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7AUGUST2012BODYOFCHRISTNEWSFormerthree-termmayorofDenverWellingtonWebbwhoattendedthebreakfastwithlocalpas-torsandJesseJacksononJuly262012spokecandidlywiththeBodyofChristNewsaboutthehonestandlogicalmessagehesharedwithlocalclergyandelectedofficialsx13amessageurgingthemtoworktogetheroncommunityissuesinordertosolveissuesandavoidunpro-ductiveattitudesthatresultinsufferingconstituencies.Webbcommendedthebreakfasteventcallingitx1chealthyx1dpleasedbytheinterdenominationalaspectsaswellasthepresenceofblacklatinoandwhiteclergy.x1cItisimperativethattheytakethismantlebecausetheyhavearoletoplayjustastheelectedoffi-cialsdo.x1dWebbconvincinglystatesthatclergyandelectedofficialsmustlearntoworkinunisononcom-munityissues.Henotedthatonefacetofthelackofcohesiveleadershipamongpastorsandelectedofficialsisthattherehasbeenaturnoveroftheclergyreplacedbyyoungerpastorsassumingmoreleadershiprolesinadditiontoyoungerelectedofficialsandthesetwoarestillx1ctryingtodevelopthekindofchemistrywehad20yearsago.x1dInaddressingthelackofteameffortsWebbstatedthattwothingsmusthappentoeffectunity.1.Clergymusttakeamoreaggressivestanceindefin-ingamoralagenda.x1cTheircallingisfromGodandtheirordinationfromtheircongregationtoprovideleadershiptothecommunityandbecausemembersarenotjustfromDenverbutcanbefromAuroraLittletonNorthglennLittletonetc.Theclergyhavenojurisdictionalboundarieshencetherecanbenothingwrongwithclergycomingtogetherforanissueofconscienceoutsideoftheirimmediatelocal-ity.x1dWebbnotedthatclergyhavethebenefitofnothavingx1ctermlimitsx1dandthushavetheadvantageofnotbeingboundbysettimelimitsinordertoworkwithelectedofficialstoresolveissuesofconscience.2.Youngernewlyelectedofficialsmustunder-standthattheyareresponsibletotheirconstitu-encies.AccordingtoWebbsomeelectedofficialsaresoyoungthattheydonothavethehistoricalcomponentoftheblackstruggleandthereforelackthecompassionandpassiontofightforissuesthathavehelpedthemgettowheretheyaretoday.Someyoungerelectedofficialsgivenocredencetothefactthatmanyconstituencieshavebeenconditionedovertheyearstovoteforacandidatebasedsolelyuponthefactthattheylooklikethevoterandrepresenttheissuesthatblacksfoughtforyearsagosuchasaffirmativeactionoppositiontoanti-discriminationfairhousingqualityeducationminoritycontract-inganti-assaultweaponsgangviolenceandlackofjobs.x1cSomeyoungerofficialsbelievetheydiditallthemselvestheythinkethnicityplaysnorolex1dWebbpointedtothefactthatblackunemploymentnationallyis15-16andofficialsrecognizethatallpeopleneedjobs.Howevertheymustacknowl-edgeandunderstandthatblackunemploymentishigherthananyothergroupandthatweasblackpeoplebydefinitionshouldbeobligatedtosupportcandidateswhoaremoreconcernedaboutourissuesregardlessofcolorthantheelectedofficialsofthesamecolorwhocarenothingaboutourissues.Webbreiter-atedthatweareinanurgenthourandthatwehaveonlytakenafewstepstowardsunityinsolvingcommunityproblems.x1cWearestillinthefirstquarterwiththeseissuesandthatx19swhyitx19simportantthattheythecler-gystandupandholdeveryoneaccountableandmovebeyondthebordersofDenver.Webbappealedtoyoungerelectedofficialswhohavenotentirelygraspedtheconceptofworkingforthepeopletokeepthisprincipleforemostintheirminds.x1cSomeoftheyoungerofficialsarestilltooconcernedabout...x19thisismydistrictx19andthatanyonecom-ingintotheirdistrictshouldnothaveanydifferingopinions.x1dHestressedthatelectedofficialsmustrevisittheirpledgetorepresentthepeoplex19sinter-estsandnottheirown.YetdespitethechallengesaheadandthecriticalhourWebbremainshopeful.x1cItismyhopethatelectedofficialsandclergywillworkevenclosertogetherx13eventhoughsomealreadyaresomearestillreluc-tant.x1dHerecognizesthatthelackofunityisanationalandcyclicalproblemasevenregard-ingthenationalcam-paignsthereappearstobeempathyforcriticalissuesconcerningblackpeopleandthepoorandhomelessonlyatelec-tiontime.x1cThisiswhyitissoimportantthatthesediscussionscon-tinueandclergyandelectedofficialspro-videleadershipintheirrespectiveareastoprovideleadershipandunityoncrucialissues.Webbwentontoclarifythatclergyworkingwithelectedofficialsisnotax1cseparationofchurchandstatex1dmatterratherexplainedWebbseparationofchurchandstatemeansthereisnox1cstatex1dreligionandourlawsandconstitutiondonotsaythatreligioncannotbeinvolvedinsocialissuesx1cMostreligionsintheOldTestamentNewTestamentandtheQuranwerefoundeduponhelpingthosewhocouldnothelpthemselvesandthisispartofwhatChristianityisaboutx13helpingthesickthepoorandthehomeless.x1dWellingtonWebbhasnotleftthecommunitynorhashelosthisgiftforclearunderstandingoftheissues.x1cAsyougetolderyoulookaroundandbecomeconcernedaboutwhatyouseeandwhatyoudonx19tsee.Ix19mjustatthatageandstagethatIamlookingaroundatthesethings.x1dPerhapsittimewestartlookingaroundtoo.WebbOfficialsandClergyMustDevelopChemistryByAveechayilAsyougetolderyoulookaroundandbecomeconcernedaboutwhatyouseeandwhatyoudonx19tsee.Ix19mjustatthatageandstagethatIamlookingaroundatthesethings.COMMUNITYWellingtonWebb