The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesial styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr.".

In some countries the term is used in relation to Protestant churches. It can also be used in reference to priests and bishops within the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches. The word itself is derived from the Latin word which means "shepherd". The term "pastor" is also related to the role of elder within the New Testament, but is not synonymous with the biblical understanding of minister.

Present-day usage of the word is rooted in the Bible. The Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) uses the Hebrew word . It is mentioned 173 times and describes the feeding of sheep, as in Genesis 29:7, or the spiritual feeding of human beings, as in Jeremiah 3:15, "Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding" (NASB). In the New Testament, the Greek noun (''poimēn'') and verb (''poimaino'') are usually translated ''shepherd'' or ''to shepherd''. The two words are used a total of 29 times in the New Testament, most frequently referring to Jesus. For example, Jesus called himself the "Good Shepherd" in John 10:11. The same words are used in familiar Christmas story (Luke 2) referring to literal shepherds.

In five New Testament passages though, the words are referring to church workers.

John 21:16 - Jesus told Peter: "Shepherd My sheep" (NASB)

Acts 20:17 - the Apostle Paul summons the ''elders'' or presbyters of the church in Ephesus to give a last discourse to them; in the process, in Acts 20:28, he tells them that the Holy Spirit has made them ''bishops'', and that their job is to ''shepherd'' the flock of God among them.

1 Corinthians 9:7 - Paul says, of himself and the apostles: "who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?" (NASB)

Ephesians 4:11 - Paul wrote "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers" (NASB)

1 Peter 5:1-2 - Peter tells the ''elders'' among his readers that they are to, "shepherd the flock of God among you" (NASB)

Arguably from the earliest centuries of Christian history, the church had three orders which were considered divinely ordained: bishops, priests and deacons. Each was only considered authoritative and able to administer the sacraments if one had valid apostolic succession (''i.e.'', traceable lineage of ordinations back to the original bishops, the Apostles themselves). However, Protestant communities since the Reformation generally understood the "apostolic" nature of ordained ministry as meaning subscription to the apostolic teaching, that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, proclaimed in the New Testament Bible and hold the notion of a literal "apostolic succession" as extrabiblical if not spurious.

Historical usage

Around 400 AD, Saint Augustine, a prominent Roman bishop, described a pastor's job:

Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, litigants pacified, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved.

Current usage

Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican

Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches typically refer to their local church leaders as "parish priests". The term ''pastor'' may be used, in a more casual way, particularly in North America. However, Anglican churches do not formally use the term "pastor"; rather, they frequently use the terms "rector" or "vicar" as alternatives to "parish priest".

Each Catholic parish is normally entrusted to the care of a single pastor, who must be a priest according to the 1983 Code of Canon Law. The associate pastor is called a parochial vicar and also must be a priest. In U.S. Catholic parishes, a lay ecclesial minister who fulfills many of the non-sacramental functions of an associate pastor is often called a "pastoral associate", "parish minister", or "pastoral assistant".

A bishop is canonically given full-fledged pastoral responsibilities within his diocese, and a priest is held to pastoral obedience with regards to his bishop. The term ''universal pastor'' refers to the pope, per the declaration ''Pastor aeternus'' of the First Vatican Council.

Jesus Christ is commonly referred to as the "Good Shepherd" or "Good Pastor", the former a phrase found in the Gospels.

Protestantism

Many Protestants use the term ''pastor'' as a title (e.g., Pastor Smith) or as a job title (like Senior Pastor or Worship Pastor). Some Protestants contend that utilizing the appellation of ''pastor'' to refer to an ordained minister contradicts the Protestant doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. United Methodist, for example, ordain to the office of deacon and elder; each of whom can use the title of pastor depending upon their job description. The use of the term "pastor" can also be regional in some denominations, including some parts of the Methodist, Presbyterian, Seventh-day Adventist, American Churches of Christ, and Baptist traditions.

The use of the term ''pastor'' to refer to the common Protestant title of modern times dates to the days of John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli. Both men, and other Reformers, seem to have revived the term to replace the Catholic priest in the minds of their followers. The pastor was considered to have a role separate from the board of presbyters. Few Protestant groups today still view the ''pastor'', ''bishop'', and ''elder'' as synonymous terms or offices; many who do are descended from the Restoration Movement in America during the 19th century, such as the Disciples of Christ and the Churches of Christ.

The term pastor is sometimes used for missionaries in developed countries to avoid offending those people in industrialized countries who may think that missionaries go only to less developed countries.

