INTERVIEW, PART III: Rev. Gerald R. Johns Jr., pastor, Providence Christian Church, Kentucky
May 4th, 2009 by Menachem Wecker
Part I; Part II. Rev. Gerald R. Johns Jr. is pastor of Providence Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Per his website, he received a B.A. from Southwestern College and an M.Div. from Texas Christian University. You can follow him on Twitter, where I first “met” him, @JerryJohns.
MW: There have been some recent controversies in which Christ has been depicted in chocolate [my interview with the artist Cosimo Cavallaro] and earlier with animal and human excrement. To what extent do you think artists — whether Christian or not — should be required to treat Jesus respectfully in their art?
GRJ: I can’t imagine why anyone would be required to produce art within parameters. Artists should by nature freely express. While many may not find the art to be in good taste I don’t think art should be limited. Whether or not someone chooses to purchase it or display it is up to them. In a sense artists paint, sculpt, draw, and create in order to be appreciated by an audience. If what they produce does not inspire an audience then so be it.
I suppose another area of controversy generated around this type of art has been whether the National Endowment for the Arts ought to be funding such projects. That is going to depend on who is on the granting board for the NEA. It is their best judgment whether the art evokes something, will garner a following or makes an important statement or breaks a boundary that is revolutionary. (I think there is more to be said on this, and would be glad to follow up more.)
MW: You recently joined Twitter, where you join quite a large number of ministers, priests, and pastors using social media. Why do you think Christian leaders are embracing new media at a much quicker rate than other religious leaders?
GRJ: The evangelical churches that brought the church into the 21st century in relation to media are probably leading the way. They saw some years ago that introducing media into worship would draw people. There are lots and lots of folks in the pews who eschew technology in their homes and certainly in their worship. I would also say that ministers are relational and community-oriented. We don’t have lots of opportunities to gather and talk about our parishes and leadership and stewardship and frustrations. Add to that the people we knew in school are mostly scattered around the country and Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn become for us a tool for interaction with one another. Most of the Pastors I know are looking for ways to build community, to reach young people and they are not afraid of technology. Social Media does raise concern among Pastors because it offers opportunities for predators to locate and take advantage of people who have low esteem.