Pastors call for civility when spreading gospel

Among evangelical Christians, Baptists and others of similar religious persuasion, the Main Street Plaza brouhaha has brought to the forefront an issue that has been simmering on the back burner for years.

It's an especially relevant topic for evangelicals living in Utah — just how do you proselytize to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

A select few take a loud, in-your-face approach that includes shouting derogatory comments about LDS Church founders. Others quietly pass out literature that explains theological differences perceived between certain Bible passages and LDS doctrine. Still others take a win-them-with-kindness approach that's designed to build bridges with the LDS community.

Friday, pastors who fall into the latter category held a press conference on Main Street Plaza, asking members of the first group to tone it down.

"I think the gospel can be shared in a friendly manner," said Mike Imperiale, pastor of Salt Lake's First Presbyterian Church.

The press conference was called by Salt Lake Theological Seminary President Ken Mulholland, whose institution recently produced "Bridges" — a video designed to educate evangelical Christians about friendly ways to share the gospel with Latter-day Saints. While LDS members and evangelicals both consider Jesus Christ to be the Messiah, the two faiths diverge on whether the Book of Mormon and other LDS scripture are the word of God or fictional history.

But theological differences should not breed contempt, Mulholland said.

"We as Christian leaders believe it is critical to stand together and speak out," he said, flanked by pastors, including Imperiale, from several Wasatch Front congregations. "It is through genuine respect and honest discussion that we will best be able to influence each other."

Those who adopt a noisier approach to proselytizing say they are doing God's will — preaching the word to people they consider lost.

"In Isaiah it says 'lift up thy voice like a trumpet,' " street preacher Lonnie Pursifull said. "Too many people are out to please man and not to please God . . . those theological seminary guys are too watered-down anyway. We're doing something; most of those guys are sitting up at the University of Utah in a classroom.

"Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Jesus — all the authorities and religious leaders were against the way they were preaching," Pursifull said.