In some Lutheran churches, ordained clergy are called priests, while in others the term pastor is preferred.

Leaving the ordained ministry

Observers such as clergy counselor Rowland Croucher suggest that the numbers of "ex-pastors" roughly equals that of serving clergy throughout the Western world. This would mean people who have left the ministry number in the six-figures. More pastors and priests may be leaving parish ministry than are lost to most other professions. Until the early 1990s, there were few cross-denominational ministries serving this group. Croucher collected data-based questionnaires of ministers of Protestant denominations.

The first writers to explore this research area used questionnaire surveys to look at factors such as age, education and family relationships as contributing factors to decisions to leave the ministry. Other writers have explored ex-pastors within particular denominations and/or focused on particular related issues such as burnout, stress, marital stress, sexual abuse, celibacy, loneliness, organisational factors, and conflict. One common cause of conflict occurs when differing approaches to ministry compete in the minds of clergy, congregation and community, as Norman Blaikie found in Australian clergy from six Protestant denominations.

For some of the estimated 10,000 ex-pastors from Australian Protestant churches, their transition was a normal mid-career move, voluntarily entered into like many of the role exits described in the classic study by sociologist (and ex-nun) Helen Ebaugh. Yet for many the transition out of parish ministry was premature. Clergy, churches and training bodies need a solid basis for understanding and action in order to reduce the attrition rate and enhance clergy, congregational and community health. Some denominations experience particularly high rates of attrition.

Key recommendations to help alleviate stress in clergy exit situations may revolve around the development of professional supervision and continuing education. Professional supervision for ministry is a method of reflecting critically on ministry as a way of growing in self-awareness, cultural and social awareness, ministry competence and theological reflection skills. Supervision that includes an element of peer group work has the potential to facilitate collaborative learning, enhanced group dynamic skills and ongoing supportive networks. Some denominations are encouraging their clergy to engage in professional supervision, as part of their mandatory requirement of professional standards, but the requirements and standards of clergy supervision are often haphazard or absent.

Many times a pastor is forced out of his/her position for political or social reasons. Without counseling and support, pastors often struggle emotionally with such a situation.

See also

Clergy

Herr Pastor

Imam

Latvian Literary Society

Minister of religion

Pastoral care

Pastoral counseling

Preacher

Rabbi

References

Footnotes

External links

NewAdvent.org, The Catholic Encyclopedia's entry on the term ''pastor''.

Gumpoint.com, A Pentecostal view on the term ''pastor''.

ChristianityToday.com, "Personal Life of a Pastor". The personal life of pastors is often overlooked by their church. This link directs you to a collection of resources about keeping a pastor's personal life vibrant.

ChristianityToday.com, Pastoral Administration. Articles about a pastor's role as administrator of a church.

LifeWay.com, Articles to help the pastor in the roles of preacher, missionary, leader, shepherd, and person.

PaganChristianity.net, George Barna explores the roots of the modern pastorate and some of its effects.

Category:Christian group structuring Category:Local Christian church officials Category:Ecclesiastical titles Category:Christian clergy by type Category:Christian religious occupations

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name	James David Manning
birth date	February 20, 1947
birth place	Red Springs, North Carolina, United States
occupation	Protestant Christian Pastor
website	}}

James David Manning (born February 20, 1947) is chief pastor at the ATLAH World Missionary Church on 123rd Street in New York City. Manning grew up in Red Springs, North Carolina, born to an African American family, and has been at ATLAH since 1981. ATLAH stands for All The Land Anointed Holy, which is Manning's name for Harlem. His congregation, "ATLAH Worldwide Missionary Church" is the former Bethelite Missionary Baptist Church. The church is also the site of the ATLAH Theological Seminary, which offers classes on preaching and prophecy.

Manning is fiercely opposed to the gentrification of Harlem and calls for its residents to boycott its shops, restaurants, doctors, banks and churches. That action, combined with a general rent strike, would force all property owners out of Harlem, he said, leaving the neighborhood to its rightful inheritors: black people. Manning calls his plan "No Dew, Nor Rain," after Elijah's warning to Ahab, king of Israel, of a coming drought. "When there's no dew, no rain, there's a drought – there's all kinds of suffering," said Manning. The whole of Harlem, he said, is to be a "drought zone."

Biography

Manning graduated from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York where he was awarded a Master of Divinity. Manning also holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from his own ATLAH Theological Seminary, an unaccredited educational institution.

