Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The pastor of Willow Creek Chicago -- the city campus of the 20,000 member evangelical megachurch Willow Creek Community Church -- has resigned and admitted to "sexual impurity," a church spokesman said.

The pastor, Rev. Steve Wu, could not be reached, and the church would specify what took place.

Wu, 43, moved from California's Silicon Valley in early 2006, hired by senior pastor Rev. Bill Hybels to lead Willow Creek Chicago, the downtown branch of the South Barrington-based church.

Isn't it interesting how these ministers tell gay people to remain celibate while they bed hop?

30 Comments:

As always Wayne, they are the masters of the doublestandard, hypocrisy and bigotry.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/18/2009 11:14 AM

Also, isn't it amazing that Wu or his crackpot cult can't even be honest about exactly what he's supposed to have done in regard to sexual impurity? Is this another Haggard in the making?
posted by Anonymous, at 2/18/2009 11:16 AM

It is no different than Hilary
Clinton visiting Asia to have all Americans join the peoples republic just like her husband who began this whole demise. Oh i forgot. Some of you think the democrats are actually on our side. The bubble popped a long time ago. These non profit snake charmers are just blasphemous money changers. Bring in the wine, grapes and cheese. The servants are the citizens that cater to multi million dollar public officials spouting more of the same on how they are working tirelessly on your behalf.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/18/2009 1:12 PM

"Sexual impurity" for a fundamentalist means that the guy actually enjoyed himself for a change. They are so pathetic. However, I must say, maybe there is a God after all ... there seems to be some justice in the implosion of the American evangelical community. They should all take up Yoga or something.
posted by Chris L., at 2/19/2009 9:38 AM

Willow Creek is so far from fundamentalism that fundamentalist churches don't even acknowledge it. The hate posts in response to this story are so distrubing to me, particularly the comments from people that have probably never set foot inside WC. Regardless of where your value system is rooted, have you never compromised it? Judgment is far easier than empathy.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/19/2009 12:07 PM

Christina, thank you for the information. Yes, I have made mistakes and have compromised my value system, but I think the difference is that I don't get up on stage and preach morality to people. But I would like to know how things are at Willow Brook, and I am happy that you are here. What is it like? Do you know what happened? The people here have understandable animosity with fundamentalists, and if I painted a church with that brush erroneously, I do apologize.
posted by Chris L., at 2/19/2009 2:01 PM

Thanks for your comment, Chris. I do attend Willow Creek at the South Barrington campus. The pastor there informed us a couple weeks ago of Steve Wu's resignation but did not share the details. I started attending a divorce ministry of WC's which helped me tremendously so I started attending services. I did not call myself a Christian at that time and had, in fact, agreed to follow Islam when I married my Turkish husband. I think it's important to remember that a pastor is a teacher. When they teach, they don't say "I said," they say "Jesus said." Steve Wu preached a series at the South Barrington campus last summer and openly admitted struggling in some areas of his life. All the pastors there have admitted that they are sinners. We all are. But, personally, I get so much from the services there not because of Steve Wu or Bill Hybels but because of the gifts God gave them to preach His word. Willow is an awesome church for seekers. Its messages are current, relevant, applicable, uplifting. If that's fundamentalism, then so be it. I have not found a pastor there that I have felt holds himself above anyone else. They just happen to be schooled in the wisdom of the Bible and are sharing it with us. I encourage you to attend sometime. I'd be happy to have you as my guest. If you like music, the worship is awesome.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/19/2009 2:29 PM

That's very sweet. I am not a Christian anymore, but I was a born again Christian when I was in my teens and early 20s. I enjoyed the ministry (and music!) of Jimmy Swaggart. I understand how it is to feel compassion for a preacher who is, of course, just as human as any of us, but they rarely have the same consideration for others.

I have strong disagreements with Christianity and do not at all think it is a good thing. I also think that the homophobia that comes from conservative Christianity is disgusting. You may base it on the Bible if you wish, but the Bible can be made to say anything, and, in fact, is filled with a good deal of nonsense.

