March 3, 2006
St. Petersburg Times
The Rev. Warren Clark is an outspoken supporter of the imprisoned former USF professor.
By Sheryl Kay

Link:Click here

TEMPLE TERRACE – During his seminary days, Pastor Warren Clark earned the nickname “el hippie.”

An avowed pacifist, he also believed the ministry should promote nonviolence and social justice. He worked in shanty towns in Argentina during the time of the “disappearances,” when thousands vanished at the hands of the military.

When he resumed the pulpit seven years ago, he chose First United Church of Tampa, whose core missions closely matched his own convictions – to be open and affirming to individuals of any sexual orientation, and to actively promote peace with justice.

Today Clark, 58, has taken on a cause that some perceive to be outside the Christian mainstream: He is an outspoken supporter of Sami Al-Arian.

Al-Arian is the former University of South Florida professor who was tried on charges that he supplied money to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Clark, and several church members, were very visible during the trial, from attending court proceedings, to holding prayer vigils, and staging rallies for a fair trial.

The church council also passed a resolution on human rights and issued a call for a fair trial, which it then submitted to the prosecuting attorney, the attorney general and the judge.

It is not always an easy position to defend.

Clark’s Christian beliefs hold that violence is permitted only when a people is on the verge of extinction.

Yet the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for many suicide bombings in Israel, including a restaurant attack in Haifa that killed 21 people and wounded 60 more.

“Let me make it clear that I don’t condone any violence,” Clark said.

“Groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – these groups have set up many good social programs and charities for the Palestinian people. And I do support that.

“But I do not condone or endorse the violent attack on any civilian or military. That produces a spiral of revenge and violence that is destructive on both sides.”

What has become, for Clark, a human rights issue rooted in friendship has offended some in his Temple Terrace church. Clark says a few have left First United, in part, because of his support of Al-Arian.

The two men met through a clerical association called Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality, which Al-Arian joined in his capacity as a Muslim imam. On two separate occasions Clark recalled conversations with Al-Arian that left Clark with a profound sense of Al-Arian’s devotion to God.

It was that impression that re-awoke within Clark when he learned of Al-Arian’s arrest.

Even so, at first Clark said he was leery.

“I didn’t know if he was guilty or innocent, and the government had come down so hard on him,” Clark said. “So I backed off.”

Over time Clark came to know Al-Arian’s family, and eventually convinced of the former professor’s innocence, Clark realized he did need to become more involved.

Recalling a quote from Scriptures, when Jesus said, “I sat in prison, and you visited me,” Clark decided to become a personal pastor to Al-Arian.

So for the past year, he has visited with Al-Arian every Tuesday at the Orient Road Jail in Tampa.

Clark does not believe Al-Arian has received a fair trial.

Still, he points out that Al-Arian was cleared of the “major charges” against him. In those on which the jury could not agree, only two out of 10 jurors found him guilty.

“Helloooooo,” Clark said. “He’s been found by a jury of his peers, after a lengthy trial, to be innocent on all major charges, and hung on the others because of only two votes. Gosh, I think he should be a free man.”

Subsequent court hearings have focused on whether the prosecutor will attempt to retry Al-Arian, so for the meantime, he is still being held in jail.

So Tuesdays with Sami continue.

And Clark continues to be vocal on the Middle East as well.

Especially after his recent pilgrimage to Israel in February, Clark came away with a clear feeling that Israel is continually oppressing the Palestinian people.

“Israel is just as guilty of terror as the Palestinians, but they are sanctioned because they are a state,” Clark said, “while the Palestinians have no state.”

Clark believes Hamas’ recent political victory is a positive sign for peace.

“One thing you can say about Hamas is that they’re honest,” he said. “Let’s let the process work, and let’s see what good will come of that. They will not be able to lead and still advocate terrorism because the majority of the Palestinian people want an end to the violence.”

As for Al-Arian, Clark said he feels the issue has already grown to unreasonable proportions. Al-Arian, he said, was just a flash point. People should refocus their energies on the real problem, which is securing a lasting peace with justice for the Palestinian people, and for Israel.

“It’s a much broader issue than just Sami Al-Arian,” Clark said. “Get off it already. Let’s use our energies for what will help to bring peace. Sami would say that too.”

– For more information about First United Church, call 813 988-4321.