The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. rallied black ministers against what he called an attack on the black church surrounding the negative criticism and media attention of small segments of his sermons.

"I stand before you this morning to open this two-day symposium with the hope that the most recent attack on the Black Church — it is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright, it is an attack on the Black Church — just might mean that the reality of the African American Church will no longer be invisible,” Mr. Wright said.

The embattled pastor emeritus of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ said for centuries blacks have worshipped in secret by force through the Black Codes and later by either tradition or purpose became an "invisible" aspect of American society.

But he said that from the storm surrounding him can come a calming of understanding.

"Maybe now, an honest dialogue about race in this country will begin — a dialogue which was commendably called for by Sen. Obama," Mr. Wright said.

"Just maybe this dialogue on race — an honest dialogue that does not engage in denial or superficial platitudes — can move the people of faith in this country from various stages of alienation and marginalization to the exciting possibility of reconciliation," he said.

Ministers have rallied to Mr. Wright as he has faced criticism from political analysts and hosts of talk radio and television and even from the presidential candidates running against his friend and former parishioner for 20 years, Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat.

Mr. Wright entered the room to a standing ovation from the crowd of ministers from all denominations.

The core of Mr. Wright's speech was an introduction into Liberation Theology, it's origins and teachings, Transformation Theology and the Theology of Reconciliation.

He spoke at length about all three subjects, their meanings and how his teachings and sermons have been shaped by them.

— Brian DeBose, national political reporter, The Washington Times