uneducated. But we will also fight against President Trump’s deportation plan of brown people and breaking up families. We will not accept this as an either-or proposition. Again we will come up with an intelligent plan to address the issues that confront the Black Christian community.
