Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr was a phone in guest on the Hallerin Hilton Hill radio show this morning around 7:40 a.m. discussing his primary election win last night. Interesting that he discussed that his opponent was able to campaign full time for over a year and said,

the one thing that surprised me was,,,I’ve never seen a church become as political as the First Baptist of Concord. They had, those people really got out and worked against me. I know I am a life long Presbyterian, but I didn’t quite expect what I got. A size able part of that church really worked against me and it showed.

Sadly, the Congressman is right, a size able vocal minority of Concord was organized against the Congressman, the few hundred were loud and boisterous enough to appear to be the thousands that make up the church membership. One Sunday the Congressman’s opponent, his wife and son were brought on stage. Several weeks ago, our Senior Pastor and I communicated on the issue of the negative perception that was reflecting on our church. Our Senior Pastor made the right decision to refrain from being directly or indirectly involved in the political contest.

Several Associate Pastors did not show the same restraint of our current Senior Pastor and are (interestingly enough) the ones that have direct or indirect connection to a former Senior Pastor that was actively involved in the campaign and used his name, position of the church he currently serves in Monroe County (Vonore to be exact) and his former position at Concord to endorse the Congressman’s opponent.

I have attended Concord since late 1993, joined the membership in the mid 90’s. The previous two and the current State Representatives were or are members of Concord. A current County Commissioner Elect, a member of the Republican State Executive Committee, the Farragut Mayor and the 2006 opponent of Congressman Duncan are all members. While I am a former Knox County School Board Member and former Republican Knox County Party Chairman and a member. None of these folks including myself never used the church as our campaign prop.

While through this website and it’s social media apps I have been the most critical of the Congressman’s opponent. I was not alone, although hundreds were silently supportive of the Congressman and hundreds more communicated to me that they were voting for the Congressman because of the activities of the vocal members and former Senior Pastor of Concord.

Just remember the make-up of the church is no different than the make-up of our communities. Some people will use whatever advantage they believe they possess (real or imagined) to get a head start, a false start or a cut in the line (like at parades).

The church (every church) isn’t filled with perfect people, the church is imperfect people working to make it to the end.