Bishop McKinney Letter

February 2, 2009

Dear President and First Lady Barack Obama:

I write to you as one who, as a descendent of slaves, has championed civil rights, human rights and moral rights for more than half a century. I have cooperated with other spiritual leaders in serving the needs of the past five American Presidents and who nominated for Chaplain of the United States Senate (becoming one of two finalists). Dr. Martin Luther King was my friend and colleague. We prayed together and worked together to replace bigotry and violence and brotherhood and peace across America. Today, as the American family and community continues towards higher levels of violence and disintegration, I write to encourage your participation in an effort that holds the potential to empower Dr. King’s dream of the Beloved Community.

In the forty years since Dr. King’s ministry, the scientific community has validated the mystery of how tendencies for their peace or violence are generated in the primary development of the human brain. Today, this evidence leaves no doubt as to the critical, instinctual need of the baby brain for child / parent / family bonding to ensure the development of compassion and empathy, the foundation of civilized society. Yet, in spite of this overwhelming evidence, the crisis of our unraveling families creates no national outcry, while unleashing a holocaust of disenfranchised children, communities in chaos, and our future in peril.

The AMERICA’S ANGEL Campaign is committed to raising our cultural consciousness, inspiring a national awakening to strengthen the American family and change the direction of our future. Building unity out of our diversity, the strength of the mission is demonstrated in coalitions of faith, cultural, corporate, medical and celebrity communities standing together to influence a foundational shift in what America values.

Mr. President and First Lady, the Campaign objective, to create a national priority for the birthright of all children to be safe and nurtured in their own homes, is the platform from which all other civil rights are made possible. I urge your serious consideration of this unprecedented mission to transform our national desperation into celebration.

If it would be of benefit, I am available with Morgan Rose, Founder and Executive Director of the America’s Angel Campaign, to meet with the appropriate staff at a mutually convenient time and place to discuss how your support would move this crucial initiative forward into the national conversation.

Most Sincerely,

Bishop George D. McKinney, Ph.D., D.D.
Director, AMERICA’S ANGEL Interfaith Coalition
Pastor, St. Stephen’s Cathedral
San Diego, CA