As a younger man, Manning burgled homes, mostly on Long Island. He spent about three and a half years in prison in New York and Florida for burglary, robbery, larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, and other charges before his release in 1978. While in prison, he became a devout Christian.

According to Manning, he attended the Oxford Round Table in 2004.

2008 presidential election

Manning came to public attention in the 2008 presidential election after ATLAH posted several sermons of his that were harshly critical of Democratic candidate Barack Obama on the website YouTube. Among other accusations, he called Obama's mother "white trash" for becoming pregnant by a black man out of wedlock, an issue he discussed during a press conference at the National Press Club on December 8, 2008. Manning revisited this latter issue during a press conference at the National Press Club on December 8, 2008:

"It is common knowledge that African men, coming from the continent of Africa—especially for the first time—do diligently seek out white women to have sexual intercourse with. Generally the most noble of white society choose not to intercourse sexually with these men. So it's usually the trashier ones who make their determinations that they're going to have sex."

Manning defended his sermons in an interview on Fox News, saying that "we also have to talk about his character."

The sermons drew the attention of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service objecting to alleged violations of laws granting tax-free status to churches on condition that they refrain from certain forms of political activity.

Views on Barack Obama as President

Manning has continued his criticisms of Obama after the election, comparing him to Hitler and frequently calling him a criminal and "long-legged mack daddy." He produced a video in summer 2009 in which he predicts that there will be a white backlash against Obama, complete with riots, and attending one of the first "birther" events. In an interview with Israeli radio station Arutz Sheva, Manning asserted that Obama had chosen to befriend Muslims instead of Jews; he also offered praise of Meir Kahane. Manning has said that Africa is cursed and also that African-Americans should not support Kwanzaa, the NBA or any major Black-owned business.

In responding to a comment by Bill O'Reilly, a commentator on Fox News Channel, calling birther lawyer Orly Taitz a "nut", he and Taitz organized a protest outside Fox News headquarters in New York City in November 2009, which drew an estimated 15 to 20 attendees.

References

External links

Website of ATLAH World Missionary Church

Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:People from Red Springs, North Carolina Category:Baptist ministers from the United States Category:African American religious leaders Category:Christianity conspiracy theorists Category:American evangelists Category:American Internet personalities Category:Kahanists Category:American burglars Category:Politics and race in the United States

Name	John C. Hagee
Birth date	April 12, 1940
Birth place	Baytown, Texas
Wife	Martha(1960 - 1975), Diana Castro(1976 - )
Children	Christopher, Tish, Christina, Matthew, and Sandy
Religion	Evangelical/Charismatic
Employer	John Hagee Ministries
Ideology	Cultural Conservative, Bigotry
Title	CEO
Occupation	Pastor, Cornerstone Church }}

John Charles Hagee (born April 12, 1940) is an American founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a non-denominational charismatic megachurch with more than 19,000 active members. John Hagee is the chief executive officer (CEO) of his non-profit corporation, Global Evangelism Television (GETV).

Hagee is the President and CEO of John Hagee Ministries, which telecasts his national radio and television ministry carried in the United States on 160 TV stations, 50 radio stations, and eight networks, including The Inspiration Network (INSP), Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), and Inspiration Now TV. The ministries can be seen and heard weekly in 99 million homes. John Hagee Ministries is in Canada on the Miracle Channel and CTS and can be seen in Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and in most Third World nations.

Hagee is the founder and National Chairman of the Christian-Zionist organization Christians United for Israel, incorporated on February 7, 2006. He has incurred controversy for his religious beliefs and comments regarding Nazism, Catholicism, Islam, homosexuality, Jews, and Hurricane Katrina.

Life and career

John Hagee was born in Baytown, Texas, to the former Vada Mildred Swiek and the Reverend William Bythel Hagee. He graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering in 1964. He was on a football scholarship and appeared on the Academic Dean's List. Hagee received a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Texas in Denton in 1966 and completed his theological training at Southwestern Assemblies of God University with a Diploma in Theology in Waxahachie, south of Dallas. Hagee also has a Master's and a doctorate in history from the University of North Texas. Hagee descends from a long line of Anabaptist Mennonite pastors, a somewhat curious fact in light of Mennonite beliefs (pacifism, aversion to war, forgiveness of enemies). In 1989, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2005, he received another Honorary Doctorate from Netanya Academic College in Israel. Hagee served on the Oral Roberts University Board of Regents from 1989 to January 2008.

