The Rev. John H. Thomas

The general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, based in Cleveland, sent a letter inviting the leader of an Ohio-based evangelical organization to meet with him after David Miller made disparaging remarks about the denomination during a CNN news story about evangelical voters in Ohio.

As reported by CNN on Oct. 20, Miller of Citizens for Community Values was speaking to members of the Bethel Baptist Temple in Cincinnati when he said the UCC "provides a clear illustration of a non-biblical Christian group."

Miller said the UCC was "made famous this year by Jeremiah Wright" and referred to it as "non-biblical" because of a UCC General Synod resolution in 2005 that affirmed support for same-gender marriage equality.

When pressed by CNN reporter Mary Snow if Miller was making inferences to Sen. Barack Obama's 20-year membership in the UCC, Miller responded, "Anybody can interpret that the way they want to."

"I believe Mr. Miller must not understand the biblical values that have been the foundation of the United Church of Christ's faithful commitment to justice that traces its roots to the abolitionist movement in this country," Thomas said. "I would welcome the opportunity for him to visit the UCC's Church House in Cleveland and to discover first-hand what our church is all about and how we believe in a God who is still speaking."

Thomas said he is requesting a private meeting with Miller, one where no members of the press are in attendance and with no press statements issued afterward.

Thomas said, while he understand the context of CNN's report, he is concerned that CNN allowed the entire denomination to be disparaged as a 'non-biblical Christian group' without an opportunity for someone "to defend our churches and members from such a far-reaching and hurtful charge."

"Even more interesting is that, in a news story about religious voters in Ohio, CNN failed to mention that the United Church of Christ has its national offices in Cleveland and is one of the largest mainline Christian denominations in the state."

The 1.2-million-member United Church of Christ has 5,400 congregations throughout the United States. It has 377 churches and 106,000 members in Ohio.