McCain’s faith: Pastor describes senator as devout, but low-key

[777]

PHOENIX (ABP) -- John McCain has a deep and personal Christian commitment despite his reluctance to speak publicly about it, according to the man McCain calls his pastor.

Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church, described the Arizona senator and his wife, Cindy, as “very unobtrusive” people who don’t seek special attention when they are able to come to worship. “They come in the side door. They’re very pleasant. They talk to people. They’re very approachable.”

But the man McCain calls “my family’s pastor” said his relationship with his most famous parishioner has not been a particularly close one. Yeary said he’s done the normal things a pastor would do but “no more than I would do for any church member” in the 7,000-strong congregation.

McCain, a lifelong Episcopalian, has been attending the Southern Baptist-affiliated church in Phoenix for at least 17 years. But the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has neither officially joined the congregation nor been baptized, which among Baptists is a public event associated with profession of one’s faith in Jesus. He has continued to list his faith as “Episcopal” in official congressional biographies.

Rest: link

This sounds like a great church, wonder why they haven't joined up yet?

 

[Zenas]

Rest: link

This sounds like a great church, wonder why they haven't joined up yet?

The article didn't say that they haven't joined. My guess is that Cindy is a member and McCain goes to church with her. Also I would guess that McCain hasn't joined because he doesn't want to be rebaptized. I have seen a number of instances like this where someone attends regularly and is active in the church but won't join because they were not willing to renounce their earlier baptism, or somehow admit that it was defective.

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

I know this pastor, and know that he is a man of integrity and genuine compassion. If McCain is elected I would feel good about his getting spiritual counsel from Dan Yeary, who was a colleague of mine in Kentucky Baptist campus ministry many years back.

I would guess that many Baptist churches have people like the Senator, who cannot quite bring themselves to adult immersion baptism. A woman whose funeral I just did a few weeks ago attended my church for years, having been raised in the AME denomination. But one day she presented herself at the invitation, having overcome her inhibitions. Wouldn't it be something for Dan or somebody to baptize POTUS? What a plus that could be for Baptists, provided we can explain it to a world that would see our position as narrow-minded, etc.

 

[KenH]

There is no way that I would vote for Senator McCain(especially since I think that he foolishly wants to start a war with Iran); however, I am glad to read that he is a Christian.