On August 26, 1960, Hagee married his first wife Martha; they had two children, Christopher and Tish. In October 1966, Hagee founded Trinity Church in San Antonio, Texas. Hagee and Martha divorced in 1975.

Hagee married his second wife, the former Diana Castro, a member of Trinity Church, on April 12, 1976. According to both biographies at John Hagee Ministries, Hagee and his second wife Diana have three children, Christina, Matthew, and Sandy, and eight grandchildren. Matthew Hagee, John's son, is the executive pastor of Cornerstone Church.

Hagee founded a new church, The Church at Castle Hills, on May 11, 1975, Mother's Day. The church started with 25 members, but within two years, had to build a new sanctuary seating 1,600 people. The church continued to grow; on October 4, 1987, Hagee dedicated a 5,000-seat sanctuary and named it Cornerstone Church. Dr. W. A. Criswell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, anointed Hagee and Diana before the congregation.

Today, Trinity Church is located from Hagee's Cornerstone Church on the same stretch of highway in San Antonio.

Hagee has written a number of best-selling books and is a Southern Gospel recording artist. He, Matthew, Christina, and Sandy often travel together as the "Hagee Family Singers."

On his telecast of December 14, 2008, Hagee disclosed to the audience that he had recently undergone successful heart bypass surgery.

Personal beliefs

Hagee believes in traditional Pentecostal practices such as the "baptism of the Holy Spirit," He also believes in the "absolute authority of the scripture," baptism by immersion, and evangelism.

Hagee has denounced replacement theology, believing that chapters 9-11 of the book of Romans teaches that the Jews have continuing favor with God by the election of grace. He believes the Bible commands Christians to support the State of Israel and the Jewish people even though he has uttered remarks that some have interpreted as antisemitic.

Because the territory now known as Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank was ruled by the Ottoman Turks prior to World War I, then controlled by the British, and later partitioned under United Nations mandate, Hagee argues that the land does not belong to the Arabs, and that the name "Palestine" (deriving from that of the ancient Philistines) was imposed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to punish the Jews for their revolt against the Roman Empire. Hagee maintains there is no Palestinian language and no historic Palestinian nation.

Hagee strongly and vocally supports an American-Israeli pre-emptive military strike on Iran.

In 2007, Hagee stated that he does not believe in global warming, and he also said that he sees the Kyoto Protocol as a conspiracy aimed at manipulating the U.S. economy. Also, Hagee has condemned the Evangelical Climate Initiative, an initiative "signed by 86 evangelical leaders acknowledging the seriousness of global warming and pledging to press for legislation to limit carbon dioxide emissions."

Hagee denounces abortion, and stopped giving money to Israel's Hadassah Medical Center when it began performing the procedure.

He has spoken out against homosexuality, linking its presence in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina as an act of divine retribution. He said in 2006, "I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are—were recipients of the judgment of God for that. The newspaper carried the story in our local area, that was not carried nationally, that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came." However, on April 25, 2008, Hagee clarified his comments regarding Hurricane Katrina by saying, "But ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise."

In his book ''Jerusalem Countdown: A Warning to the World'', Hagee interprets the Bible to predict that Russia and the Islamic states will invade Israel and will be destroyed by God. This will cause the antichrist, the head of the European Union, to create a confrontation over Israel between China and the West. The book echoes predictions made in ''The Late, Great Planet Earth,'' the best-selling 1970 book co-authored by Hal Lindsey and Carole C. Carlson.

The Christian Research Institute (among others) has strongly criticized Hagee's recent book, ''In Defense of Israel'' (2007), for apparently arguing that Jesus did not claim to be the Messiah for the Jews, only the Savior for the Christian Church, and therefore, that attempts should not be made to convert Jews. Hagee issued a statement denying the first of these allegations and promises to revise one chapter in a new edition to make his views clearer.

Relationship with Israel

The San Antonio B'nai B'rith Council awarded Hagee with its "Humanitarian of the Year" award. It was the first time this award was given to a gentile. Hagee was presented the Zionist Organization of America's Israel Award by U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick. This award was given by the Jewish Community of Dallas, Texas. He was presented the ZOA Service Award by Texas Governor Mark White. Houston Mayor Kathryn J. Whitmire issued a special proclamation in his honor, declaring Pastor John C. Hagee Day.

