Todd Outcalt is the pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. As I write, he is attempting to deliver the longest sermon in the history of Indiana and of the United Methodist Church. (I wonder how that could possibly be verified… but I don’t really care). During the message, entitled “The Life and Times of Jesus,” you can participate in the church’s annual fish fry. All offerings will apparently be used to support a church plant. As a testimony to how the church views the role of preaching, visitors (they encourage you to bring ’em in by the bus) are encouraged to come “for good food, fun, and fellowship.” On the church website, the sermon is described as a “special attraction” on a broader invitation to the fish fry. Apparently nobody is expected to actually listen to the sermon… which makes one wonder about the point.
Now I don’t mean to sound like a sourpuss, but making a mockery of preaching by using it as a silly publicity stunt says a lot about the condition of this church. Or is that just me? What do you think?
(HT: Andy Lutz. )