Liberal Ministers or Pastors that you admire or look up to

[SuziTiri]

Mine would be my Grandmother's minister. Grandma has passed away in 2002 but i will always remember the love and kindness and the compassion her minister displayed. Grandma and i used to go to the Trinity United Church in Vancouver BC and she got to know her minister,,who was a lesbian. Grandma totally changed her outlook on life from being mad with the world and hard against people of different races and ways of life. Through the beautiful sermons and Christian community Grandma and i became closer for one thing
and she became more accepting,,loving...of everyone and tossed away the old archaic and draconian beliefs she developed when being in war time in Germany during the 1940s. Grandma's minister came and met us at the time of her death and she had the most kind demenour,...soulful eyes and began the process up to the time of the funeral. She was also a nurse by profession so caring for others was always second nature. She cared for my Grandma and made the whole family at ease during this tough time for us. She made a beautiful eulogy for the funeral ceremony and she prayed with us and i felt the Holy Spirit all around us. and at the burial itself she was so grateful and was with us the whole time even at the Wake and we thanked her for making Grandma so honoured and helping in this time of grief.

That is my story...it needs no further explanation..except to say that God Was beside her ,,us,,,the whole time and i pray she (the minister) is still being one of God's "servants" in making this world a better place for all <3

would love to hear your positive stories <3

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Lovely story, SuziTiri!

I don't personally have any history with liberal churches to draw on, but I do admire the work of Rob Bell, Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo. All three are probably best classified as liberalish emergent evangelicals rather than liberals per se.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Rob Bell for sure, though I don't think he's liberal in the same vein as other pastors and theologians are often though to be. I'm sure many anti-Bell critics would love to disagree with that though. He's been hugely instrumental in reshaping and redefining my faith since I started college in 2005 and I honestly think he's played a crucial and positive role in my eventual pursuit of Orthodoxy. Although he's not liturgical being an evangelical, I think his material is inspired by an understanding that the church began in the ancient Near East and not in medieval Europe which is something I think we as Protestants often forget.

 

[Martinius]

I knew a Presbyterian minister years ago who was involved in youth ministry in our small community. He helped organize groups and activities, spiritual, fun and intellectual. His support and acceptance of a variety of young people was very welcome during a time of many social changes as well as personal challenges to those of our generation. I have known a few others, including a Catholic priest who was a college instructor and later became a bishop. Can't say that he was overtly "liberal" but he certainly was one of those adults that young people could easily talk to without expecting condemnation or lectures. He was a very articulate, engaging man who was appointed an auxiliary bishop at a young age. The fact that he never moved beyond that post may be an indication that we wasn't considered orthodox enough by those above him in the hierarchy. But that is just a guess.

Later I got to know another Catholic priest who I would call a "practical liberal". He did not teach anything unorthodox but he had been around long enough to know that perfection was an ideal, not a general expectation. He also was the kind of person one could approach with any problem or issue and he would listen and discuss it without making one feel guilty of committing grievous sins. He would suggest "pastoral" and practical solutions, and displayed genuine concern for others.

Overall, my experience in the Catholic church is that in the past 30 years or so those are the kinds of priests I am seeing more of. Or it may be that I have gravitated to parishes with those kinds of pastors. In either case, it is certainly a huge improvement from most of the Catholic priests I knew in my youth.

 

[camethodactor]

My liberal Christian faith is influenced by the following theologians, pastors and prophets:
Martin Luther King Jr., Harry Emerson Fosdick, Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, William Sloane Coffin, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Rob Bell, Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop Carlton Pearson, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Bishop Yvette Flounder, Fr. Richard Rohr, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Jeremiah Wright, Fr. Michael Pfleger, Otis Moss III, Forrest Church, Rita Nakashima Brock, Rebecca Ann Parker, Ed Bacon, Susan Russell, Zelda Kennedy, Wilma Jacobsen, Abel Lopez, James Cone, Meno Simmons, Phil Gulley, James Muholland, Kalen Fristad, Eric Stetson, Hans Kung, Matthew Fox, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, Sister Elizabeth Johnson, Diana Butler Bass, Vicki Weinstein

 

[SuziTiri]

My liberal Christian faith is influenced by the following theologians, pastors and prophets:
Martin Luther King Jr., Harry Emerson Fosdick, Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, William Sloane Coffin, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Rob Bell, Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop Carlton Pearson, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Bishop Yvette Flounder, Fr. Richard Rohr, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Jeremiah Wright, Fr. Michael Pfleger, Otis Moss III, Forrest Church, Rita Nakashima Brock, Rebecca Ann Parker, Ed Bacon, Susan Russell, Zelda Kennedy, Wilma Jacobsen, Abel Lopez, James Cone, Meno Simmons, Phil Gulley, James Muholland, Kalen Fristad, Eric Stetson, Hans Kung, Matthew Fox, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, Sister Elizabeth Johnson, Diana Butler Bass, Vicki Weinstein

thankyou! now i have many name to read up on!

