More than 50 black clergy and theologians from metro Atlanta published a letter recently in the Atlanta Daily World calling on African-American churches to be more sympathetic to the political and spiritual struggles faced by gay men and lesbians.

Alton Pollard III, director of the black church studies program at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, wrote the letter, which was addressed to Martin Luther King Jr., and intended to counter the area’s growing reputation as “the epicenter of black religious backlash when it comes to issues of human sexuality.”

“The letter came about because any given number of us have been concerned about the relative silence of voices in the black church community that need to be speaking when we talk about issues like affirmation, human rights and human justice,” Pollard said.

The publication of the letter coincided with the celebration of King’s birthday last month, and evoked the slain civil rights leader’s use of the black church as a tool for positive change.

“The dominant views on sex, sexuality and gender in the black church are undermining community, diminishing the faith and leading many to abandon churches out of sheer moral frustration and exhaustion,” read the letter.

“Some black churches have concluded it is in their best institutional interest to participate in ‘special rights’ polemics against this so-called ‘immoral humanity,” the letter continued. “As black clergy we offer here a more hope-filled perspective.”

A condensed version of the letter first appeared Jan. 17 in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution with only Pollard’s signature. Understanding space would be limited on the editorial page of the Atlanta Daily World, an African-American daily newspaper, the group decided to purchase an advertisement in the publication to include the names of all of those who signed it, Pollard said. The ad appeared Jan. 20.

Pollard said he felt compelled to draft the letter after extended conversations with his students and colleagues about the black church’s conservative views regarding gender and sexual orientation.

Pollard finished the letter in January, then sent it to about 100 black clergy in Atlanta, hoping to get about 12 co-signers within the 48-hour deadline to respond, he said. A total of 54 clergy agreed to add their names to the letter.

Dianne Stewart, an assistant professor in the religion and African-American studies departments at Emory, said she signed the letter to be part of “a message that seeks to show how a Christian agenda for justice would be one that seeks to challenge systems and structures that enforce homophobia, heterosexism and sexism.”

Several black pastors in metro Atlanta have become vocal critics of gay rights and supporters of constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, both in Georgia and across the country.

In December, Bishop Eddie Long, leader of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, led an estimated 25,000 black Christians in a march that included support of a federal constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Long’s march had “very little influence” on the decision to write the letter, but Pollard said the march was indicative of the focus some black ministers place on “popular pandering these days, rather than a willingness to stand up for justice.”

Herndon Davis, author of “Black, Gay & Christian,” said he was “shocked” when he first learned about the letter from the black clergy, but nevertheless greatly appreciative.

Davis said he hopes the group of progressive pastors will be as committed and visible in their efforts as some black pastors are in condemning homosexuality.

“What has to happen is these black pastors have to continue to preach inclusiveness in their sermons — you have to make a big enough noise, a consistent enough noise and a strategic enough noise for change to happen,” Davis said.

Ryan Lee can be reached at rlee@sovo.com.