Ministers upset by Moon visit

A pair of nationally known Detroit preachers denounced Moon's staff for claiming the two pastors are cosponsoring Moon's March 21 visit to the city. The Rev. Frederick Sampson of Tabernacle Baptist Church, listed among Ebony Magazine's Top 10 U.S. preachers, and the Rev. Eddie Edwards, famous for his community development work, expressed their frustrations with Moon in a live television broadcast.

Earlier this month, Moon's Michigan staff sent a letter to many metro Detroit churches inviting the religious community to Moon's March 21 appearance at Historic Little Rock Baptist Church in Detroit. To try to build greater acceptance with members of other religious groups, Moon is making a whirlwind tour of 49 cities that began Feb. 25 in New York City.

The letter announcing his Detroit stop listed 43 local clergy as cosponsors of the event, including some clergy who say they had no connection with the event.

"I went on the air to clear my name," said Edwards. "It is important to let people know that I am not in support of this event."

Edwards was especially concerned about distancing himself from Moon, because he had accepted a two-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington for President George W. Bush's inauguration from the Unification Church. Edwards said he had no idea who was paying his bills until the group was taken on a tour of the Moon-owned Washington Times newspaper. Although he took the trip, Edwards said he opposes Moon's ministry as contrary to Christian teaching.

Because of ill health, Sampson did not appear in the one-hour show on low-power Christian television station WLPC-TV (Channel 26) on Monday, but his concern was expressed on the air.

"Rev. Sampson was very upset," said the Rev. Glenn Plummer, the host of the television show, who plans to continue his own criticism of Moon in a second live show at 11 a.m. today.

Sampson, Edwards and Plummer said they are mainly opposed to claims by Moon's church that he is a new messiah sent by God to complete work left unfinished by Jesus. Their criticisms drew both an apology and a defense of Moon's tour from Unification Church officials.

Moon's Michigan director, the Rev. David Kasbow, said, "I want to offer a heartfelt apology for the list of names. We got excited about this event and we were overzealous in listing names."

The Rev. Phillip Schanker, the church's national spokesman, said Moon's interfaith appearances have gone smoothly in 15 other states.

"People have stood up for this interfaith message, beyond denomination and race, all across this country," said Schanker. "We have nothing to gain by abusing anyone's name."

Meanwhile, the Rev. Jim Holley, pastor of Little Rock, said he felt compelled to defend Moon's visit.

"Here's an 81-year-old man who is making probably his last trip around the world to meet with his followers and I'm just giving him a facility to do that," Holley said. "I don't agree with Rev. Moon. I'm not becoming a Moonie. I'm very confident in my Christian faith. I just don't have all these hangups that some people seem to have about letting other religious groups speak."

Several other Detroit clergy said they were not upset to be listed as cosponsors.

The Rev. Horace Sheffield III, pastor of New Galilee Baptist Church in Detroit, said religious leaders who are upset about being on the list may be partly to blame. They may have some past contact with the Unification Church but are reluctant to publicly acknowledge it.

"Now that there may be some public scrutiny, they may be ducking for cover," Sheffield said.

Contact DAVID CRUMM at 313-223-4526 or crumm@freepress.com.