Christianity: Details about 'Tony Campolo'
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Dr. Anthony "Tony" Campolo (born 1935) is a well-known American pastor, author, public speaker known for challenging Christians by illustrating how their faith can offer solutions in a world of complexity. With his liberal political and social attitudes, he has been a major proponent for progressive thought and reform in the evangelical community. He has become a leader of the Christian Left, often called a member of the "Evangelical left". Tony Campolo is an alumnus of, and currently a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St Davids, Pennsylvania. He is a 1956 graduate of Eastern and earned a Ph.D. from Temple University. He is also an ordained Baptist minister and evangelist, presently serving as an associate pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, which is affiliated both with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and with the American Baptist Churches USA. Campolo founded the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE), which works to help "at-risk" youth in the US and Canada, and has helped to establish several schools and universities. His best known work is a speech entitled It's Friday, But Sunday's Coming!; recordings of which have been widely circulated in evangelical circles. He is a frequent speaker at Christian conferences. He was also the spiritual adviser to President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Although he has associated himself with the Democratic Party and several "left wing" groups and causes, he has publicly stated his opposition to abortion and to same-sex marriage. Campolo's left leaning political beliefs have put him at odds with several leaders of the Christian right such as Gary Bauer and Jerry Falwell. Campolo was the subject of an informal heresy hearing in 1985 brought about by several assertions in his 1983 book A Reasonable Faith. The book became a hot button and the swirling controversy caused Campus Crusade for Christ and Youth for Christ to block a planned speaking engagement by Campolo. The Christian Legal Society empowered a "reconciliation panel", led by noted theologian J. I. Packer, to examine the issue and resolve the controversy. The panel examined the book and questioned Campolo. The panel later issued a statement saying that although it disagreed with several of Campolo's statements, it did not find them to be heretical.
Quotes"I think that Christianity has two emphases. One is a social emphasis to impart the values of the kingdom of God in society - to relieve the sufferings of the poor, to stand up for the oppressed, to be a voice for those who have no voice. The other emphasis is to bring people into a personal, transforming relationship with Christ, where they feel the joy and the love of God in their lives. That they manifest what the fifth chapter of Galatians calls "the fruit of the Spirit". Fundamentalism has emphasized the latter, mainline churches have emphasized the former. We cannot neglect one for the other." (Source: www.beliefnet.com) "I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night." (\) "There are 2,000 verses of Scripture that tell us we must be committed to protecting the poor and the oppressed..There is no concern of Scripture that is addressed so often and so powerfully as reaching out to the poor." "A person is as young as their dreams and as old as their cynicism." -- 28 Sept. 2005 "Jesus transcends partisan politics. That's what's wrong with the religious right.. they have made Jesus into a Republican, and he's not!" on The Colbert Report, 2/27/06 Sexuality DebatesTony Campolo and his wife, Peggy, have participated in very public debates and discussions about the place of lesbian and gay persons within church and society. In his public stance at least, Tony Campolo contends that homosexuality is a sin in practice, though not in orientation -- though he also argues that gay people living together in a committed, sexually active relationship, is morally preferable to less than monogamous relationships. Peggy Campolo argues, as an Evangelical, that the church's traditional teaching on homosexuality is mistaken -- just as the church's traditional teaching on the role of women, slavery, and divorce is also mistaken. In recent years, some have suggested that Tony Campolo's private view on homosexuality has moved in the direction of his wife's view, and that he has fudged opportunities to articulate his new thinking in public for fear of losing his conservative Christian audience. Published works
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