who are the local Falwells and other televangelists of your town?

[pstokely]

how much power do they have

[Dagaz]

1. Cecil Williams

He's got this group called GLIDE where he rips off folks under the guise of charity. He has no power but gets favorable press and does well at the coffers.

[davidinalameda]

23. Amos Brown is much worse than Cecil Williams

anyway, I like Cecil Williams

he does more good than most of his fellow ministers

[The Undertaker]

2. Some hardcore RW Catholics...

who have almost total control of the town. They won't allow anything put up in town that goes against their beliefs. I thank God my liberal arts college is in the same town. Now I have fun pestering those bible-thumpers. :)

[Bush loves Jiang]

3. I don't even remember their Bushdamn names...

One, a "Wesleyan" (What a fucking joke. Wesley was a liberal.) sent a letter to city council asking them to pass a resolution condemning same-sex marriage. (Not exactly a nice image for the "friendly seaway city". Luckily, even councillors who admitted to opposing same-sex marriage failed to see why it was even a municipal issue.)

Another, the pastor at some fundie-Baptist-derivative...I think his church is called Fountain Head Assembly Church, was a leader at some anti-same sex marriage rally and stated that the British Columbia forest fires were "God's punishment for Canada's tolerance of deviant relationships." I laughed when I read it in the newspapers

Most people outside of their congregations -- including those who agree with them -- don't really know they exist, and they don't hold any power or notoriety within the community.

Nonethless, there is a lot of homophobia here and racism against Pakistanis (although rarely against other minorities) tends to be a problem as we become more diverse.

[Bush loves Jiang]

4. Oh...

And we have an SBC Church opening in the near future. That scares the Hell out of me, as it could move our town from the political centre to the political right.

[bobbieinok]

5. I live in Tulsa OK

'nuff said.

[SmileyBoy]

6. Care to delve more into what Oral Roberts is up to???

Isn't his college a big scam? I think I read about that somewhere...

[guitar man]

28. Oral and the rest

are gonna find themselves in deep doo doo!


Matthew /23:14/ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. Because of this, you will receive a very severe condemnation.

[guitar man]

27. You beat me to it!

There really isn't anything else to say,is there? LOL

[HamstersFromHell]

7. We've got a few...

The TBN network HQ up the highway in Hendersonville (aka Hootersville, dahling!) in the former Twitty City locale.

I remember Ira North, the self-proclaimed "Moral Mayor of Madison" and his little following, picketing everything he didn't agree with.

There are plenty more where those came from...

[gator_in_Ontario]

8. When I lived in Delaware, Ohio

there was this guy named Leroy Jenkins. He had this big-ass house, with an Oak tree growing right up through it. Anyway, he ended up in prison in S. Carolina for putting a rattlesnake in someone's mailbox.

[Maeve]

44. Old Leroy got in trouble a while ago

Selling water from his "holy" spring...Board of Health had something to say to him. (Yeah, he came back to central Ohio after his stay in SC)
Used to watch him "heal" the same folks on his tv show week after week for grins.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. A used car salesman in Harrison AR

tried to 'save' me last year, mainly by talking fast and loud. I finally told him to go away, and he did because my husband came in, carrying a very heavy wrench....funny thing is that this bozo is notorious for cheating customers as much as he can. Sort of fits the mold of these right-wing 'Christian' ministers, don't you think?

[Papa]

10. Rod Parsley

or something like that. He's a televangelist for the World Harvest Church. I posted this in another thread, but I spoke with this guy on the telephone about 7-8 years ago when he was ordering something for his sister. He was doing Bevis and Butthead impersonations over the phone to me. It was odd and creepy coming from him.

[southerngirlwriter]

11. Hrm. I published someting in the local paper

right after 9/11, disputing Falwell's stupid remark about gays and abortionists and feminists. I said, "If God was REALLY that angry at gays, I bet that the Almighty Creator, whom I have worshipped all my life, is smart enough to show it by some means other than murdering a bunch of straight cops and firemen."

