The theology of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson
Welcome to the 17th edition of North Carolina Religion Roundup: Mark Robinson's theology, NC churches leaving the UMC, and more.
Happy Wednesday! Thanks for reading the 17th edition of North Carolina Religion Roundup, a newsletter that highlights major religion news and trends in the Triangle and greater NC.
I’m a reporter covering community colleges, postsecondary access, and faith at EducationNC, and a M.Div. student at Duke Divinity School. This morning, I’m reading and thinking a lot about Sen. Raphael Warnock’s runoff victory in Georgia last night. There’s a lot to be said about the race, but in particular, I’m struck by its religious dynamics. Democratic Sen. Warnock and his Republican opponent Herschel Walker campaigned with “competing visions of faith,” with white evangelicals largely voting for Walker despite reported scandals and Warnock’s track record as a theological leader and longtime pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. (On Twitter, PRRI founder Robert Jones highlighted the similarity between these statistics and evangelical opposition of Martin Luther King Jr., who also pastored at Ebenezer 60 years ago.) This NPR segment puts it this way: Georgia's U.S. Senate race pits the Black church against white Christian nationalism.
Usually I would include this news down below, but I chose to lead with it as a reminder of why understanding religion (and how it plays into our news) matters. As I’ve said before, for most religious people, faith impacts the way they see and navigate the world in big ways – whether we account for that reality or not. In this week’s edition, I’m sharing a Q&A with NC journalist Tim Funk about a piece he wrote exploring Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s theology. The key point: in Georgia, North Carolina, and across the country, we should take seriously the role that faith plays in our communities.
As always, I’d love any thoughts or feedback regarding parts of the roundup you particularly like, and/or anything you’d like to see in the future. Plus, I’d love it if you’d share this newsletter with a friend. Thanks for following along, and I hope you stay well this week. Happy reading!
This week:
In Story to Follow, I highlight the latest United Methodist disaffiliation news in NC.
In Deep Dive, I share a Q&A with Tim Funk regarding his Assembly piece from last month, The Gospel According to Mark Robinson.
In a Nutshell, I share religion stories across the state, including prison reentry ministry and faith groups serving those still without power in Moore County.
And in What I’m Reading, I feature a report on religious groups offering mental health counseling to college students, along with a story about a kosher kitchen at the World Cup.
Story to Follow: Churches leaving the UMC
In November, the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church approved disaffiliation requests by 249 of its nearly 800 churches, the News & Observer reported. Some of those churches will join the Global Methodist Church, others will join another denomination or remain unaffiliated or non-denominational. The Global Methodist Church upholds a conservative view on LGBTQ issues, taking a firm stance against the church’s willingness to ordain gay and lesbian clergy members and conduct same-sex weddings.
The NC Conference serves roughly half the state, from Alamance County east to the coast. In the Western Conference, which covers the other half of North Carolina, 41 churches have disaffiliated from the UMC since 2019, the N&O reported, and 16 more have begun the process. You can view the churches approved to disaffiliate in eastern NC here, and the churches approved from the NC Conference here.
In August, I wrote about the UMC division, when 31 western NC churches were demanding to leave the UMC. That new legal strategy represents churches that want to immediately join the new Global Methodist Church, instead of paying two years of apportionments and pension liabilities to disaffiliate.
This all follows worldwide UMC delegates voting to uphold the denomination’s ban on the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ people in 2019. A sizable number of clergy and laypeople rejected the position as harmful and un-Christlike. That said, the UMC has not disciplined churches and leaders for ordaining and marrying LGBTQ people, which has led to many conservative churches disaffiliating, saying the 2019 decision hasn’t been upheld. There have been years of delays by the UMC’s General Conference to discuss the split, and UMC’s General Conference is not scheduled to meet until 2024 to officially do so.
5.3 million LGBTQ adults are religious, according to an October 2020 report from UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, with religious LGBTQ adults found across ages, in every racial-ethnic group, among married and single people and in rural and urban areas. Public acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage has dramatically increased in the last two decades, Pew Research data shows, but those questions don’t necessarily account for people whose religious views are that homosexuality is wrong or sinful. In August, I highlighted an Assembly article by Barry Yeoman that explores the UMC divide well. Here’s an excerpt:
Congregations like Fitzgerald’s now need to pick a side. Or they can choose not to decide, and remain in the UMC by default. For theologically homogenous churches, the direction might be clear. But Wesley Memorial’s 400 members span the gamut, the minister said, “from almost flaming progressive to dang near fundamentalist.”
