Pastor's Page for Oct. 23, 2005: Bishop Carlton Pearson

Last week, we had as a guest Bishop Carlton Pearson. In case you don’t know it, it was a risky thing for us to do; the bishop has been excommunicated from his denomination because of his theology, the so-called, ”Gospel of Inclusion.” He was not scheduled to come here; he was invited to another church but the higher-ups of that denomination were pressured into withdrawing the invitation. I knew of the bishop from when I was doing talk radio here in Columbus, and I interviewed him. I was actually fired the day I interviewed him.

So, when the original invitation by the other church was withdrawn, and Bishop Pearson had a non-refundable ticket, I was asked if I’d mind if he came here. I didn’t. I don’t believe in running away from controversy, and I know you are intelligent enough to listen to people and make your own decisions. I think doing that is a lot better than basing your opinion of someone on what you’ve heard he or she stands for.

It was risky, as I said, to have Bishop Pearson here. Mainline Christians have all but abandoned him; his church is in foreclosure because he has lost so many members. I knew that clergy here in Columbus (and elsewhere) would disapprove. But I couldn’t let that reality drive me. I do what I think is right in the eyes of God, not of people.

I remember when very recently I felt the hesitancy I felt with Bishop Pearson. I was invited to preach at the Cathedral of Hope, a gay church in Dallas, Texas. When I found out it was gay, I hesitated, wondering if I should go, And then I heard God telling me to go where He sent me. We are not called to be picky about who gets the word of God; we are called to be obedient. I wondered if, when people found out I had preached at a gay church, if I’d ever be invited to anyone’s church again, but in the end, even if that was to be my reality, I still had to be obedient. The result of my preaching at the Cathedral of Hope was that I was blessed. I was surprised, and ashamed of my initial reluctance. When after the service the pastor said, “I’m glad you came; I didn’t know if you would.” I knew she was speaking from a painful reality of being rejected, and of having preachers refuse to come to her church, because it is gay. God won’t let me do that.

I believe that God loves everyone and receives everyone. I don’t know how God acts, and neither does any other human. God is God all by Himself! Isn’t that we proclaim? My job isn’t to push anyone away – unless I think he or she will hurt you, my flock. My job is to get you to understand that the Way, the Truth and the Life … is through God.

Lots of Christians are miserable, trying to follow rules, worrying about who’s good, who’s bad, and who’s getting to heaven. I’d rather my flock be free, free to serve, free to think, free to make decisions. I’d rather my flock not be eaten and controlled by guilt and shame. I’d rather my congregation accept “amazing grace” as the free gift as it is, and use that grace as strength to go on.

I don’t know what the fallout will be from having Bishop Pearson here. I guess I really don’t care.

Have a good week.

Pastor Smith