Posted on 07/05/2011 3:59:07 AM PDT by Cronos
As an out Presbyterian preacher, I'd experienced prejudice before. But nothing like what I faced in North Carolina
I was reading "Home in Henderson" -- the unofficial city website for a small town in North Carolina where I had recently moved to preach -- when I came across the blog entry. It was posted under the pseudonym "Church Reporter."
"A friend that attends the First Presbyterian Church told me to do a Google search on their new minister Brett Webb-Mitchell," the entry began. "Having done so, I have only three comments to make on the pastor selection: 1. Who is responsible for this mess? 2. The old biblical saying (the Lord works in mysterious ways) must be true in this case. 3. Someone needs to appoint a new membership search committee, because I hear the church membership numbers are dropping."
I sat at my computer, stunned.
As a gay minister, I'd heard nasty slights about me secondhand before, but I had never encountered it so directly. How could someone who didn't even know me criticize me? How could someone who called himself or herself a Christian spew such vile rhetoric? I was sad and angry and incredulous at once. This was a cheap, hateful shot.
(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...
Is Romans I not in this guy’s Bible?
This guy proclaims himself a homosexual. That automatically disqualifies him from pastorship even thought the denomination wants to pretend it doesn’t.
Hard to hold a preacher in high esteem when he leads an immoral life.
How could someone that claims to be a Christian minister be a an open and obviously unrepentant pervert? That sir is the real question that needs answered......
This is sad. This is why I choose to worship at a Bible believing, fundamental, evangelical Baptist Church. I often hear criticism from people saying this Baptists think they are the only ones going to Heaven. You can’t just cherry pick the portions of the Bible you want. The fundamentals of the Faith are just that. They are the foundation of Christianity. We are never saved because we belong to a club or congregation. It is simpler than that. We are saved if we ask Jesus to forgive us. He alone could pay the penalty for sin. He alone showed us what Love is. At the very least I could pay some respect and believe what He chose to reveal to us.
This was a cheap, hateful shot:
Actually, this is about as mild a rebuke as one could possibly imagine.
This is so wrong on so many levels, it’s impossible to address all of the idiocy. But certainly one problem here is the utter wimpishness that has overtaken American discourse in the public sphere. Then again, the complainer is a homo, so what can one expect?
Perverts have no business being in ministry.
The parish seems to have reacted properly to a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
This “gay” minister should have come out of its closet before it applied for or accepted the appointment. Also, It ought to use the term “homosexual” and not hidden behind the euphemism “gay”.
The parish should have been advised in advance of ever meeting with this preacher not only that it was a homosexual but whether it preferred the male (penetrating) role, the female (penetrated) role, whether it just like to cuddle and suck, whether his sexual deviancy extended to children and/or animals, and whether it had any related criminal record.
Thank God for the Roman Catholic Church.
Why? They don’t cover for perverts?
Excuse me? What do you think those priests were doing to those little boys all those years?
This guy is a disgusting human being. Glad folks in this small town realized this.
WTH did he expect, a pink parade? People in some parts of the USA, dwindling as they may be, still have core beliefs and values that don't comport with the fashionable way of thought.
Your point's valid, but how about "some" vs. "those?" Not all were drooling perverts.
I completely agree.
I think the problem is when anyone confuses what is the TRUTH of the Gospel for real hatred-as so much happens in the eyes of liberals these days..
Especially in small town North Carolina did this guy really expect that the people there would “accept” his lifestyle? Especially when many of them (I would guess) know the Bible better than this “minister”!?
Seems to m,e and the media, and the courts, and the Vatican....the catholic church has a far more serious problem as this homosexual agenda has been incubating and growing in the catholic church for years.
So I wouldn't hardly put the catholic church anywhere's near the top of the food chain in that respect.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.