We'll have to agree to disagree about that. If you ever wish to reconsider living your life based upon what many of us here view as a total delusion, feel free to leave your email address, and I would be more than happy to provide you with powerful reasons as to why. Thank you again for your sweet words.
posted by Chris L., at 2/19/2009 3:54 PM

Chris - after a lifetime of searching for a path to God, I think I'll stay on this one awhile. I will say, however, that the homosexual issue is troublesome for me. I think Willow will eventually change their views on this. Pastor Hybels has declared in his messages that everyone matters to God: gay, bi, transgender. He said those words. However, he didn't have to say them for me to believe it. I've never had to reconcile my thoughts on homosexuality. I never once thought it was a choice. (Promiscuity - separate issue.)

I do attend a class at a local Baptist church and, although the people are sweet, welcoming and faithful, the conservative views against homosexuality truly bother me. At a recent service they discussed how a group went to Springfield to protest prop ?? against gay marriage. I had a very hard time listening to that. Mind you, there were no harsh words or dehumanizing comments. They believe what they believe and we're all entitled to what we believe.

I recently read that some interpret the verses about Sodom and Gemorrah to mean that God railed against un-yoked sexual acts. Not homosexual acts between committed partners. I'm sure that would be blasphemy to many Christians but on a molecular level, I don't believe a monogamous gay relationship is sinful or that gay marriage threatens the meaning of marriage. I am a heterosexual woman who is separated and have been on the brink of divorce for 2 yrs. Am I holding up the sanctity of marriage just because I'm straight?

Having said all that, everything I've learned thus far in my journey, I feel, has made me a better person. But I also think if I had stepped into that Baptist Church BEFORE I had ever attended Willow, I probably would not have pursued the faith as I have.

Thanks so much for reading my comments and responding. Good luck to you.

I also apologize for taking up space here. I just stumbled upon it while looking for an update on the Steve Wu story and after reading lots of hate posts on this subject, just couldn't stay quiet any longer. Thanks for your time.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/19/2009 5:30 PM

Christina: You stay clear of me honey. I see right through your candy coated goody goody "i am so taken aback" attitude. You come off like a charlatan to me with your morality out the other end of your "gee i just don't get it" mentality. You just skipped over to this site huh? Well you just keep on skippin out of my way. This blog is not mine so you really should feel welcome to post but do not try to cushion the fact that this church is evangelicalism at its worst. More importantly Christina, there is nothing wrong with having sex. Nothin at all. It is not a sin to have sex. It is fun. It is pleasurable. I have done it enough to know and i like it. I support it. People should have more of it. You probably do not feel that way and you come off to me like you would sit in judgement of me for being openly gay and just fine and dandy about that little factoid that makes you and yours feel so damn superior. So Christina, as i said earlier, you stay clear of me darlin. I will send you packing with all your passive aggressive bible thumping non thinking bull that you swallow whole and spit back out into this gay blog in defense of a church that puts us fucking down for who the fuck we are. You got it girlfriend. You shocked? TOUGH! And to blame your rhetoric by giving a man named Jesus who lived here 2000 some odd years ago the responsibility just makes you a stupid woman. Your fellow parishioners are the ones in need of hearing your dribble, not gay people. You are up against something stronger than you. We do not feel bad about who we are. We are simply responding in defense of societal hate and you are a willing member in a backward fundamental religion that is directly responsible for the persecution. So take off your sheeps clothing on your own now because your words are exposure enough. I do not believe for a second that you are ok with gay marriage. Not one second. You are directed to recruit and this is the usual dogmatic instructional package used by predictable people like yourself. Christians my ass! You are the one who should be ashamed. Go tell that to your church going trolls and manipulative pastors. Is the word "molecular" a code for keeping all things maleable to church doctrine? mmh mmh.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/19/2009 10:41 PM

Christina, you have every right to be here and you are welcomed here, at least as far as I'm concerned. You are not "taking up space." You are a human being who has as much right to give an opinion as anyone.

I respect your right to be on your own path, and I thank you for doing the same for me. I have spoken to many Christians like yourself, who believe the faith but have a very difficult time with the homophobia. I think it's good that you see it, because it's people like you who will eventually change it. Ironically, eliminating anti-gay sentiment from the church will help the faith rather than hurt it.