I got e-mail from every baptist minister in three states. LOL.

[Bertha Venation]

15. Ooh, SGW, you rock!!

That does it. I now begin my daily search for your posts! Heheheheee... you rock, girlfriend.

[henslee]

12. Happy to report I do not know.....

I do watch Benny Hinn on TV... amazing hair....
Tammy Faye used to preach with MC HAMMER for a while....
Sometimes Christian TV seems like its shot in technicolor.

[bobthedrummer]

13. They are huge and have Cafe Latte machines in their Church.

I think they might be independent evangelical. They have a one hour weekly t.v. show, they do a lot of music on t.v..
Lots of toys and games for the kids too at their big church.
I don't like organized religion of any type, I am located in Judeo-Christianity myself but don't attend church services.

[Bertha Venation]

14. Robert Boudreaux

He's not famous, but he writes hate-filled letters to the editor of the Washington Post's Southern Maryland Extra. Most of them are against equality for gay Marylanders. All of them call upon the name of his God to back up his hatred & lies. What would Jesus do, indeed?

[LWolf]

16. I don't know about televangelists;

if they appear on the local cable channel, I've never seen them. I don't have cable.

But here are a couple:

Henry Hearns: Reverend of a baptist church, local mayor and city council member for a really long time. Some of his claims to fame:

When a parent in my son's 8th grade classroom tried to get a teacher fired for assigning a Bradbury book, and went all out to get the book banned from the classroom and the school library, he stepped in to help her. I don't remember if it was Dandelion Wine or the Martian Chronicles. But I remember him bringing his not inconsiderable local capital to bear on the issue. The effort, thankfully, failed.

Last year I attended a funeral in his church. One of my students and his mother, killed in a car crash. I have never been so offended in my entire life. We were there for about 90 minutes, and the deceased were mentioned once at the very beginning. Something about how happy they are now that they're with God, or something. The rest of the service was "witnessing" by numerous members of the congregation, a rousing sermon about being saved by Reverend Hearns, and then the obligatory prayer to invite people to be saved. The prayer went on for 20 minutes, because no one raised their hand. I guess the reverend wanted to be able to say their deaths won more souls or something. I was about to raise my hand so that we could be done and move on, when I saw a man a few rows ahead of me. He looked around at all those bowed heads, sighed, shrugged, and raised his hand. The reverend jumped on it like a miracle, and the prayer finally ended. This man was not smiling when he left, and he made it out the door faster than I did.

The Reverend Billy Pricer: A sherriff's dept chaplain, the director of a local active charity and the director of a local active anti-gang youth reachout. A very active man politically and spiritually. Most famous for organizing a protest of a private pagan rite a few years ago, in which his followers, including his daughter and SIL, surrounded the group with their cars, turned up a christian song about being saved or going to hell full blast, and marched in circles around them reading aloud the bible. When asked politely to move back, they said, "Don't bother to call the police. They won't be coming." And they were correct. The police were called, but never showed. Attributed to Pricer's cozy relationship with the sherriff.

Both of these men are well-connected with the local republican assembly.

[maxanne]

17. no one famous

We don't have Benny Hinn or Jack van Impe - but we do have DOUG DINGLEY - a fundie with a show on local cable.

He rants about homosexuality a lot. I write a weekly column for the local paper, and when I wrote a congratulatory column for Gene Robinson and the Episcopal church - Doug told his TV flock that I was going to burn in hell. Yep, he mentioned me by name. I saw a part of the show - he was wearing a pink polyester blend shirt with little epaulets on the shoulders. The following week I wrote that given a choice between hanging out with the pious in polyester and burning in hell, I'd pack some sunscreen.

I don't think he has a lot of power - but fundie churches have sprung up here recently like mushrooms in manure.

