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The presidential nominating conventions playing out these past two weeks across the nation’s television and computer screens have been about more than a fight for power. They have also served as the latest staging of the American battle for God — in which…
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A former parishioner asked for my “opinion from a Christian viewpoint” on Black Lives Matter, #Walkaway, and Blexit. As far as I can tell, these are all reactions that resist society’s stereotypes. BLM is protesting our nation’s devaluing of Black lives. The other two are new organizations proclaiming independent thinking from the Democratic Party but who also seem interested in bashing it. The parishioner, Anna, wrote that she had “so much unrest and anxiety about the future” and the current racial and political conflicts are a part of her fear. This is what I told her…
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I have interviewed many people over the years, but I don’t think any of those conversations has ever been as timely and important as this one with Pastor Joel Hunter, a theologically conservative Christian who for eight years was a spiritual advisor to the theologically liberal President Barack Obama. Now retired from full time pastoring, the former senior pastor of “Northland, A Church Distributed,” in Central Florida, stays as busy as ever building bridges and coalitions to help people who are in vulnerable communities….
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ORLANDO, Fla. — As protests around the country spark a bigger conversation about criminal justice reform, community bail funds, which help people accused of low-level, non-violent crimes pay their way out of jail before trial, are seeing a huge boost in donations. Channel 9 investigative reporter Karla Ray learned that’s true for a community bail fund started…
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A good young white pastor called me, a pastor for 50 years, and said, “I feel that to not address what happened to George Floyd would be pastoral malfeasance. How do I deal respectfully with very conservative…
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Despite all the losses, challenges and restrictions brought on by the coronavirus, some faith leaders are leaning in to help find solutions…
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The global response to the coronavirus pandemic provides a lesson for humanity on the importance of unifying in response to worldwide crises, including climate change, Catholic and evangelical clergy agreed during an online discussion. Panelists: Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter, former pastor Northland, A Church Distributed, Chairman Community Resource Network;…
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A great discussion regarding moral and ethical approaches to gun concerns and gun safety in the time of COVID-19, when there is an increase in gun sales, domestic violence, suicide, as well as the need for safe gun storage while kids are sequestered in the home during the pandemic. Hosted by Rev. Rob Schenck of The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute with panelists…
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Jim Davis, the Teaching Pastor at Orlando Grace Church and Dr. Justin Holcomb, an Episcopal priest who teaches theology and apologetics at both Gordon Conwell and Reformed Theological Seminaries co-host the new Orlando-centric podcast "As In HVN". They interviewed Dr. Joel C. Hunter…
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The recent editorial from a long respected magazine, Christianity Today, called for the removal of President Trump from office and touched off an especially fierce firestorm in Evangelical circles. It has provoked the usual “for Trump” and “against Trump” responses, and set off a new round of labeling any opposition as “radical.” There is another, more constructive, response that could be developed…
Dr. Joel C. Hunter is the Pastor of Community Benefit at Action Church, a multi-site congregation based in Winter Park and his one-minute daily devotionals can be heard worldwide on Z88 radio. He is the Chairman of the Central Florida Pledge campaign; a call to action for residents of Central Florida who are tired of hateful discourse and want to create a safe and inclusive community for all. The pledge asks residents to commit to treating all people with kindness and respect, especially those with whom they disagree. To learn more: https://www.centralfloridapledge.com/
He is a nationally and internationally known advocate for the poor, the marginalized, and those dealing with disabilities. He served a three-year term as the Chairman of Central Florida’s Commission on Homelessness. And, after 32 years as the senior pastor of Longwood, Florida’s Northland Church’s congregation of 20,000, he spent five years leading a non-profit in networking with churches and local charities to locate available resources and benefit the struggling in our community. Orlando Magazine highlighted his efforts naming him as the #1 most powerful voice for philanthropy and community engagement. And listed him among “Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful” six years in a row.
Approaching today’s challenges in a biblical and balanced manner, Dr. Hunter is neither partisan nor politically oriented, but often relates to public officials in a pastoral role; he served as a spiritual advisor to President Obama during his eight years in office.
Dr. Hunter has served in leadership roles of the World Evangelical Alliance, serving more than 600 million evangelicals, and the National Association of Evangelicals, serving more than 40 denominations and thousands of churches.
Married in 1972 to his wife, Becky, he is the father of three sons, grandfather of seven, and great-grandfather of two.
