April 2023 by Lauren C.
I went to FPC Bonita Springs for Easter Sunday Service. My parents go to this church so my husband, young daughter and I attended with them. The service was going okay until the sermon. Pastor Doug preached and made multiple political references during the service. I found that unnecessary and distracting in the first place, but even weirder to do on Easter. So many members use this celebratory day to invite friends and family to church. I didn't find it inviting when Pastor Doug alluded to his political preferences during the service.The most disheartening part was when Pastor Doug referenced a book by a well-known news commentator who has paid tens of millions of dollars in sexual harassment and sexual assault settlements. Someone who has minimized the horrors of slavery. Not only is this person highly political, but they are unrepentant for their actions. Pastor Doug thought promoting their book, their words, their name in the sermon would be "insightful" and as Pastor Steve said, "a great encouragement". I find repeated and unrepentant sexual harassment and sexual assault not aligned to God's Word, so promoting the work of someone with this background made the message fall flat for me. I shared my thoughts on this with Pastor Doug and a few others via email, and Pastor Doug's response to me was in part, "I'm sorry to see that you have such a tender "hot button" for a person who hasn't been on national TV for 5 years now." It's hard to hear straightforward and honest feedback after giving a sermon, but a thinly veiled insult back is next level. Much of the rest of Pastor Doug's response was defending his choice to promote this author's work. I am interested in attending a church that has a higher moral standard and wants to connect with people across the political spectrum. I did not experience that at this church.