Hagee has been to Israel 22 times and has met with every Prime Minister of Israel since Menachem Begin. John Hagee Ministries has given more than $8.5 million to bring Soviet Jews from the former Soviet Union to Israel. Hagee is the Founder and Executive Director of "A Night to Honor Israel," an event that expresses solidarity between Christians and Jews on behalf of Jerusalem, the State of Israel, and the United States.

On February 7, 2006, Hagee and 400 leaders from the Christian and Jewish communities formed a new national organization called Christians United for Israel (CUFI). This organization addresses members of the United States Congress, professing a Biblical justification for the defense of Israel.

Hagee was the primary early funding source for the Israeli Zionist group Im Tirtzu, which has pressured Israeli academics it accuses of being insufficiently Zionist and lobbied to have their funding cut for their political views.

Controversial views

Hagee has been criticized for his statements about Israel, the Roman Catholic Church, and Islam. One notable critic is journalist Bill Moyers, who claims that Hagee and other evangelicals are working toward supporting the religious right. He states, "Someone who didn't know better could imagine from the very name Christians United For Israel—CUFI—that pastor John Hagee speaks for all Christians. Well, he doesn't... What these fellows have forged is a close connection between the [George W. Bush] White House and the religious right."

Some Jewish leaders, such as Reform Rabbi Eric Yoffie, criticized Hagee for being an "extremist" on Israeli policy and for disparaging other faiths including Islam and Roman Catholicism.

Accusations of anti-Catholicism

After Hagee's 2008 endorsement of U.S. Presidential candidate John McCain, a furor arose over comments, broadcasts, and writings made by Hagee that were seen as anti-Catholic. After discussions with Catholic leaders, Hagee made an apology, which was publicly accepted by Catholic League President William Donohue.

When Hagee made the endorsement, the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights president William A. Donohue issued the following remarks regarding Senator John McCain's ties to Hagee:

Now that he has secured the Republican nomination for president, and has received the endorsement of President Bush, McCain will now embark on a series of fundraising events.

When he meets with Catholics, he is going to be asked about his ties to Hagee. He should also be asked whether he approves of comments like this: "A Godless theology of hate that no one dared try to stop for a thousand years produced a harvest of hate."

That quote is proudly cited by David Brog in his recent book, Standing with Israel. Both Brog and Hagee clearly identify the Roman Catholic Church as spawning a "theology of hate."

This is nothing if not hate speech. There are so many good evangelical leaders in this country—Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Richard Land, Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, Dr. Al Mohler, Chuck Colson—and none has ever insulted Catholicism.

The "Godless theology" quotation is taken from Hagee's 1987 work ''Should Christians Support Israel?'' (p. 4)

Hagee's attack against Christian antisemitism in his book ''Jerusalem Countdown'' claimed that Adolf Hitler's antisemitism derived especially from his Catholic background, and that the Catholic Church under Pope Pius XII encouraged Nazism instead of denouncing it. (pp. 79–81) He also states that the Roman Catholic Church "plunged the world into the Dark Ages," allowed for the Crusaders to rape and murder with impunity, and called for Jews to be treated as "Christ killers". (p. 73) Later in the book (pp. 81–2), however, he praises Pope John Paul II for repudiating past antisemitism in the Roman Catholic Church.

Hagee claimed in March 2008, "I've learned that some have accused me of referring to the Catholic Church as the 'great whore,' of Revelation. This is a serious misinterpretation of my words. When I refer to the 'great whore,' I am referring to the apostate church, namely those Christians who embrace the false cult system of Jew-hatred and antisemitism."

Donohue rejected Hagee's explanation as disingenuous: "Anti-Catholic Protestants have long labeled the Catholic Church "The Great Whore," and no amount of spin can change that reality. No one who knows anything about the term would suggest otherwise." Furthermore, Hagee did identify [the Great Whore of] Babylon as Rome in his book ''From Daniel to Doomsday'' (1999), in a way that melded reference to the Roman Empire and the Roman Catholic Church: "The evidence would point to Rome...It was Rome where Nero wrapped Christians in oily rags and hung them on lampposts, setting them ablaze to light his gardens. It was Rome that orchestrated the Crusades where Jews were slaughtered...It was Rome that orchestrated the Inquisitions throughout the known world where "heretics" were burned at the stake or pulled in half on torture racks because they were not Roman Catholic." (pp. 10–11)

Hagee further responded to the charge in a videotaped statement and press release, categorically denying that he was anti-Catholic, on the grounds that his church runs a "social services center" that serves a largely Catholic constituency, that he supported a convent personally, that he had often denounced Martin Luther, not just the Catholic Church, for antisemitism, and that he did not interpret the "Whore of Babylon" as a reference to the Catholic Church.