They are, in other words, a cross-section of Methodists, bracing for a high-stakes conversation that they managed to avoid until 2022. “I’ve got those who are adamant about, ‘I don’t want to be a part of an apostate church, and right now I feel like I am,’” Fitzgerald said. “And I’ve got those that are just as determined, saying, ‘I will not be a part of a traditional orthodox congregation. And if we do not stay United Methodist, then I will be leaving.’”
MORE: Read an opinion piece from a Methodist pastor, featured in the Charlotte Observer: As a pastor, I’m awed by what I saw when the Methodist church split in NC
Deep Dive: The Gospel according to Mark Robinson
Tim Funk covered religion, politics, and other beats for The Charlotte Observer for 35 years, and currently co-hosts the Inside Politics podcast from WFAE 90.7 FM in Charlotte. Last month, for the Assembly, he asked those who teach and preach the Bible every day to weigh in on Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s theology, in light of his political office and likely run for governor. Here’s an excerpt from that piece, which I highly recommend you read in full.
The Assembly asked to interview Robinson about his faith; his office declined our request. But a review of 11 of Robinson’s church speeches, and attendance at a 12th, offered some insights into his religious beliefs.
In the Gospel According to Mark Robinson, the United States is a Christian nation, guns are part of God’s plan, abortion is murder, climate change is “Godless … junk science,” and the righteous, especially men, should follow the example of the Jesus who cleansed the temple armed with a whip, and told his disciples to make sure they packed a sword.
“People ask me all the time why I seem to be so bold in what I’m saying,” Robinson told the Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem in November 2021. “I tell them, ‘If you don’t like it, go ask the man that told me to say it. And see what He has to say about it. You don’t like the words I’m speaking from the Bible? Go talk to the author of the Bible.’”
I spoke with Tim about how the story unfolded, what he learned, and the importance of reporting on religion. You can follow him on Twitter at @timfunk, and read his article on Robinson here.
Our conversation below is edited lightly for length and clarity.
What drew you to writing about Mark Robinson, and how did the angle of the story change over time?
I got a call from John Drescher, who's one of the editors at the Assembly and a former colleague of mine at the Charlotte Observer. He had just read a column by a Methodist clergy woman who took Robinson to task over some of the things he had made headlines about saying in churches. John thought it would be interesting to take a deep dive into the gospel according to Mark Robinson, which was our title from the beginning. He wanted me to look at what Robinson had been saying in these churches since he took office two years ago – a lot of those sermons are online – and then talk to some biblical experts and see what they thought.
We decided to contact about 12 biblical experts – people who preach and teach the Bible every day, you know, theology professors, some pastors. I sent them 12 or so extended quotes from the speeches that I watched, and then I sent them a link to one of his speeches. Then I would call them up later and go over their reactions to a lot of what he said. Robinson would not do an interview with us, but they did send his new book [“We Are The Majority: The Life and Passions of a Patriot”], which had something about his faith journey.
As you point out early in the story, Mark Robinson is already a large political figure, and likely to run for governor, so it’s not hard to see why a profile is newsworthy. What about Mark Robinson’s faith and theology? Why is understanding that important?
If you listen to his speeches, they're really a combination of his theology and his politics. I mean, he thinks those two are connected. His brand of Christianity is very combative, and almost bellicose. As I say in the story, he is more David versus Goliath than Sermon on the Mount. I think he and a lot of evangelical Christians think that we are in a culture war right now – that God's will is being subverted by the left and it's the job of Christians to restore God's will on earth. And that creates issues of, is this a Christian nation? He believes it is. It's important that people in North Carolina know who this person is and what his beliefs are, because they're not just his personal religious views. I think he's pretty clear about what he thinks the state and the country ought to do to restore God's will on earth.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson addresses the crowd at Salt & Light Conference at Freedom House Church in Charlotte, N.C. (Peyton Sickles for The Assembly)
What considerations did you keep in mind writing this story about Mark Robinson’s theology without being able to actually talk to him?
Well, I heard a lot of his words, again I listened to 11 of his speeches and went to the 12th. I had his book, which talks some about his faith journey, and his views on some of these issues that he talked about in it. There were things I wanted to ask him, like for example, does he to go to church now? And I've noticed in some of his one-on-one interviews about the book that he seems to be moderating a little bit on some of these issues, which I think might be a recognition that he not only has to win the Republican nomination, but in a general election too. So we'll see – he's somebody to watch.