 

[SuziTiri]

I knew a Presbyterian minister years ago who was involved in youth ministry in our small community. He helped organize groups and activities, spiritual, fun and intellectual. His support and acceptance of a variety of young people was very welcome during a time of many social changes as well as personal challenges to those of our generation. I have known a few others, including a Catholic priest who was a college instructor and later became a bishop. Can't say that he was overtly "liberal" but he certainly was one of those adults that young people could easily talk to without expecting condemnation or lectures. He was a very articulate, engaging man who was appointed an auxiliary bishop at a young age. The fact that he never moved beyond that post may be an indication that we wasn't considered orthodox enough by those above him in the hierarchy. But that is just a guess.

Later I got to know another Catholic priest who I would call a "practical liberal". He did not teach anything unorthodox but he had been around long enough to know that perfection was an ideal, not a general expectation. He also was the kind of person one could approach with any problem or issue and he would listen and discuss it without making one feel guilty of committing grievous sins. He would suggest "pastoral" and practical solutions, and displayed genuine concern for others.

Overall, my experience in the Catholic church is that in the past 30 years or so those are the kinds of priests I am seeing more of. Or it may be that I have gravitated to parishes with those kinds of pastors. In either case, it is certainly a huge improvement from most of the Catholic priests I knew in my youth.

oh thats good to see,im sure those Priests who truly have the calling are very good listeners and caring people. My experience with Nuns ( at least for me)has all been positive,,,In fact,,,every Catholic i have met has been kind and understanding and truly genuine friends to me....Im not Catholic but some aspects has always attracted me..like that of Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul..

 

[2PinkEllies]

I very much admire Nadia Bolz-Weber, who camethodactor mentioned in his list. You can read and listen to her sermons on the Patheos website... go to the Progressive channel and select her from the "Preachers" list.

 

[trek4fr]

I also enjoy Brian McLaren. I also like Marcus Borg (more of a Christian educator) and (sometimes) Bishop John Shelby Spong. Many of Robin Meyers' sermons have helped along my journey as well as his books, "Saving Jesus from the Church" and "Why the Christian Right is Wrong." Obviously, he is a trouble-maker. But then, my hero was hanged for stirring up trouble.

 

[Puptart]

Pastor Dave.. I used to attend an Anglican parish in the middle of nowhere when we lived a little further out, and it was the most welcoming church group.. the most open-minded Pastor I have ever met in my entire life and he made more sense to me (and helped save my faith in God and Jesus) than any other person in my entire 30 years living on this planet.

That is all.

 

[HollyVB]

I love Shane Claiborne's work. His book The Irresistible Revolution helped me fall in love with God more than an book (excluding the Bible)

 

[Historicus]

My former United Methodist pastor had a great deal of influence on me. He wasn't expressively liberal but did teach the centrality of the message of love for God and each other, being non-judgmental and tolerant despite our differences, and the need to fulfill Jesus' command to help the poor, and the oppressed.

 

[SuziTiri]

I love Shane Claiborne's work. His book The Irresistible Revolution helped me fall in love with God more than an book (excluding the Bible)

shall have a look at this thank you!

 

[cricket0206]

I know of a Lutheran church in my town that allows gay pastors as long as they are in a faithful, committed relationship with their partner. I think this is wonderful, and a huge step forward.

 

[Puptart]

I know of a Lutheran church in my town that allows gay pastors as long as they are in a faithful, committed relationship with their partner. I think this is wonderful, and a huge step forward.

That's awesome and pretty inspiring

 

[SuziTiri]

I know of a Lutheran church in my town that allows gay pastors as long as they are in a faithful, committed relationship with their partner. I think this is wonderful, and a huge step forward.

sure is

 

[MsTopaz]

Some of these may be authors only rather than priests or ministers - I am not 100% sure. All have influenced me a lot.

John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, Alan Jones, James R. Adams, Karen Armstrong, Diana Butler Bass, Ed Bacon

 

[XtianAgain]

Tony and Bart Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Jay Bakker, Jim Wallis, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. I'm sure there's more but nobody coming to mind right now.

 

[Episcoboi]

I really enjoy the sermons of Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori. The (now) retired rector of St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church in Midland, TX, Fr. Jim Ligett, was amazing as well.

 

[camethodactor]

I would like to expand my original list to include the following people:
Katharine Jefferts Schori, The Rev. MichaelDowd, a UCC Pastor and author of Thank God for Evolution, The Rev. Peter Laarman, former pastor of Judson Memorial Church in NY and founder of Progressive Christians Uniting (PCU), The Rev. James Forbes, Minister emeritus of Riverside Church in NY and founder of the Healing of the Nations Foundation, the Rev. Dr Troy D Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), the first open and affirming denomination in America founded by LGBT people to serve the LGBT allied community, Shane Claiborne, the Rev. Mel White, a founder of the LGBT rights organization Soulforce and a MCC pastor