Letter of apology and reconciliation

On May 12, 2008, Hagee issued a letter of apology to William Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, expressing regret for "any comments that Catholics have found hurtful." He apologized for condemning Catholics for what he viewed was their persecution of Jews, and outright stated that he did not believe that, and many other previously held views, any longer. He also said that the "great whore" comments were taken out of context and were not directed at the Catholic Church. He went on to explain that his comments about the Catholic Church were made "[i]n my zeal to oppose anti-Semitism and bigotry in all its ugly forms. I have often emphasized the darkest chapters in the history of Catholic and Protestant relations with the Jews." Bill Donohue told Fox News, "I'm absolutely delighted... I haven't seen such a quick turnaround in the 15 years that I have been president of the Catholic League.... The tone of Hagee's letter is sincere. He wants reconciliation and he has achieved it." "Indeed, the Catholic League welcomes his apology," Donohue wrote in a press release. "What Hagee has done takes courage and quite frankly I never expected him to demonstrate such sensitivity to our concerns. But he has done just that. Now Catholics, along with Jews, can work with Pastor Hagee in making interfaith relations stronger than ever. Whatever problems we had before are now history."

Islam

On the September 18, 2006, edition of National Public Radio's ''Fresh Air'', Hagee discussed Islam, stating, "those who live by the Qur'an have a scriptural mandate to kill Christians and Jews... it teaches that very clearly." He then proceeded to characterize the military threat posed by those who follow Islamic scripture: "There are 1.3 billion people who follow the Islamic faith, so if you're saying there's only 15 percent that want to come to America or invade Israel to crush it, you're only talking about 200 million people. That's far more than Hitler and Japan and Italy and all of the Axis powers in World War II had under arms."

Judaism

Despite Hagee's professed "Christian Zionist" beliefs and public support for the state of Israel, Hagee has made statements that some have interpreted as antisemitic. He has blamed the Holocaust on Jews themselves. He has stated that Hitler's persecution was a "divine plan" to lead Jews to form the modern state of Israel. He calls liberal Jews "poisoned" and "spiritually blind." He also admits that that the preemptive nuclear attack on Iran that he favors will lead to the deaths of most Jews in Israel.

In his book ''Jerusalem Countdown'', Hagee claims that Adolf Hitler was born from a lineage of "accursed, genocidally murderous half-breed Jews." On page 149 in a chapter with the title 'Who Is a Jew?', Hagee writes:

Hagee has attributed the persecution of Jews throughout history, implicitly including the Holocaust, to disobedience, thereby attracting accusations of antisemitism:

"It was the disobedience and rebellion of the Jews, God's chosen people, to their covenantal responsibility to serve only the one true God, Jehovah, that gave rise to the opposition and persecution that they experienced beginning in Canaan and continuing to this very day... Their own rebellion had birthed the seed of antisemitism that would arise and bring destruction to them for centuries to come.... it rises from the judgment of God upon his rebellious chosen people."

In the book, Hagee cites material from the Jewish tradition (Jeremiah 9:13–16; 44:2–4, 15–17) to justify this view.

In 2008, in response to a question about this matter, he differentiated between his interpretation of the Bible and his understanding of modern history: "I learn from the Bible that the children of Israel were punished by God for their iniquities. But I do not presume to explain Jewish suffering in modern times. I only seek to alleviate it."

Hagee's interpretation of the historical role of Hitler and the Holocaust in relation to the foundation of the state of Israel has also caused offense. Hagee interprets a reference in Jeremiah 16:16 to "fishers" and "hunters" as symbols of positive motivation (Herzl and Zionism) and negative motivation (Hitler and Nazism) respectively, both sent by God for the purpose of having Jews return to the land of Israel, even suggesting that the Holocaust was willed by God because most Jews ignored Herzl's Zionist call. Following the broadcast of Hagee's remarks in late May 2008, some orthodox and conservative Jews have come forward to defend Hagee against charges of antisemitism, although other Jews have applauded McCain for distancing himself from Hagee.

In another sermon, Hagee blamed American economic problems on the fact that the Federal Reserve System is controlled by "a group of Class A stockholders, including the Rothschilds." In the same series, Hagee further asserted that the Rothschilds, who are Jewish, were part of a wide-ranging conspiracy of "international power brokers based in Europe."

