Meet Gordon Atkinson, online journalist known as “Real Live Preacher”. Gordon’s a Baptist minister from Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, USA. In December 2002 Gordon started an anonymous blog with Salon.com, exploring honest questions and doubts and unpacking the stresses of working for the church. One of his first posts spells it out…
“I have a kind of love/hate relationship with the church and I’d like to air some things out. I’m intrigued at the idea of folks with a different worldview engaging me in some way. I know this � it can get lonely in the pulpit. Folks in church expect a lot of things from their pastor. Gut-level honesty is NOT one of them. Don’t get me wrong, the folks in my church are as nice as they come, but let’s face it, they don’t want to hear the pastor’s deepest doubts and fears.”
Last year Gordon revealed his identity and location, coming clean with his own congregation and the world. He published the book, “RealLivePreacher.com” with Eerdmans in October. He’s now working on an audio book based on a Christmas story he posted in 2003. Real Live Preacher the blog has become an online community with registered users taking part in forums and starting new threads.
I’ve followed Gordon’s blog for a while now. I’ve appreciated his honesty in coming to terms with depression. I’ve enjoyed his use of art by Marianist brother Steve Erspamer (available on CD from Liturgy Training Publications). And I enjoyed hearing him talk on the Open Source Radio podcast, “God 2.0”