Most people, I realize, are clueless when it
comes to the ins and outs of American Christianity. Below the fold, some little-known facts related to names
in the news.
The officiant at Jenna's wedding was Kirbyjon Caldwell. He
is pastor of the Windsor Village United Methodist Church, a 14,000-member church
in Houston, Texas. In line with a number of African-American pastors with a
ministry to the poor, he emphasizes that the gospel is about spiritual,
emotional, and financial wholeness. An African-American United Methodist pastor
whom Caldwell mentored is Rudy
Rasmus, of the 7,000 member St. John’s United Methodist Church in Houston. The ministries of
both these Houston congregations are models of what can be done in blighted
urban settings. I’ve heard Rudy Rasmus preach before, and I prefer him to
Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's United Church of Christ pastor I've defended in the past, whom I’ve heard preach on
several occasions. The preaching of Rasmus is no less prophetic than that of
Wright, but Rasmus has a more inclusive and more evangelical theology, and is
not Afrocentric per se.
Caldwell has long been a spiritual
advisor to George W. Bush. The evangelical convictions of both Caldwell and
Bush are well-known. Those of Caldwell are highlighted in this article.
Caldwell and Rasmus are pastors who make me proud to serve in the United
Methodist Church. Neither is about cutting down others to lift themselves up. Not
long ago, I asked Rudy what he thought of Joel Osteen. He had only good things
to say about him, though he could have chosen to emphasize their differences.
The culture wars rage on, and the United Methodist Church remains in the thick of them. General Conference, which is held every four years, just came to an end, with the Church reaffirming its “homosexual behavior is incompatible with Christian teaching” stance and taking a stronger stand against abortion. None of this should be at all surprising, but probably will be to many who live outside of the heartland where United Methodism is strongest. But the United Methodist Church remains a place both George W. Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton can call their own. Bush’s evangelicalism is in line with that of much of the rank and file. Clinton’s progressivism is in line with a significant portion of the denomination’s clergy and lay leadership. So far, the ship has not run aground. That is no small feat.
The United Methodist Church remains a place where a pastor can publicly throw his support behind a candidate in one political party – as Caldwell has done, who supports Barack Obama – and turn around and officiate at the wedding of the daughter of a president who is a member of the opposing party. The United States needs more pastors like Kirbyjon Caldwell and Rudy Rasmus.
Why can't we have pastors who stand for all the positive things you mention, but will also take a stand against partial birth abortion, which Obama supports? Personally, this is hypocrisy, and anyone who takes the time to investigate the strategies used by the left to raise people out of poverty will see they actually reinforce poverty in most cases (read some black economists on the subject, like Thomas Sowell). Sorry, but I'm just getting weary of the idea that I have to turn a blind eye toward evil and injustice (or endorse it in part) in the name of fighting injustice.
Posted by: Mike Heiser | May 12, 2008 at 10:55 AM
You're right, Mike, that Obama's stance on abortion cannot be squared with the stance many Christians and Jews - including myself - find self-evident.
It is the special burden of African-American Christians and Catholics who are Democrat to bring their party over to a sensible position on things like partial-birth abortion. Since I'm an independent, my opinion doesn't count for much. I will say that I have many friends who will not vote for Obama for the reason you indicate.
Posted by: JohnFH | May 12, 2008 at 12:46 PM