DETROIT — The Sunday service at Greater Grace Temple began with the Clark Sisters song “I’m Looking for a Miracle” and included a reading of this verse from the Book of Romans: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Pentecostal Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, who shared the sanctuary’s wide altar with three gleaming sport utility vehicles, closed his sermon by leading the choir and congregants in a boisterous rendition of the gospel singer Myrna Summers’s “We’re Gonna Make It” as hundreds of worshipers who work in the automotive industry — union assemblers, executives, car salesmen — gathered six deep around the altar to have their foreheads anointed with consecrated oil.
While Congress debated aid to the foundering Detroit automakers Sunday, many here whose future hinges on the decision turned to prayer.
When those of us on the left talk about capital as if it were one entity we miss the fact that corporate interests differ, as does their access to the government. The fact that Congress first thought about not bailing out the auto industry, only to (apparently) decided to bailout GM and Chrysler (as well as Ford to a lesser extent) with significant strings should put that idea to rest. The financial industry and the auto industry are two very different beasts, as exhibited by the pleas of the Detroit faithful.
That service was a hot ghetto damn mess! Only in the D!!!
having SUV's on stage is preposterous. in one of the most highly polluted cities on earth, ur gonna use ur pulpit power to further glamorize SUV's?? what the hell? if that ain't a sin, i don't know what it is. and yes, i get that the auto industry is crucial for the D, but how bout flashin a dayum hybrid on stage? i mean c'mon now.
i had a visceral sickening reaction to this. lemme get myself together….
Maria T. — the vehicles were ALL hybrids that were on the stage. I don't belong to the church, nor was I there but one of my coworkers is a member of this church and is the choir director and a media representative for this church and told us. In addition, the link to the NY Times article explains that the vehicles were hybrids.