Posted in Blogfinger photo news, Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove portraits, Photo news from Ocean Grove, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, tagged Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo in Ocean Grove on June 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo about to step onto the stage of the Great Auditorium. He called the GA “A spiritual, renewal place” and he said that “having love is most important….” Photo by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net ©. 8/16/15. Ocean Grove, NJ
JOHN DENVER:
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove controversies, Ocean Grove opinions, tagged Ocean Grove United, Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo in Ocean Grove on June 5, 2016| 12 Comments »
Ocean Grove, Main Avenue. July 4, 2009. Paul Goldfinger photo © Click to enlarge
A letter appeared in the June 2, 2016 edition of the Coaster entitled, “Disappointed in Ocean Grove” It was from Ocean Grove United.
Letter to the Editor. the Coaster, June 2, 2016. Click to enlarge.
This is not the first time that OGU has taken a public stance regarding religious leaders who speak at the Sunday services during the summer. The group complained about Kurt Cameron, about Mike Huckabee and about Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. They have pressured the CMA to only invite certain speakers who pass their litmus test.
Last August 17, when Rev. Tony Campolo appeared in the Grove, OGU held a demonstration in Auditorium Square Park welcoming him to the Great Auditorium. Here is a link.
This season Campolo was not invited to speak in the Great Auditorium, presumably because of his known favorable stance regarding gays in the Church.
So now we have this letter condemning the CMA for not embracing Campolo in Ocean Grove this year.
Of course OGU has a right to express its opinion, but this letter is full of obfuscation instead of clarity of meaning. Where in the letter do we find the words “gay,” or “Camp Meeting Association?” Why does the headline confuse “Ocean Grove” with “CMA?” Who are the “many members of the community” who, they say, are concerned about the absence of Tony Campolo? And finally why does OGU think it should concern itself with the CMA programming?
This letter should have been rejected by the Coaster because it accuses the CMA of hypocrisy and motives that include “not wanting speakers who preach an accepting message of love and diversity,” This bomb-throwing is intolerant and unfair.
And why doesn’t the OGU air out its issues privately in the Grove instead of blaring them out-loud in the Coaster, where most of the readers could care less about this topic?
This letter is a disrespectful public declaration of war by OGU at a time when factions in the Grove need to work together for the common good.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
CANADIAN BRASS “Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella.”