How did you approach finding sources for this story? What were you looking for when reaching out to theologians and scholars?
We thought it was important to have experts with Protestant backgrounds, since that was his background. So I didn't call any rabbis or Catholic priests, because their versions of the Bible are a little different. I also wanted to have a spectrum of Protestant backgrounds – I wanted to make sure, for example, that I had some more conservative voices in there. I tried to have a spectrum of not only ideologies or theologies, but denominations. And I wanted to get well-known people that had a standing – that were heavyweights.
Most of the experts wish Robinson had done a deeper and less political reading of the Bible – one that would have spotlighted such Biblical hallmarks as justice, compassion, and love. Those things, which were important to Jesus, don’t show up much in the Gospel of Mark Robinson.
What has the reception to the story been? Have you been surprised by any of the feedback?
I think people were very interested in him. And I think they're very interested in religion and politics right now, because the marriage of them is part what's going on in this country. I have not heard from the lieutenant governor or his office. I sent a copy of the article to the person who works with his office who had gotten me a copy of the book.
What have you learned while researching and writing this piece?
I did this for years at the Charlotte Observer, and I always found that the best stories were the ones where I stayed out of it and let the experts talk and tried to be neutral. And it was important for me to make this more of a story about religion than about politics.
We talked to the the dean of the divinity school at Shaw University, which is the oldest historic Black college in the south. He had some interesting things to say. For example, he harked back to the days of before the Civil War, when a lot of white southerners used the Bible to justify slavery, and he said if you misinterpret the Bible you can use it as a weapon. So I think what I learned is the wisdom of having the focus very sharp on theology and people that know the Bible, and to try to stay out of it. To try to be the storyteller, but not the story.
You’ve covered religion and politics for many years. How do you see religion specifically shaping the state? Is there anything you wish received wider attention or else was covered in a different way?
I always tell people that my favorite beat was religion, because it invited you to go deeper. And it was so exciting to be in a country and in a state where religion was becoming so diverse. We've got a lot of immigrants, for example, in North Carolina, and they bring their religions with them. We've also got a lot of people who are moving here from other states, and they bring not only their politics with them, but they bring their religion with them too.
And you even see this in politics. In 2024, it's likely that the Democrats will nominate Josh Stein, the Attorney General, who would be the first Jewish person to be governor of the state. And Republicans may nominate Mark Robinson, who would not only be the first African American governor, but his religion is also part of what he talks about and what he represents. So it would be an interesting contest, I think. It’s exciting to cover something that’s still changing all the time.
Any final thoughts about covering religion in NC, or how outlets and journalists could do better?
Another reason why I like covering religion is because it's often the most important, or certainly one of the most important, things in a person's life. A lot of people regard their religion with passion, and it guides their life – I'm not sure that's reflected in the amount and the intensity of coverage. I mean, there's so many religion reporters that aren't working for newspapers anymore. There’s some good religion reporting in the state, but I'm not sure that it's regarded as the major beat that it should be. I do think the Assembly is one of the state’s new journalism heavyweights and it is helping to keep deep-dive religion reporting alive in NC. But I just think people are fascinated by religion, and it's important to them. I would like to see more coverage of religious diversity in the state, including the growth of religious “nones.” There's so much out there, and people will read it.
In a Nutshell:
With power out, a North Carolina community shares tamales, WUNC
In Moore County, where thousands remain without power after gunshots were fired at two electrical substations, Latino community members from the San Juan Diego Mission in Robbins are helping others by preparing hot, home-cooked tamales for their Pinehurst neighbors. (Full details of the Moore County attack are still unknown, but “the incidents add to a growing list of right-wing groups invoking Christianity while targeting LGBTQ people and religious minorities,” Religion News Service reported.)
Celebrating North Carolina’s First Mosque and Durham’s Muslim Community, Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
North Carolina’s first known mosque was established in Durham nearly 65 years ago, and a current exhibit honors the rich, living history of African American Muslims in the city. “The Transformational History of Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center in Durham” will be on view through Dec. 10 in the Jerry and Bruce Chappell Family Gallery at the Perkins Library.
Chapel Hill Bible Church leaders face allegations, investigations over abusive behavior, the Daily Tar Heel
A note: I attended Bible Church from 2017 through last year and worked with the church’s youth group (where I am still a volunteer) from 2018 to 2021. Over the past few years, roughly 200 people have left CHBC due to various concerns, the DTH reported, including those of emotional abuse, racism and sexism by church leaders. There are about 1,200 attendees on Sundays, according to church leadership. Three separate investigations have taken place at the church within the last two years. The latest report was conducted by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), a consulting organization that specializes in uncovering and responding to abuse in religious settings. CHBC leaders refused to release the full report to the congregation and instead presented a summary to them during a Nov. 20 meeting.
