Style Weekly finds religion…loses some facts Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Posted by Conaway B. Haskins III in Uncategorized.trackback
Today’s Style Weekly offers a fascinating portrait of two of Metro Richmond’s leading black megachurch pastors, Steve Parson of Richmond Christian Center (searching for a live weblink) and Bishop Gerald Glenn of New Deliverance. Delving into their political conservativism and increasing comfort with the Republican Party, the article goes down the familiar road of how some leaders in the African-American community believe that the Democratic Party is taking black votes for granted, thus they are playing ball with the Republicans. The writers proclaim that we are witnessing a political shift in Richmond and Virginia – “the face of a new power in the black community: the Republican minister.”
The piece provides several salient points, touching on the Rightward tendencies of the black community on certain social issues, and highlighting recent efforts to them by the GOP and nonpartisan Family Foundation to target black voters in the 2006 elections, and it offers interesting counterpoints from some of Glenn’s and Parson’s own parishioners who remain in the Democratic fold. The two men are not exactly in the same boat, however.
As the River City Rapids blog notes, Style Weekly has long chronicled Parson’s struggle with Chesterfield’s Republican leadership over the purchase of the Cloverleaf Mall site. Political dalliances aside, the part-time televangelist’s Republican identification has not yet proved beneficial south of the River as the county’s actions are driven in part by a fear of lost tax revenues (as nonprofits, churches are afforded different tax treatments than for-profit businesses). With footprints in Richmond and Chesterfield, Parson has the potential to become a political player in the region, especially if articles like the one in Style generate more attention for both his earthly and heavenly pursuits.
Looking at Rev. Glenn, the story becomes even more interesting, not so much for what was said but for what was left out. For whatever reason, Style failed to explore the fact that Glenn’s politics don’t fit that neatly into the “Blacks (Heart) Republicans” box. He has a much longer engagement in the political game than Parson, and is a rather deft practitioner in blending politics and religion. But, the larger point is that until Allen v. Webb, Bishop Glenn was also rather close to the Democratic Party. The article describes Glenn as:
“An Army veteran who worked as a police officer in his previous life — he also served as director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice under former Gov. Jim Gilmore — Glenn is a steadfast conservative. He believes in reinstating the draft, thinks longtime Democrat Rep. Bobby Scott doesn’t care much about churches and is fond of Ronald Reagan. Glenn says the Democrats have taken the black community for granted.”
However, history shows that Rev. Glenn has butted heads with Chesterfield’s GOP-dominated Board of Supervisors on race issues over the years. Sure, he was cozy with Jim Gilmore, but he tossed his hat in the Democratic ring during the 2005 special election to replace Del. Fenton Bland (D-63), a race that Rosalyn Dance eventually won. Glenn also donated $1,000 to Democrat Mark Warner’s 2001 campaign (compared to $350 for the Gilmore inaugural), and just last month he admitted voting and working on behalf of Tim Kaine in 2005, John Kerry in 2004, and Mark Warner in 2001. A month ago, after endorsing Allen over now Sen.-elect Webb, Glenn said, “I am neither a registered Democrat nor Republican. I vote for the candidate I believe will act in ways best for all Virginians.”
It is doubtful that many card-carrying RPV or RNC members have a similar voter profile as Glenn, thus deeming him a Republican – as the Style article does – is a stretch. He seems more like a disaffected Democrat or an Independent free agent jockeying for position with whom he feels gives him the best shot at accessing the lever of power. If he is now claiming Republican status, it is likely due to the fact that Democrats – especially Chesterfield Democrats – are much less likely to welcome him back with open arms after he put himself out there for Allen. Forgiveness may indeed be divine, but plenty of Democrats will be reminded that Jesus rode a donkey…
Interesting article. I take particular note of the stats on the Faith-Based Initiatives monies, which seem to be luring a number of black pastors into the Republican fold. Only 3% of the money has gone to black churches.
Not to mention the facts that Bishop Glenn served as a medicaid fraud investigator in Mary Sue Terry’s office in the 80’s and then as an official at the Dept of Health Professions during Wilder’s administration; that he did the invocation at Warner’s inauguration; that Kaine visited Glenn’s church the first Sunday after he announced his candidacy for Lt. Governor and was welcomed with open arms; that Glenn’s first tour as a Republican ended with him resigning the director’s post at Juvenile Justice in 1999 because Gilmore’s board appointees fought him at every turn and failed to support him.
Style also glossed over the reality that black voters were slightly less likely overall to support the marriage amendment than white voters.
The whole tone of the article suggested the contrary.