I think sensitivity is the issue here. Enough people saw the letter or it’s specific wording as being inappropriate whether the authors intended it that way or not. I don’t think it was intended, but we all make mistakes. I think that’s been made clear.

College guy, Highland can link to websites that are not connected officially to the church all it wants. That’s why it is a link and not part of the website itself. It is an outside link, which also include ACU and other ministries and blogs.

Do you suppose that Mike could have visited with the candidate before posting? Maybe he did? Mike (or anyone else here saying Mr. Christian did wrong), have you actually talked to Kevin? Maybe you should! I bet he would be happy to explain his reasoning for what he did. I’ve never met Kevin, but from what I hear he is a very down to earth, genuine man. Maybe a simple phone call would have been the way to go.

This is of course just my thoughts. I guess maybe posting online is the new craze.

I still do think it is odd that your blog is linked from the Highland website. This is your personal blog, so maybe it shouldn’t be attached to Highland at all? That would be my suggestion.

Clearly, this was not an endorsement by Highland, but unfortunately, it was easily mistaken as such; the “friends” at Highland really should’ve insisted on proofing the final mailings before they were sent out. I’m sure they’ve learned their lesson!

Politically, I agree with a lot of what Kevin Christian says, but I think that he has made several errors in judgement, particularly this mailing and using the double entendre of the name “Christian” ad nauseum. Things like that are probably enough to keep me from voting for him…

I miss the Highland Children’s Ministry, too, Val! Those kiddos are great.

Thanks for the kind words, Mimi. If every one of my undergraduate liberal arts courses were like yours, I think I might have completed a degree or two more by now.

Blessings to all.

ps…Val, I am sorta sad that we’ll be living out of state in November, because I was hoping I’d have the chance to “Vote Kinky.” C’mon, he’d be such a fun governor? Right? C’mon…

I do not know who wrote the letter or the wording on the envelope. It was late Monday evening, and I had just gotten back from a quick trip to Dallas. Kevin dropped by the house to get our signatures. I remember that we tried writing our names twice, just to be sure the scanning would take.

So, to quote a famous phrase, “Can’t we just all get along?” (And Steve, you, like Kevin, are one of those students from yesteryear that I hold dear to my heart.)

Bob Hunter: great guy.

Five candidates running: very impressive, all Christian, can’t lose.

Letter: not an endorsement of a candidate by Highland but rather an endorsement by six Highland members. Highland (as a church) wouldn’t endorse any of the candidates. Can’t do that. And wouldn’t do that. (Thanks so much to Mimi for taking the time to clarify this for everyone.)

Blessings on all of them and their families.

Maybe my uncomfortableness with the letter stems from past experiences with church-politics crud. I visited another church in town for about a year and remained on its e-mail listserv. I got e-mails before the 2004 presidential election encouraging me to vote for a particular candidate. I also received e-mails before vote regarding a complete ban on same-sex marriage in Texas in 2005. Both of these e-mails implied that my faith was in some way wrapped up in how I came down on these two votes.

Now I realize that in no way did the signers of the “Vote Christian” letter intend to cause this confusion or imply that it was Highland’s endorsement, but that realization came after my initial concern (and comment on this blog). By the way, thanks to Dr. Barnard — my wonderful Major British Writers professor — for chiming in. My issue is not with you or any of the other signers, but with the wording on the outside of the envelope, which you obviously knew nothing about. Just curious — did the Kevin Christian campaign write the letter, or did one of the signers?

“My blog was about Bob Hunter, a Republican congressman whom I deeply appreciate. I mentioned five candidates and said good things about all five. I could live with the election of any of them. One, however, happens to be a friend.”

More than twice the number of words were devoted to talking about the candidates rather than lauding Bob’s service. Only Mel’s name was linked to his election page, and until later today, John and Kevin’s names were not bolded for emphasis.

I guess I’m confused by the meaning of your blog. They could just be mistakes, but it takes a few extra keystrokes to bold names and create a hyperlink.

Also, from what I can tell, you have a great many “closeted” comments posted to your blog. Is it only the one’s with whom you disagree that you encourage to “come out of the closet?”

By the way, College Guy, could you come out of the closet so I know who I’m talking to?

And if you don’t think this is a real issue, you haven’t been following the news. IRS is investigating a church in Southern California over a sermon that was preached during the 2004 election year that seemed to endorse a candidate. Repeat: a church cannot endorse a candidate.

And again: I’m happy for all six of the people who sent the letter to endorse their candidate. I’m guessing he’d make a fine representative. They can put up yard signs, write letters until their fingers are numb, etc.