I suggest a starting point: Christians who refuse to budge from their anti-gay position should be encouraged to treat gay people like they treat divorced people. They are against divorce (scripture quotes Jesus as being vocally against divorce in all circumstances except for adultery), but they welcome divorced people into the sanctuary and don't rail against divorce from the pulpit. I think that is the direction in which the church is moving, and I think that is a good first step. But again, as far as I am concerned, you are welcome here anytime. ;-)
posted by Chris L., at 2/20/2009 9:45 AM

Thanks, Chris. And to "mail," I had no idea this was a gay blog until reading your post. This page came up when I searched "Steve Wu." I clicked the link and found these posts. What you don't know about me is that I went to my first gay pride parade when I was 11 y.o. I understood the camp of the men dressed up like Charlie's Angels and Anita Bryant and loved it. My mom worked in the heart of "boy's town" in Chicago at the time. One of my oldest and dearest friends is gay and has been in a committed relationship for 20+ yrs. We met when he was just coming out and I went through that process with him. I've been to every gay bar on Broadway and Halsted street in Chicago before the 'hood became yuppified. I've watched another close gay friend battle AIDS since 1988. I have hung with gays, lesbians, drag queens, trannies. Believe it or not, I get it. My pursuit of faith is MY journey. I get something out of it. But I am not a tithing member of any church for one reason: I CANNOT get behind the notion that homosexuality can be "cured" or that it is a "choice." Willow Creek has meant the world to me as I have healed myself through an emotionally destructive marriage. I have read every self-help book out there and have learned that all the concepts put forth in them can be found in the Bible. You called me passive-aggressive . I am just not an all-or-nothing person. I can pursue my spiritual journey but draw the line anywhere I please. Most Christians would say, then, that I am not a true Christian. So be it. I am just finding my way like everyone else. So, say what you will about me but you don't know me and I don't know you. If you want to judge me in my entirety because I attend a religious service an hour a week, that's your choice. There's nothing I can do about that.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/20/2009 11:34 AM

Chris - to follow-up on your comments about divorce. At the Baptist church where I take a weekly class, they were studying Romans 7 where Paul talks about divorce and that a woman is committing adultery if she remarries after divorce unless her first husband dies. Being somewhat ready to divorce my husband, I was like "Oh no. Is God trying to tell me to hang in there a bit longer?" But the pastor went on to say that this passage is not about divorce at all and it really means that followers of Christ are free from the old laws of Judaism that are next to impossible to follow and have a new path to God through Jesus.

But what was interesting to me, and this speaks to what you are saying about the Christian view of divorce, the pastor talked about two reasons allowed in the Bible for divorce. And while they welcome members that are on their second marriages, this church would not perform services for second marriages. They would assist in finding a pastor or church that would but could not do it themselves. This is the type of conservatism in this particular church that is hard to swallow. Again, they are not denigrating (at least not publicly) but have very conservative views.

I would never join this church in any of their endeavors to halt gay marriage as they did a couple months ago. My daughter attends the school there (for now) and we attend classes on Wednesday evening which are on various topics. Currently I am studying the history of the Old Testament.

At Willow, they are very open about treating all people with respect as I mentioned in my earlier post. They call this out specifically by sexual orientation, race, political views, etc. Anyone can get copies of their messages and hear this for themselves. I think their current bylaws do state that homosexual behavior is sinful so that is a sticking point for me. But on the flipside, there was an uproar some months ago about the head pastor meeting with a gay activist group (the name escapes me now) to help build bridges. Some Christians were very upset by that. I was heartened because it means the door is open.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/20/2009 11:51 AM

Christina, I bet that a good 1/3 of the entire congregation is pro-gay but finds it too unpleasant to speak up. When you're outnumbered 2-1, it's really tough. Even when I was in the Pentecostal church, however there were many who secretly held that view. But it was just too scary to speak up, especially when you know that they just aren't interested.

