BELIEVER FOR ARTISTS: Pastor Mark Ross | WV

AOA NEWS
By Tahlib

The board of director's for Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts is proud to recognize Pastor, Dr. Mark Ross of Marion Baptist Church as a Believer For Artists for his being open to how an artist interprets scripture in their creations.

Earlier this year, Pastor Ross saw something in his Baptist church that he thought he'd never see, and in his newspaper column he wrote, "On a bulletin board, beside a list of opportunities for Christian service, was a bikini! There it was, a life-sized sketch of a girl wearing a striped string-bikini top." Being a good Baptist, he launched an investigation, saying, "No, it was not an inquisition. I was saving the inquisititon until later."

BELIEVER FOR ARTISTS: Pastor Joseph Shreve | WV

AOA NEWS
By Tahlib

The board of directors for Alpha and Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts is proud to recognize Methodist minister, and Pastor Dr. Joseph Shreve of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in West Virginia as a Believer For Artists.

This past year, Pastor Shreve was a leading advocate for the painting of a new mural at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church as a tool to help bring the stories of Jesus to life. Created by West Virginia artist Sheri Gaudet, the massive 80-foot-long by 8-foot-high mural took over two-months to create, and the each of the events told in the mural are chronicled on the church website.  Pastor, Dr. Joseph Shreve, said, “Sheri Gaudet’s mural of ‘The Life of Christ’ is both a tremendous tool for teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ and a wonderful focus for meditation and prayer for those who seek to follow Him. Chapel Hill United Methodist Church is truly blessed to be the recipient of this gift of art.”

Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts salutes Pastor Joseph Shreve as a Believer For Artists.

***If you know a member of the American clergy who is working to bridge the artist & church divide, please nominate them today!

West Virginia Church Mural Brings Bible Alive

THE RECORD DELTA
By Amanda Hayes

Artist Sheri Gaudet stands in front of the mural she
painted at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.

WEST VIRGINIA - A local artist has helped bring the stories of Jesus to life through the creation of an 80-foot-long by 8-foot-high mural at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. Sheri Gaudet spent roughly two months painting the scenes of Jesus on the Christian Education hallway. Chapel Hill UMC’s pastor, Chapel Hill United Methodist Church is truly blessed to be the recipient of this gift of art.” Dr. Joseph Shreve, said, “Sheri Gaudet’s mural of ‘The Life of Christ’ is both a tremendous tool for teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ and a wonderful focus for meditation and prayer for those who seek to follow Him. Chapel Hill United Methodist Church is truly blessed to be the recipient of this gift of art.” [link]

Biblical interpretations: The beauty of "Bikini" diversity

SOUTH WEST VIRGINA
March 6, 2011

WEST VIRGINIA--In a Letter to the Editor, Dr. Mark Ross, pastor of Marion Baptist Church explains how he came face-to-face with the embrace of artistic diversity within his church (excerpts): Last week, I saw something in the main hall of our church which I thought I would never see. On a bulletin board, beside a list of opportunities for Christian service, was a bikini! There it was, a life-sized sketch of a girl wearing a striped string-bikini top. The art group leader explained to me that the painting was “biblical art.” She calmly said, “It is in Ephesians six.” In Paul’s letter to Ephesus he wrote, “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God…” The girl in the sketch had on stylish sandals with small colorful beads, “As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” The artist had drawn a bejeweled belt around the girl’s waist. Paul wrote, “And fasten the belt of truth around your waist.” Then, I saw what I was looking for and finally understood. He wrote, “And put on the breastplate of righteousness.” There it was in living color, the breastplate of righteousness, a bikini! My picture of a breastplate of righteousness is fairly open, but it does not include a bikini. Yet, obviously the artist thought of material, not metal, and she thought of beauty, not utility. As badly as I want to correct her theology, I have to leave as much room for her interpretation as my own. I have decided that I can live with a bikini for a breastplate of righteousness. The Kingdom has more troubles than a swimsuit. My only concern is explaining it to Saint Paul someday. I think I will simply say, “It is in Ephesians six.” [link]