Clergy and Christians comment on the art

clergy

From the pastor of Broadway Baptist Church
—Rev. Paul R. Smith
Author of "The Church With Something To Offend Almost Anyone" and "Is It Okay To Call God Mother: Considering the Feminine Face of God."
November 2000, Kansas City , MO

I have been the pastor of Broadway Baptist Church for over thirty-seven years. The hallways of our church building hold the Faces of Jesus gallery, which is my collection of over 150 depictions of Jesus from artists around the world. From Rembrandt to Dali, from ethnic to traditional, I'm always looking for those pictures which will say so much more than I can say in a sermon, and grab our imaginations with the dreams of God.

Then I recently came across Becki Jayne Harrelson's art. Wow!

Some I immediately embraced, such as The Crucifixion. What a powerful work to all of us, gay and straight. Others I wondered about, such as The Last Supper. I first thought, "Oh, she's gone too far — this is frivolous, even sacrilegious." But then I stayed with it while reading the written interpretation, which accompanies her work. I suddenly began to see something about Jesus and what God wants to do in the world today, which I not see before. And yes, it does have to do with frivolity — like the fascinating frivolity and profound playfulness of a jar of perfume poured on Jesus' feet. And it does have to do with being sacrilegious — the very same style with which Jesus blasted away Spirit confining stereotypes and oppressive religious traditions in his day.

In John 16:12, Jesus says, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, the Spirit will guide you into all truth." God's Spirit is indeed teaching me many things I could not "bear" before. The Spirit's fresh wind is blowing across the world today in Harrelson's "break open our hearts with truth" art.

I am eager for her beautiful prints to grace our walls with their mind-blowing, heart-filling, Gospel message.

—Rev. Paul R. Smith
Broadway Baptist Church

			The Spirit's fresh wind is blowing across the world today in Harrelson's "break open our hearts with truth" art
Judas Kiss debuted at Leslie-Lohman in New York 1995. Madonna, Lover & Son debuted at Leslie-Lohman in New York 1998 The Crucifixion of Christ debuted at Blue Milk Group in Atlanta 2001 sold	Broadway at 39th Terrace Kansas City MO 64111 (816) 561-3274 PaulSmithBBC @aol.com	clergy From the pastor of Broadway Baptist Church —Rev. Paul R. Smith Author of "The Church With Something To Offend Almost Anyone" and "Is It Okay To Call God Mother: Considering the Feminine Face of God." November 2000, Kansas City , MO I have been the pastor of Broadway Baptist Church for over thirty-seven years. The hallways of our church building hold the Faces of Jesus gallery, which is my collection of over 150 depictions of Jesus from artists around the world. From Rembrandt to Dali, from ethnic to traditional, I'm always looking for those pictures which will say so much more than I can say in a sermon, and grab our imaginations with the dreams of God. Then I recently came across Becki Jayne Harrelson's art. Wow! Some I immediately embraced, such as The Crucifixion. What a powerful work to all of us, gay and straight. Others I wondered about, such as The Last Supper. I first thought, "Oh, she's gone too far — this is frivolous, even sacrilegious." But then I stayed with it while reading the written interpretation, which accompanies her work. I suddenly began to see something about Jesus and what God wants to do in the world today, which I not see before. And yes, it does have to do with frivolity — like the fascinating frivolity and profound playfulness of a jar of perfume poured on Jesus' feet. And it does have to do with being sacrilegious — the very same style with which Jesus blasted away Spirit confining stereotypes and oppressive religious traditions in his day. In John 16:12, Jesus says, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, the Spirit will guide you into all truth." God's Spirit is indeed teaching me many things I could not "bear" before. The Spirit's fresh wind is blowing across the world today in Harrelson's "break open our hearts with truth" art. I am eager for her beautiful prints to grace our walls with their mind-blowing, heart-filling, Gospel message. —Rev. Paul R. Smith Broadway Baptist Church TOP © Copyright 1993 Becki Jayne Harrelson