In light of the recent Supreme Court decision to make same-sex marriage the law of the land, a few strong pastors are making biblical public statements affirming God’s Word in the matter, and taking a stand based on what He says rather than what the world says. If your church or ministry hasn’t done that yet, have you prayed? Have you studied Scripture for your statement? Or are you waiting for the right PR message promising a solution to help you Come Out?
Come out? That’s an interesting term – used twice in a news release – by someone who specializes in massaging words and crafting messages using just the right words.
In an advertisement for his Public Relations services, Hunter Frederick posted a news release on ChristianNewswire (a PR subscription outlet for news release distribution), that encourages pastors to give him a call.
Mr. Frederick has been targeting rather famous folks in the church realm as clients. Last year Frederick made news when he became Christian pop-artist Michael Gungor’s rep when Gungor denied the truth of the Bible, and recently met with – and rejected – the Duggar family as a client during their own recent crisis. I have a few questions, which I’ll ask in a moment.
First, ere is the PR ChristianNewswire’s release from Frederick & Associates:
Faith-Based Crisis Management Firm Helps Pastors “Come Out”
LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ — Crisis management and public relations firm, Frederick & Associates, is at the forefront in helping churches prepare and handle crises and emergencies. With the recent legalization of homosexual marriage, Frederick & Associates is helping pastors and churches communicate their concerns, sexuality and even working with pastors directly on how to communicate the recent Supreme Court ruling with their congregation.
Hunter Frederick, President of Frederick & Associates said: “While we all may have varying opinions on the Supreme Court ruling, the need to communicate these opinions in a loving and biblical manner is critical. We have already been contacted by several pastors on how to ‘come out’ to their congregation and how to prepare elder boards and church leadership on proper management and communication.”
Question for Frederick: Why use the word “come out” twice? What message are you really sending? Question for all PR reps offering these services: What makes you think you know more about what the Bible says than your pastoral clients? Question for pastors: If your PR firm knows more about the Bible than you do, you might want to consider a different vocation.
Again, ordained in what? Anyone can go online and become ordained…….where did you receive your ordination?
Exactly Lyn, only a pastor concerned with how the world will see him would seek out a worldly and unscriptural answer. I'd like to know what this young man was ordained into? Yes and the "tat" on the Lords thigh is on His robe. This young man needs prayer.
All valid points … By me mentioning I'm ordained I was pointing out that it would not be uncommon for me to know scripture. Things I've heard Mike and Amy say on air is that if your PR firm knows scripture better than you (referring to pastors) then you have no business being in ministry.
Ordained in what? If you don't mind saying?
Funny that this boy is advising pastors when some websites say he used to date Lindsey Lohan (2 Corinthians 6:14) and after taking a look at his instagram page he appears to have tattoos (Leviticus 19:28). He's also young. Just another example of the youth straying away.
Well I'd say those websites are gossip sites (Ephesians 4:29). I'd also argue that Jesus had a thigh tat (Revelation 19:16) and I know I'm young (1 Timothy 4:12).
Jesus is my PR rep, thank you…
Oh that's rich, as if the simplicity in the bible needs a worldly spokesperson to interpret it to the congregation, if your pastor is not saying homosexuality is an abomination, get up and find a true pastor. Forget p.r. campaigns, that's what the world lusts after.
I used the phrase "coming out" twice because to be perfectly honest it has good click rate retention. It's not my fault if I know scripture better than a pastor. You're right, they should probably find a different career if I know scripture better then they do … plot twist … I'm ordained.
Click Rate Retention is a pretty worldly motive, and damaging to what you are trying to do. In the PR profession, words matter and you need to choose them carefully to craft your message.
If you want to encourage pastors to make solid, biblical statements, telling them you'll help them "come out" is a tasteless way to go about it, and actually causes confusion and a stumbling block. Now if your motive is to get new clients and lots of clicks, well then juvenile phraseology will always do the trick. – Amy
Well I do run a business Amy. I do have people I have to support. Nothing in that release was typed by mistake. I knew what i was doing.
Take it for what it is worth as one PR professional to another,…I meant that your use of the phrase "coming out" is inappropriate for pastors, unless you really intend to help them make homosexual marriage acceptable to their congregants. Then it would be appropriate – although horribly unbiblical.
Your "firm" may be needed to help creflo dollar do damage control when his "tithers" find out that he relieves himself on a gold-plated toilet, but for these "pastors"/"Christians" that are "coming out"? Nothing is more natural to them, than to warmly embrace sodomy. They just needed it to be legalized, to come prissing out of the closet. They don't need you.