A Colombian Christmas tradition lights up Charlotte, WFAE
Charlotte’s Colombian community will usher in the Christmas season Friday evening with a lighting of candles for El Día de las Velitas, the Day of the Candles. The Colombian tradition, representing faith and community, is becoming a Charlotte tradition as well, to mark the Immaculate Conception, the Catholic holy day that honors the Virgin Mary.
Welcoming Formerly Incarcerated People: Urging churches to support reentry programs for those returning from prison, Duke Divinity School
A recent Duke Divinity School event, “Justice Ministry Reimagined: Reentry Simulation” hosted by the Office of Black Church Studies, provided pastors, students, and lay leaders an opportunity to experience a simulation of reentry to society after serving time in prison and to learn from experts on how to support reentry programs and individuals returning from prison.
Love Chatham continues focus of serving county’s neediest, Chatham News + Record
Love Chatham, a non-profit organization established in Siler City in early 2021, is a common banner under which churches, businesses and people from Chatham County can come together to serve and love those in our community suffering from homelessness and hunger. The News + Record spoke with its executive director, Dakota Philbrick, about its work, which you can read in the link above.
NC senators vote to advance Respect for Marriage Act with amendment to protect religious liberties, The Chronicle
North Carolina senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr were among a dozen Republican senators who on Nov. 16 voted in favor of advancing the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the Defense for Marriage Act and require the federal government to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. Many state Republicans have criticized the senators for departing from the majority Republican vote. Republican opposition to same-sex marriage is inextricably tied with conservative religious beliefs about homosexuality.
NC Baptist: On book bans, Moms for Liberty sure has a narrow view of liberty, the N&O
For the N&O, Edward Walsh from Princeton, NC, wrote about book bans in schools across the state. He is former executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Johnston County and was previously director of the Department of Christian Education for the Baptist Convention of New England. From the piece: “The banning of books has a long and tragic history in world history and is raising its ugly head once again in our nation. The impact of a warped and distorted sense of Christian nationalism and a depth of ignorance as to the origin and intended audience of the Critical Race Theory has spurred the growing cult of book banning in the growing presence of Moms for Liberty.”
~What I’m reading~
Campus religious groups step into a new realm: mental health counseling, the Hechinger Report
Religious groups on college campuses that have long counseled students about faith or spirituality are adding mental health clinicians in campus religious hubs, the Hechinger reported, and also training religious leaders to know when to refer students to psychological care. I’m fascinated in this piece’s exploration of education, religion, and how they intersect, and curious about where and if this is happening in NC. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
People between the ages of 18 and 25 are more likely than those in any other age group to experience mental illness, and most mental health conditions develop by the age of 24. Most colleges offer some type of mental health services on campus, but students’ need for mental health care has intensified dramatically throughout the pandemic.
Religion and spirituality can contribute to good mental health, but people with strong religious affiliations can and do suffer from mental health issues and experience life stress like everyone else. And people who experience religious discrimination are more likely than others to suffer from common mental health disorders.
Not every therapist is equipped to understand the nuances of different religions. A Muslim student may need to talk about the difficulty of coordinating class schedules with daily prayer times. Or a Jewish student may want to discuss the struggle of keeping kosher in the dining hall. These gulfs of understanding can make it more difficult for some religious students to get help.
“Having a space where there’s already a shared worldview, even if it’s not completely agreed upon, just gives people a sense of reassurance and belonging,” said Stephanie Winkeljohn Black, an assistant professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg who studies the intersection of religion and spirituality with mental health.
AND, one bonus read: Bagels and challah for Jews keeping kosher at World Cup, from the Associated Press. Rabbi Eli Chitrik said the kosher kitchen has been making 100 sandwiches a day to feed fans from around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the United States, Uruguay and Israel. Recently, production has increased to more than 100 to meet demand for Jewish World Cup fans who want to comply with Judaism’s set of dietary regulations during the tournament in Qatar.
That's it for this week's edition of North Carolina Religion Roundup. Thanks for reading. Until next time. And in the meantime, I gladly welcome any tips, feedback or news you think I haven’t included but should in future editions. — Hannah