"He sat in the pew for 20 years, he baptized his kids...." [View All]

[noel711]

If I hear that RW meme one more time I shall scream.

Especially from progressives who should know better. Life is NOT that simplistic.

I've been on the other side of a pulpit for 22 years.I know folks who are simply 'pew sitters,' and those who really listen, those who know their scripture, those who live the gospel.Folks who are part of a faith community know that being a pastor is a more complicated role than preaching one sermon.

Take it from one who knows: you do NOT preach the same sermon every week, NOR does a preacher preach controversial sermons every week. It simply can't be done, it shouldn't be done. The Sunday after 9-11, I WAS on fire. I didn't come out and say "God damn America," but I did say we, as a nation needed to confess our sins of imperialism. The Sunday after the Congress approved the War vote, I WAS furious! There were some folks (republicans) who didn't like it, they told me, I thanked them for their opinion, and we moved on. The issue died down because I had other sermons to preach, other things to do. When there were children to be baptized, no one said: "Do not baptize my children because I disagree with your anti-war sermons." People said: "I want my children to be part of this faith community, and you, as pastor, will do it." People who are part of a community of faith know there are times they disagree with the pastor, but none of us are a 'one trick pony.'

Barack Obama admitted (and this was affirmed by the now infamous Rev. Wright) that he was NOT present every Sunday, and he did NOT hear inflammatory language from the pulpit. I believe him. Most pastors would love it if their congregants remembered their sermons... I am sure there are congregants in many congregations who disagree with their pastor's views or preaching, but don't/can't/won't walk out because of a sermon or a statement that may be controversial.

Most congregations are not built around the personality of the pastor. There are many parishes who elect their pastor, but there are also many who get the pastor that the bishop appoints. The people do not belong to the pastor, but belong to a community of faith that will continue when the pastor leaves.

To continue to blame Obama because he 'sat in the pew' is just wrong, and reveals a lack of understanding of the complexity of belonging to a community of faith. "Lack of judgment" ?? I could go into chapter and verse of other candidates whose lack of judgment in many decisions is being overlooked by a MSM that has its own agenda.

I'd rather have a candidate who may have given a pastor the benefit of the doubt than a candidate whose decisions have cost us many American lives in a war that doubtless will continue for years to come.