Just this week. the two Kens both encountered church-related, disconcerting setbacks. Kemp learned via an official, public email blast that the lead and founding pastor of the church that gave birth to the Center for Racial Reconciliation has been put on immediate leave of absence for "inappropriate texting." Just after recording this conversation, Fong uncovered some unsettling news from a chance encounter in the grocery store with a former parishioner. From the pulpit of a nearby sister church on Sunday morning, the senior pastor openly charged by name Fong and three other pastors (one deceased) by name as "false teachers" and "wolves in sheep's clothing."
In this episode, the two Kens unpack some of the many challenges of "mega-church" and the prevalence of vulnerable, celebrity pastors. Fong recalls his doctoral dissertation in which he contributed to the literature of the church growth movement. He disavowed much of that research when he published his 1999 book, Pursuing the Pearl. Mega-churches mimic the "Big Box" phenomena, they've become akin to Walmart, Target, and Costco.
Some years before he retired, Fong intentionally and willingly opened his church doors and now his podcast to the LGBT+ community. It signaled a change of heart and mind. The church lost members because of that decision but gained a whole lot more. Kemp accepted Fong's challenge to follow suit on this podcast. The two podcasters agree - if we are committed to the "ministry of reconciliation" to marginalized people groups - that should include them all. Kemp and Fong suggest that real church is something more. Much more.
Both Kens release this conversation on each of their podcasts. You can find Ken's edition at Asian America the Ken Fong Podcast, including a telling introduction here.
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