[lpbk2713]

20. Doug "Dingley"? .......... That's priceless.

I can just imagine if he had a son and named him after Oral Roberts ......... Oral Dingley ...... the poor kid wouldn't make it past his teens ......... :eyes:

[maxanne]

21. it is priceless

doesn't Doug Dingley sound more like a porn actor? :D

[jburton]

18. Dallas is so boring now

It's too bad that Dallas - the brass buckle of the Bible Belt - has nobody to carry out our glorious televangelist traditions of the Robert Tilton era.

Brother Bob was truly a piece of work! His cocaine-inspired TV rants were legendary. My favorite was when he would speak in fake tongues, and then shake because God just told him that "somebody watching this program needs to send in $10,000".

I think he went officially out of business ten years ago (his casino-looking church has been bulldozed) but you can still catch his "Success in Life" reruns on late nights on BET, of all channels. And he still has a phone number to send your 'miracle vow of faith' ($$)

Brother Bob was probably the nicest of the televangelists. He wasn't a hateful fundie, he just wanted you to send in the $$$.

here's a fanclub:

http://www.weirdcrap.com/tilton/

[ornotna]

29. He's back.....

http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tulsaworld02.html

On BET right now. :puke:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Jan Crouch! The big hair lady.

Every time I see her in the mall, I make a scene about how old people are eating dog food so she can shop at expensive stores...in South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island, Newport Beach. I'm REAL LOUD about it too! :evilgrin:

They own Trinity Broadcasting Network.

[Bertha Venation]

33. You live in Orange County?!

I'm from Huntington Beach, man....

You see Cotton Candy Head at SCP? I wish she'd just walk across the freeway to get there.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. Yes I live in OC

She is SCARY!!! Who knows...we may have crossed paths in the past...I've done a lot of work for the OC GLBT center.

[Bertha Venation]

36. We may have.

I was more involved w/ the Long Beach Center, though; lived there for the last 6 years before moving out here. I was w/ the South Coast Chorale for seven years -- know of them?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

37. Absofuckinglutely!

One of my ex's cousins was with the chorale...I can't remember his last name now and his first name was John so I guess that isn't much of a help!

I DJ'ed a couple thins for the Long Beach group and have DJ'ed the OC Aids Walk as well.

I also did events for the GLBT wing of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[Bertha Venation]

40. Cool!

I have great memories from the chorale. The artistic director is retiring in May and I hope they find a new one. Knew two Johns, nice guys, both. Hard to find an asshole in that bunch (besides, sometimes, the one up front).

I miss being involved in the community back home. Very much. Good on you -- stay involved!

[Red State Rebel]

22. Joyce Meyer is about 10 minutes from me....

She's been catching some flak locally about her ministry...cost of her home, etc.

[ikojo]

32. Great articles in the otherwise lousy St Louis

Post Dispatch about how Joyce Meyers stays in the most swank and expensive hotels in the areas where she "preaches." Also mentioned in the articles was about how people are bombarded with "opportunities" to buy Joyce Meyer related merchandise from the moment they enter the "free" "crusade" or whatever she calls her meetings.

She is currently in a dispute with Jefferson County over taxes they say she owes. The county claims her "ministry" is more a business selling Joyce Meyer than a church. According to the Post Dispatch, once that dispute began JM erected a giant cross on her compound.

I pay a lot of money in payroll taxes and it ticks me off to see religious institutions pay NOTHING in taxes. Them and corporations pretty much get a free ride in the US.

[corporatewhore]

24. The Danzes

led a boycott of contractors who wouldnt build a planned parenthood clinc it will get built any but it is scary to have this type around i wonder if they are the bombing type

[roguevalley]

25. Jerry Prevo. Anchorage Baptist Temple. A disciple of Satan.

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. When i lived in Detroit, there was Jack Van Impe and his charming wife....