I know you understand the anger of some here; homophobia is very, very hurtful, and it can be frustrating to see many in churches who are supposed to be followers of the Prince of Peace be so blatant about "those people." It isn't right. And when the implication is that gays aren't right "in the eyes of God" or spiritually because of something that we had no decision in, it can be really galling. I would never get back into Christianity, but if I did, I would definitely look at the United Church of Christ, for example.

Jesus was someone who said, "If a man presses you into service for a mile, you go two!" and "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "judge not" and "love is the fulfillment of the law." It can be very frustrating to deal with the conservative types who claim Jesus; I know it is for me. BUT, that which does not kill me has made me stronger. ;-)
posted by Chris L., at 2/20/2009 4:05 PM

Yes Christina. Your church and one hour weekly stint with it displays your complacency of harassment toward gay people. It makes no sense at all. So your journey to communicating with me may very well be in the spiritual cards so to speak. Stop defending evangelicals who discriminate against me. If you continue to do so then you are my enemy. It is a simple concept i am sure fundamentalists are able to comprehend. Ask yourself if your own gay friend who passed away would support their rhetoric dressing it up as gods word? Ask yourself if the marchers you remember so fondly would support the church you are in? I doubt it. Neither do i and many other gay people who will not subject themselves to the oppression you support. You are a member of a church that judges us, therefore you judge us. My response to you is burn in hell and save your crap for someone who you can manipulate.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/20/2009 4:51 PM

Mail - you did not read what I said. I am NOT a MEMBER of ANY church and my friend has not yet succumbed to AIDS. Thank the good Lord! (I couldn't resist.)

Do you spend all your time focusing on a group of people that don't accept you? I can't pretend to know what you've gone through in your life but I have my own baggage to carry. Since I was a small child, I have been called names by school "friends," by strangers driving by the bus stop where I was standing and have been told through our media that I am undeserving of romantic love because of how I look. I've even been spit on by a stranger as they drove by. I could spend my life being mad that I'll never be Miss America or the captain of the cheerleading squad or the romantic lead in a movie all because of how I look. People have judged me on my appearance since my earliest memory and I have had to fight self-loathing ever since. Sounds like something you need to work on.

I am not defending evangelicals. I am defending myself. And it sounds like anyone that doesn't agree with you 100% on all things, or feed into your "woe is me, I'm gay" attitude, is your enemy. You've probably missed out on some great relationships because you've had that shield of hatred around you. "They hated me first so I'll hate back" sounds like a "fun" way to live.

There are very few people in the world that don't get screwed one way or another. Even the average white, upper middle-class, Christian family gets it. A coworker's family that fits that description just found out their 9 y.o. daughter needs a heart transplant or she dies.

Maybe it's time to get over yourself.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/20/2009 5:31 PM

Mail, I think that sometimes, in order to get to the top of the ladder, you have to step on the bottom rung. You know what I mean? I'm not excusing the fundamentalists, but this woman seems honest in her journey, and we have to be careful not to paint with too broad a brush. Things work in strange ways; sometimes people have to see bigotry up close before they can become soldiers against it.
posted by Chris L., at 2/20/2009 5:35 PM

Chris L - you are so right about one thing - it's very hard to speak up in any atmosphere where you are outnumbered. I've befriended the parents of my daughter's classmate and they are at the beginning of their Christian journey. We all agree that the school our children are in is very conservative (I won't bore you with how I came to place her there) and at a playdate a couple weeks ago, I told them how upset I was getting when we were at the service where they discussed how "we" had to protect our values from liberalism and, in particular, gay marriage. At that service, the husband of this couple was nodding yes to what the pastor was saying so I wasn't sure where he or they stood on this but in the moment where it was just us at their kitchen table, I had to be honest: I do not oppose gay marriage.

Having said that, I still attend classes at the church once a week. I want to learn more about the Bible and the faith and their classes are college level training. So, am I a hypocrite? Maybe. I think about this often. Do I throw away the entire opportunity to learn for this one fork in the road?

When I was younger, most of my church experience was in the Catholic and Episcopal churches (or Catholic lite, as they call it). I married my husband in Turkey but had a service in the Episcopal church here. After having been gone so many years, the congregation had changed tremendously. It was 90% gay. How do you explain that?

Anyway, thanks for your honesty and letting me babble. This has been a learning experience for me. And even though "Mail's" comments have been extremely confrontational and downright hateful, I will still meditate on his points.

Have a great weekend!
posted by Anonymous, at 2/20/2009 5:49 PM

Christina. Your true colors are much more vivid now. I do not care if you went to a gay parade when you were 11. I went to the St. Patricks day parade when i was 11. Should i expect some sort of admiration because of that? You handing out brownie points? You are pathetic. I have known a few fag hags who loved drag and then got into bad marriages. So what. The point is you had the option of marriage. We do not. That is called inequality. Open up your mind. You need to be torn off your self appointed pedestal you perched youself up on without the knowledge that your stench is offensive. Attending a religious service once a week is the same as being a member. The only thing you seem to think that seperates you from members is the fact you do not give tithings. I call that BEING CHEAP. The fact you are or have been filled with low self esteem has nothing to do with me having to work on anything with regards to myself. I do not like your attempt at making your problems mine. So what about vicious children treating each other badly. Next i will find out your problem was as simple as being the fat girl in the classroom. Whatever. There is no "woe is me" attitude on my part at all but too bad if you or anyone else have a problem with it. Why not try exhibiting some class and not bring up my sexual orientation for your topic of conversation in your church that you don't belong to but go to every week? It is unbecoming at best and revoltingly invasive. Take a stand Christina. You are on the fence. I have no idea why you would assume i am not nor never have been in a loving relationship. You probably got that dogmatic crap from some ex gay ministry. Perhaps you should heed your own advice that "you do not know me so say what you want about me" yada yada yada. I could care less if you like or accept gay people. DO YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE WAITING AROUND FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF YOUR HETEROSEXUALITY BY HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE? I think not. You are so presumptuous to think gay people give a damn what you think of them. Stop getting so personal about someone elses private life. That is what is discussed by fundamentalists in the church you do not belong to but attend weekly Christina. I do not need to get over myself or anything else. You need to get over the delusion that your opinion on something you are not a part of even matters to the people you are so condescending to while at the same time pretending to yourself and others that you are being a loving person.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/21/2009 1:52 AM

Chris L.
I disagree. This woman should be sharing this information with those in the church she does not belong to but attends weekly services with. We already know and have heard all this garbage year in and year out. I don't care if she likes or accepts gay people. Who cares? The whole concept of gay people needing straight people to accept them is pathetic. I am not interested in sharing a ladder with people like this. They are the first to kick you in the head with their feet when you rub them the wrong way and then use god as their excuse for doing so. uh uh no way. been there done that.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/21/2009 1:57 AM

Ok Chris L. and Christina.
I understand the analogy of the bottom rung of the ladder and the spiritual journey upward, beyond and forward. Gay people are the mentors, the prophets, the philosophers, the teachers, the shamans. Always were and still are.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/21/2009 3:04 AM

Christina, I think there are many gays in the Episcopal Church because it is one of the few churches that doesn't tolerate open bigotry against us. I don't know what your background is, but let's say you are Irish. Imagine that 90% of the churches in America preached against Irish people, tried to pass laws against the Irish, told them they weren't welcome in church, and told them they were "lost" unless they changed something that is unchangeable.

Being an Irish woman, you would be deeply hurt and offended; you wouldn't go to those churches. But you would still have a spiritual thirst, wouldn't you? That would never go away, so you would seek welcoming places.

The American Episcopal church, while not perfect, is one of the few who has had the guts to say, "No, we're not going to tolerate homophobic bigotry; we're not going to allow people to use the Bible (which they rightly do not view as perfect) to enable us to treat these people with disdain. We're simply not going to allow ourselves to become haters. We're going to welcome those who some people wrongly consider to be outcasts. That is OUR Christian vision."

Now, that being the case, what church would you go to? I think it's really very simple and obvious; gays go where they can have their spiritual needs fulfilled without being called spawns of Satan, sinners, or "less than." Sadly, it was also mostly gays in the congregation because the heterosexuals got up and left when gay people started showing up. They're hypocrites. Jesus ate with prostitutes; they'd rather go to a different church so they don't have to be with "those people." This is what Christianity has become today.