See also

Israel lobby in the United States

Books

''The Invasion of Demons'' (1973) - Old Tappan, N.J., Revell, ISBN 0-8007-0576-9, Bibliography: p. 157–158.

''Like a cleansing fire'' (1974) Old Tappan, N.J., Revell, ISBN 0-8007-0685-4

''The Beginning of the End'' (1996) ISBN 0-7852-6772-7 - on the New York Times Best Seller list (NYTBSL) and #1 book in the United States in 1996 in the Association for Christian Retail non-fiction division

''Day of Deception'' (1997) - on the NYTBSL

''Final Dawn Over Jerusalem'' (1998) - listed as the #1 book on the NYTBSL

''His Glory Revealed'' (1999)

''From Daniel to Doomsday: The Countdown Has Begun'' (1999)

''God's Two-Minute Warning'' (2000)

''The Revelation of Truth'' (2000)

''The Battle For Jerusalem'' (2001)

''Attack On America New York, Jerusalem, And The Role Of Terrorism In The Last Days'' (2001), revised version of ''The Battle For Jerusalem''

''Devil's Island'' (2001) - first novel

''Avenger of Blood'' (2002) - second book in the novel series

''The Life Plan Study Bible: God's Keys to Personal Success'' (2004) - editor

''The Seven Secrets: Unlocking Genuine Greatness'' (2004)

''Life Lessons to Live By: 52 Weeks of God's Keys to Personal Success'' (2005) - (daily devotional)

''Jerusalem Countdown'' (2005)

''What Every Man Wants In a Woman/What Every Woman Wants In a Man'' (2005) - co-authored with his wife, Diana.

''In Defense of Israel'' (2007)

''Financial Armageddon'' (2008)

''Can America Survive? 10 Prophetic Signs that we are the Terminal Generation'' (2010)

References

External links

John Hagee Ministries website

John Hagee background & information at Freethoughtpedia

Cornerstone Church website

John Hagee Headlines

* "Rev. Hagee's Thoughts On Katrina"

* Audio on Hitler: Digg

"Jesus Made Me Puke: Matt Taibbi Undercover with the Christian Right" - A ''Rolling Stone'' article detailing unorthodox religious practices in Hagee's church

"CUFI Confidential" - An ''American Prospect'' article about John Hagee's 3rd annual Christians United for Israel Conference

Exchange of Letters with Pastor John Hagee on Jews and the Holocaust - Anti-Defamation League

Why Did J Street Make a 'Radical' Revision to John Hagee's Words? (UPDATED) - The Forward

Presbyterian Israel-bashing shows how Jews are clueless about Christian groups. - AISH

Southwestern Assemblies of God University website

Category:1940 births Category:Living people Category:People from Baytown, Texas Category:American Pentecostals Category:Texas Republicans Category:American Christian theologians Category:American Christian Zionists Category:American television evangelists Category:Oral Roberts University people Category:Pentecostal clergy Category:Pentecostal writers Category:People from San Antonio, Texas Category:Trinity University (Texas) alumni

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Mor Karbasi is a singer-songwriter born in Jerusalem, and now based in London.

One of her main projects is Ladino music, also known as Judezmo, Spanyolit, or Sephardic - the ancient language and music of the exiled Jews of Spain. She writes original material, as well as singing traditional songs. She has been compared to Mariza and Yasmin Levy, but has a strongly individual sound, whichever type of music she sings.

Karbasi's heritage is mixed Moroccan and Persian, and according to her Moroccan grandfather, "the blood remembers," meaning that before this her ancestors came from Spain. Her connection to this culture is expressed passionately through her music.

Musical career

Karbasi's concert appearances include: Tours of Europe and USA, including appearances on London's Trafalgar Square open air stage (2006 and 2007), festival performances (Womad Festival 2007 Charlton Park, and Las Palmas-Canary Islands, Celtic Connections 2009). TV and Radio broadcasts on National French TV and BBC radio. Her first album, ''The Beauty and the Sea'', was reviewed in The Guardian newspaper. The review called her "one of the great young divas of the global music scene."

She has also made guest appearances with groups having compatible styles, Koby Israelite, Baroque fusion 'Eclipse', Rai band Ludomix, the Pena Flamenco de Israel.

Discography

"Daughter of the Spring", 2011

"The Beauty and the Sea", 2008, produced by Joe Taylor and Grammy award winning producer/engineer Matt Howe, is viewed as her debut album.