"Rexella"...who could very possibly make Laura Bush gag.....no....scratch that. I think they went to the same charm school. No one...and i mean NOBODY can rattle off scripture titles/references like 'ol Jack. It is an experience that you will never forget. He is particularly fond of the books of Daniel and Revelations because they both deal with the end of the world and old Jack just CANT WAIT!!! Of course, there is still plenty of time for you to buy his book/tape/cd etc. Jack is still around, of course. There are still souls to be saved and money to be bilked!

btw, he didnt have any power in Detroit, just a humorous item of local celebrity. Like the founder of Dominoes Pizza. Another whack job if there ever was one.

[pstokely]

30. a few in the Kansas City area

I don't think they have much power

Jerry Johnston
http://www.ffc.org/FrontPage.php

George Westlake
http://www.sheffieldfamilylifecenter.org/

First Baptist Raytown
http://www.firstbaptistraytown.com

Steve Houpe
http://harvestchurchkc.org/

[Lindsey]

31. Right on NSMA!

I was going to say her (Jan with the awful hair) too. Good for you for speaking up when you see her. I'd love to run into her but I'm only in Orange County to work as I live in West L.A. - so I'm seldom out and about down there. She's a case!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. I'm up by the West Side all the time if you ever want to get together

[jimbo fett]

34. We have the ENTIRE Trinity Broadcasting Network based here.

In what was formerly Conway Twitty's home/theme park called "Twitty City."

If terrorists do strike the US again. I hope they find their way to TBN.

[Japhy_Ryder]

38. Well...um.....Jerry Falwell

Greetings from Lynchburg! To let you know about Jerry's power here, an Ericson plant closed a few years ago, devastating the local workforce. Lynchburg has been trying to find a buyer for the property and replace the lost Ericson jobs. Well, some company bought the land, donated it to Falwell, and recently the City Council of Lynchburg rezoned the land to suit Jerry's desires. So no new jobs, and now, no tax revenue at all from the largest plant in the city.

[Lindsey]

42. Hey NSMA..

I'd love to get together - I'm here in Culver City. I don't know how to give you my private email - but I will if you know how. Let me know...

[JackDragna]

41. I live a stone's throw from Jimmy Swaggart's compound..

..in Baton Rouge. He may not have the national recognition he did before, but he's still plenty influential here and makes a whole boatload of money.

[DivinBreuvage]

43. A great big JESUS HELLO to you from Ernest Angley!

in BEAU-tiful Akron Ohio. Also the home of the huge ugly unfinished concrete tower Rex Humbard was building before his money ran out, known affectionately to us locals as "Rex's Erection".

[YNGW]

46. Ernest Angley? HAHA

You know, I've always had problems with faith healers who wore toupes'. And it's not even a good toupe'. You can see the string that goes down under his chin to hold it on.

[DivinBreuvage]

49. Good think I wasn't drinking when I read that

I would have spewed all over the screen.

According to my mother, he had a phone put into his deceased wife's casket so he could call her when he needed to talk. I don't know if it's true or just one of those slanderous stories that gets attached to a devout miracle-working man of God.

The Germans once imprisoned him for practicing medicine without a license. He got a lot of mileage out of that martyrdom, I can tell you.

[LTR]

45. Nobody here that I know of, but

when I was growing up in California, I do remember some whacked-out guy named Gene Scott, who seemed to be on the air 24-7. Sometimes, he'd be wearing a three-piece suit, other times he would be dressed like a biker with a scruffy beard.

The guy was a bit loony, but very entertaining. Not your everyday TV preacher.

Here's some more info about Dr. Gene Scott:

http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/religion/dr-gene-scott/

[YNGW]

47. Billy Graham

I know he hails from Charlotte, but he has a home in Montreat which is only 20 miles east of Asheville. Never really hear from him, he's pretty old.

[carpetbagger]

48. John Hagee, Cornerstone Church, San Antonio, 1.25M$/yr

He's so powerful, he made $1,250,000 in "service" to "Jesus" in the last year his income is on file (2001). That's his compensation, not his church's income.