Constitutional Law, Justice, Religion

Grace Under Pressure: Rev. Phil Snider Speaking “Against” The Inclusion of LGBT Into Springfield’s (Mo.) Non-Discrimination Ordinance

By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Meet Reverend Doctor Phil Snider of the Brentwood Christian Church and consider his fire and brimstone speech on including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual citizens under the protection of Springfield, Missouri’s anti-discrimination ordinance. Phil did his undergraduate work at Missouri State University (Springfield, MO), then earned his masters degree at Phillips Theological Seminary (Tulsa, OK) and doctorate at Chicago Theological Seminary (at the University of Chicago).

Be sure to listen to the ENTIRE speech (it’s not very long) and be in awe:

That’s real religion!

~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

87 thoughts on “Grace Under Pressure: Rev. Phil Snider Speaking “Against” The Inclusion of LGBT Into Springfield’s (Mo.) Non-Discrimination Ordinance”

  4. I thought I was listening to someone from way back when. Turns out I was, until the last minute. Good argument, unless, of course, the good people of Springfield still support segregation.

  5. Whatever ones belief re: religion it thrills me to hear a Christian Minister that understands Jesus message and has the courage to deliver it in these days where so many have hijacked it to express hatred. Thank you Mark.

  6. Great find Mark. This preacher deserves the Nobel peace prize for standing up for the real tenets of the Christian faith.

  7. Well done Dr. Snider. These are the kinds of ministers I grew up with in the Congregational Church. Smart, principled, courageous, men who gave their congregants food for thought so they could reason their own way through the knotty problems within their society.

    “My role as a pastor in the Disciples of Christ is not to tell you what conclusion you must make, but rather help give you the resources you need to come to a responsible interpretation. I speak to the church, but not for the church. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to wrestle with what you believe on this matter. What I believe doesn’t have to be what you believe, and vice versa. Again, the question is not about uniformity of opinion but integrity of opinion.” (Dr. Snider “What Does the Bible Really Say About Homosexuality? – Part I” – Summer Sermon Series 2012)

    The whole series is worth reading and if you care to do so, here is the link:

    http://brentwoodchristianchurch.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/summer-sermon-series/

  8. Mark,

    We tend to be a snarky bunch around here because of usual course of stories associated with organized religion. I don’t just mean the atheists either. The critical thinkers here tend to run hateful clowns like Fred Phelps through the wringer regardless of their own personal beliefs, from our good friend and fellow guest blogger Mike S.’s Judaic perspective to the enlightened Christian perspective of valued posters and friends like Oro Lee. It was really nice to see a story about someone using their faith to bring people together rather than divide them for a change, no matter the flavor. It was refreshing to see someone in a leadership role who seemed to actually understand the book in a way compatible with the basic teachings more directly attributable to Jesus of Nazareth and upon which his faith is founded.

  10. Man, I do love me a good sucker punch. That was truly awesome! Great find, Mark.

    And Rev. Phil Snider?

    Good on you. The whole “God is love” thing is apparently not lost on you. That is something far too uncommon in many so-called Christians today. Thank you for fighting the good fight.

  13. OS, I didn’t listen to the end either. The Christian church ( Disciples of Christ) has not been conservative or evangelical.) Good for the minister but I don’t like Springfield in any case.

  15. OOPSIE!

    I did not listen to the video until the end. The money quote is in the last forty or so seconds. Listen all the way through.

    Now excuse me while I go clean the egg off my face.

  16. OS, I know. I used to drive through on the way to Minnesota. The headquarters of the Assemblies of God is located there.

  17. SwM, I used to have to go to Springfield once in a while to meetings. I looked for sentient life forms. Then I went home.

  18. That Springfield area is full of Obama hating Akin supporting homophobic evangelical christians.

  19. Lessee if I got this right. If we give a gay couple some rights, such as the right to visit their loved one in the hospital, it will somehow remove MY rights as a straight guy. That is a magic act worthy of the great Houdini himself, with a little Kreskin thrown in for flavoring.

    I did not know all this. Glad the good Rev. Dr. set me straight. Thirteen years of university education and this is news to me. Dang!

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