In what may serve as a warning to pastors using social media, the leader of Alabama’s largest church apologizes for liking some controversial posts, and the church is dealing with a major backlash. Chris Hodges, founder and senior pastor of Church of the Highlands, with 20 campuses and 60,000 members, regrets liking posts by Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, a conservative speaker who calls out myths about the white privilege and systemic racism.
Pastor Chris Hodges scandal explained
Since being called out about the online activity, Hodges has apologized multiple times. Meanwhile, a local school board and a public housing authority have cut ties with the megachurch. Pastor Hodges, an author and member of Evangelicals for Trump, had previously expressed his desire to quit social media due to “distractions” from it. However, he was active recently, reportedly liking at least three of Kirk’s posts. One post contrasts photos of President Trump standing with Rosa Parks and Muhammed Ali in the 1980s with Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northern appearing with men in blackface and KKK attire. A second features President Obama playing golf and a quote from his wife, Michelle, about leaving the house only for essential activities. A third post-like from Hodges shows a photo of Kirk donating blood, with a caption about defeating the ‘Chinese Virus’.
He expressed his sadness and said he was slandered by the mob for declaring major pieces of widely cited data and public information. He calls Pastor a gifted ambassador for Christ who liked posts on his account and he shouldn’t have to apologize when facts are involved. According to Fox News, Kirk was scheduled to speak to the Church of the Highlands youth group. A high school English teacher in Birmingham called attention to Hodges’ social media likes by saying she’s not judging, but she finds the posts culturally insensitive.
Highland Church exposed
During a prayer service Saturday, Hodges addressed the May 25 death of George Flyod at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, which has sparked protests across the United States and around the world. White supremacy or any supremacy other than Christ is of the devil. The next day, Hodges apologized for how his social media activity made people feel and insisted that it does not reflect his or the church’s views. He added that it will be very clear that we value every person who has been marginalized, rejected, belittled, abused, or even fearful because of the way God made us.
On Tuesday, Hodges addressed the issue again, in a letter to parishioners saying that the social media posts he has liked do not reflect his true feelings in any way. He added that she realizes they were hurtful and divisive. He apologized to him and promised that he will continue to learn a lot after this incident. The pastor adds that he has become aware of unconscious bias and privilege and that the church is planning forums to listen, learn and be part of the solution. In response to the flap, Birmingham’s board of education voted to terminate leases with the Church of the Highlands, which held worship services at two local secondary schools. The church pays about $288,000 a year to rent space in the buildings.
This week, the housing authority voted not to allow church volunteers to work in public housing communities. The church’s Christ Health Center in Woodlawn made headlines in March for offering mass drive-up testing for COVID-19. The church also offered free tutoring and support groups to public housing residents. Although the Church of the Highlands was not paid for the services, it was allowed to have volunteers on site.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn