Friday, May 01, 2009

REVEREND CARLTON PEARSON NAMED INTERIM MINISTER AT CHRIST UNIVERSAL TEMPLE IN CHICAGO

The Reverend Carlton Pearson was named Interim Senior Minister of Christ Universal Temple, 11901 South Ashland in Chicago. He assumes full time duties May 17. Reverend Johnnie Colemon who retired three years ago after building the country's leading New Thought ministry founded Christ Universal Temple 52 years ago.

Pearson, says, "I am excited to move to Chicago and to join the Christ Universal Temple family. We will make it a world class institution and take the ministry to new heights and assist people in living their best lives with a practical religious doctrine."

Pearson has had a 30-year career in the ministry. He is a graduate of the Oral Roberts University and was mentored by Oral Roberts. He is a fourth generation Pentecostal minister and has been a traveling Evangelist. Living in Tulsa, Oklahoma he has had one of the largest churches in the city. He was the host of the religious conference AZUSA which attracted 50,000 people in attendance. His was the most watched television program on Trinity Broadcasting Network.

He was pastor of the New Dimension Church and saw his membership fall from 5,000 to 1,000. He has been controversial. While watching a television news program depicting the wretched condition of people dying in Rwanda he reevaluated his traditional fundamental religious doctrine of the Pentecostal church. He challenged his religion and changed his life in doing so. He embraced what he labeled "universal reconciliation" and wrote a book entitled, The Gospel of Inclusion. He embraced a New Thought philosophy.

His new found beliefs caused the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops to conclude that he was a "heretic," He lost his church, his following and his popularity.

His story has been featured on Chicago Public Radio's This American Life, Dateline, Nightline and he has been the subject of an CNN story and a BET special. His "Gospel of Inclusion" message has attracted diverse ministries and welcomes all people.

His preaching style is widely acclaimed, and he is one of the most profound in contemporary religious circles.

Pearson moves to Chicago in June. He is also an award-winning Gospel vocalist. He is married and has two children.

2 comments:

Zack Raspberry said...

I received this press release today, as well. I live in Chicago and I think this will be an interesting move for Christ Universal Temple. Yet, I believe that he fits into the church's culture quite well.

Anonymous said...

No, Pearson does NOT fit, in at Christ Universal Temple. He was appointed to that position against the by-laws and he along with boark president Daniel Winston, is in the process of stealing the money from the church. These undercover brothers are already up to $3 million. There is an effort to kick Pearson out and send Winston and Pearson to jail!