The Episcopal church is in a battle between conservatives and liberals. The conservatives says it's a disgrace to ordain a gay person; people like me say it's utterly disgusting to say that all gay people are unfit to serve God, regardless of who the individual is and what spiritual gifts he or she can offer. To me, bigotry in God's name is revolting. I could never compromise with it; I would leave any such church and visit a United Church of Christ, for example. And I certainly wouldn't allow those people to teach my precious children and install that crap into their unquestioning minds.

Gay people are like everyone else and have just as many spiritual needs as everyone else; despite the truly shameful practice of most conservative Christian churches who paint gays as less than human and devoid of spiritual depth. If you want to ask me what I think is sin, THAT'S IT. Denying the uniqueness, both human and spiritual, of gay and lesbian people is a sin against God. I don't believe in a literal hell, but if it existed, there would be a special place in hell for those who use the things of God to deny a particular group's humanity.

Regarding your children, I know it's none of my business, but may I humbly suggest that you shouldn't allow them to be entrusted to the ultraconservatives that you describe? You yourself say they make you uncomfortable. They are turning your children into those kinds of people. What are you thinking?

Finally (I know I wrote WAY too much here,) if any other church members give you grief about your pro-gay views, tell them that the Bible they claim to follow so religiously says that a person simply needs to accept Jesus to be saved, and that you've done that, and that this isn't a conversation that you feel like having with them. Just a suggestion. You might also want to refer them to this verse:

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)

At that point, they'll say that "if you really love someone, you'll warn them if they're on a destructive path," as though they are parents to the world. At that point, your eyes will be opened and you will see that they are completely full of shit.
posted by Chris L., at 2/21/2009 8:00 AM

Guys, it's been a slice. You've given me lots to think about. I did type a much longer post but decided to give up. I'm spent.

Chris - thanks for your understanding and empathy.

Mail - thanks for challenging me.

Good luck to both of you whatever spiritual path you choose (or not).
posted by Anonymous, at 2/21/2009 2:04 PM

Good luck to you, too!! ;-)
posted by Chris L., at 2/21/2009 2:09 PM

bye Christina. Your welcome. And thank you also.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/22/2009 1:07 AM

I wonder how anyone could look at the picture that Wayne posted of this church, with their Hollywood-style lighting and flat screen TV, and think that it has any relation whatsoever to Jesus? I am totally amazed that people are so willing to turn a blind eye to the obvious nonsense that is presented to them in the name of God.

Jesus (allegedly) said, "Build not up for yourself treasures on this Earth..." and "Sell everything you have and give it to the poor..." and yet, these Broadway-style churches are raking in the dough, hand over fist!

I'm in the wrong business. Like most of these evangelists and preachers, I don't have a belief in God, but at least I admit it. These showmen scam these people, many of whom are good-natured and could never accept what the truth really is, that they're being exploited by con men who are not above using "God" to turn a fast buck.
posted by Chris L., at 2/22/2009 1:00 PM

They can feel the way they want as long as they are kept inside their temples and out of the public square. I see these people as inciting hate crimes against minorities and their hate must be exposed for what it is.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/22/2009 9:40 PM

That way in the future they will be as remote as the Amish and viewed as a backward oddity.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 2/22/2009 9:42 PM

Most people are onto the Christians, I think. As my mother told me some time ago, fifty years ago, no one even THOUGHT of "questioning" religion. Times have dramatically changed. The homophobia that exists within religion is backfiring on it for a change.
posted by Chris L., at 2/23/2009 2:54 PM

Here's a class recently offered at Willow Creek. "Homosexuality: How do we respond?" You can listen/watch the class online if you're interested. I know readers of this blog may be cynical (for good reason) but I believe WC is trying to build bridges and understand all brothers and sisters from every walk of life.

http://classes.willowcreek.org/default.aspx?page=3284&profile=515&occurrence=1&streamType=Audio
posted by Anonymous, at 6/03/2009 3:58 PM