Inside the Great Auditorium, June, 2007. This image appears in Bell, Bell and Dufresne’s definitive history of the GA. By Paul Goldfinger © Blogfinger.net
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger:
It turns out that Tony Campolo is a well known Baptist Evangelical preacher. He has been to the GA many times in the past and has a reputation for being a very entertaining speaker.
In recent times, he has caused some controversy because of his opinions about gays and about gay marriage. According to OGU, he is an “activist” who has “publicly expressed his support for the inclusion of same-sex couples in the church. ”
According to OGU, he has said, “I am finally ready to call for the full acceptance of Christian gay couples into the church.”
Rev. Tony Campolo. Internet photo.
Ordinarily Blogfinger would take no interest in the GA Sunday sermons, except this time a local organization, Ocean Grove United, has called for its members and friends to “welcome” Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo when he comes here Sunday to be the guest speaker.
Is this the first time that an organization other than the CMA has formally planned to “welcome” a speaker at the Sunday sermons?
But what interests us the most at Blogfinger is that OGU, in a follow-up email, has not only repeated its notice to supporters to “make every effort to attend” on Sunday, but now they say that Rev. Campolo “has received a great deal of flack for supporting the lgbt community, and those who disagree with him will not turn out for his program. It is extremely important for the CMA to see that Ministers who preach love will pack the house. Please tell friends and neighbors as well.”
Is that true that only Campolo’s supporters plan to show up?
In addition OGU asks its supporters to “gather outside the auditorium at 9:30” The service begins at 10:30 am.
So, without making any judgments, I have to say that this sounds like a political demonstration/message and thus meets our criteria as news. Even if a group gathers one hour before the event, and even if there are no signs or chants, their very presence will carry a powerful message as described above,
This is not the first time that a situation like this has occurred in the Grove, and this conflict will affect the entire town in one way or another. No matter how Sunday morning unfolds, Blogfinger will report on it. Those of you who attend can email us with your views or you can comment under this post.
THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR WITH THE PHILADELPHIA BRASS ENSEMBLE: “Abide With Me; ‘Tis Eventide.”