Earlier work includes a self produced CD called "Broken Wings", and a 4 track EP called "Rosa".

Traditional influences

Mor Karbasi collects and sings songs in Ladino, as well as European and Latin American folk, also Andalucian music sung in Hebrew with Arabic melodies and scales. The latter is called Piyyutim, and is a type of prayer traditionally only sung by men.

References

External links

MySpace - Mor Karbasi

Mintaka Music - Mor Karbasi

Homepage of Mor Karbasi

Category:Living people Category:Israeli female singers Category:Ladino-language singers Category:Israeli singer-songwriters

de:Mor Karbasi lt:Mor Karbasi pl:Mor Karbasi

name	Creflo Dollar
residence	College Park, Georgia
birth name	Creflo Dollar
birth date	January 28, 1962
birth place	United States
occupation	[Pastor / Teacher]
spouse	Taffi Dollar
associated acts	Mase, LeToya, Monica
website	www.worldchangers.org
weight	}}

Creflo Augustus Dollar, Jr. is an American Word of Faith teacher, pastor, and the founder of the non-denominational World Changers Church International based in Fulton County, Georgia. Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association (formerly called International Covenant Ministries), Creflo Dollar Ministries, and Arrow Records. Each of these enterprises is overseen by Dollar and his wife, Taffi Dollar.

Biography

In 1984, Dollar received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from West Georgia College in Carrollton, Georgia. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Oral Roberts University in 1998.

Dollar indicates that he received the vision for World Changers Ministries Christian Center in 1986. He held the church's first worship service in the cafeteria of Kathleen Mitchell Elementary School in College Park, Georgia, with only eight people in attendance and successfully receiving over $100 in contributions from those present. Over the years the ministry has grown rapidly and was renamed World Changers Church International (WCCI). As of 2007, the congregation has grown to 30,000 members with $69 million in revenue (gross cash collections) for 2006. The congregation moved from its original cafeteria location to a modest-sized chapel, adding a weekly radio broadcast and four services each Sunday. On December 24, 1995, WCCI moved into its present location, the 8,500-seat sanctuary known as the World Dome. At a cost of nearly $18 million, it is claimed that the World Dome was built without any bank financing.

Dollar is also the publisher of ''CHANGE'' magazine, a quarterly international publication with nearly 100,000 subscribers and ''The Max'', a bimonthly resource newsletter for ministers and ministry leaders. Creflo Dollar also frequently speaks at conferences and is a best selling author. Dollar and his wife, Taffi, have five children and live in Atlanta.

Controversy

Dollar is known for his controversial teachings of Prosperity theology. He has been criticized for his lavish lifestyle as he owns two Rolls-Royces, a private jet, a million dollar home in Atlanta, and a 2.5 million dollar home in Manhattan. Dollar has refused to disclose his salary and Creflo Dollar Ministries received a grade of "F" for financial transparency by the organization MinistryWatch.

Dollar was subpoenaed during divorce proceedings between heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield and Holyfield's second wife, Janice Itson, after Itson alleged that Holyfield had donated $7 million to Dollar's ministry just before he filed for divorce. Dollar refused to yield his financial records, but avoided contempt of court charges when the divorce was settled out of court.

Senate investigation

On November 6, 2007, United States Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced an investigation of several ministries by the United States Senate Committee on Finance. Grassley asked for financial information to determine whether Dollar made any personal profit from financial donations and requested that Dollar's ministry make the information available by December 6, 2007. The investigation also asked for information from five other televangelists: Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Eddie L. Long, Joyce Meyer, and Paula White.

On March 16, 2009, Grassley, now only an individual Senator on the committee, stated "My staff and I continue to review the information we’ve received from the ministries that cooperated, and we continue to weigh our options for the ministries that have not cooperated," noting that two of the ministries, Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyer, gave full financial disclosure. Dollar has contested the probe, arguing that the proper governmental entity to examine religious groups is the IRS, not the Committee on Finance.

References

External links

Official Biography

Creflo Dollar Ministries homepage

World Changers Church International homepage

World Changers Church-New York homepage

Creflo Dollar Sermons Delivered at Kenneth Copeland Believers Conventions

National Public Radio story

Copy of Senator Grassley's letter to Creflo Dollar

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:American Pentecostals Category:American television evangelists Category:Oral Roberts University people Category:American evangelists Category:People from College Park, Georgia Category:Pentecostal clergy Category:University of West Georgia alumni

de:Creflo Dollar