Joel Hunter
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Joel Carl Hunter (born April 18, 1948, in Shelby, Ohio) is the former senior pastor of Northland Church, a congregation of 20,000 that worshiped at three sites in Central Florida. He is the author of A New Kind of Conservative (Regal 2008), Church Distributed (Distributed Press 2008) and Inner State 80: Your Journey on the High Way (Higher Life 2009). Hunter accepted the presidency of the Christian Coalition in 2006, but resigned before taking the office.[1]
Hunter delivered the closing benediction on the final day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention,[2] prayed with Senator Obama on the day of the 2008 presidential election[2] and offered a blessing for President-elect Obama at the Pre-Inaugural Worship Service at St. John's Church on January 22, 2009.[3] On February 5, 2009, he was appointed to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.[4] In April 2011, he was named a member of the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations.[5] On October 2, 2020, Hunter officially endorsed Joe Biden for President of the United States.[6] On December 13, 2022, he traveled to the White House to witness the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act.[7]
Biography
Hunter was born April 18, 1948, in Shelby, Ohio. His parents were Wilbur Hunter, a decorated World War II veteran, and Jean Hunter, a homemaker. When his father died in 1952, he spent much of his time with his maternal grandparents, Lena and Carl Bashore. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1966.
He then attended Ohio University. While there, he became involved in the civil rights movement. In April 1968, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., he had a crisis of faith and felt called into ministry.[8] He graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science degree in education.
He then attended
Married to Becky Gaylene Beeson in 1972, the Hunters raised three sons, have seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.[9]
Pastor Roles
In 1985, Hunter moved to Northland Community Church in Longwood, Florida.[10] He stepped down in October, 2017.[11]
In 2023 he accepted the position of Pastor of Community Benefit at Action Church in Winter Park, Florida.
Climate change activism
Hunter was asked in February 2006 to sign the
President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Hunter served in the inaugural year on the Advisory Council for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (2009–2010), which advised President Barack Obama on substantive policy issues including interfaith relations, strengthening the role of fathers in society, and reducing the number of abortions.[4]
References
- ^ Fitzgerald, Francis (30 June 2008), "The New Evangelicals," The New Yorker
- ^ a b Van Biema, David (6 November 2008), "Who Is Joel Hunter, and Why Is Obama Praying with Him?," Time
- ^ a b Branigin, William (20 January 2009), "Obama Sworn in as 44th President of U.S.," The Washington Post
- ^ a b The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (5 February 2009). "Obama Announces White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships." Press release. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Members Named to Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations
- ^ "Longtime Longwood megachurch leader Joel Hunter endorses Joe Biden". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ Munoz, Luana (2022-12-13). "Orlando evangelical leader to witness signing of Respect for Marriage bill". WESH. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ISBN 978-0-8307-4533-3
- ^ "Dr. Joel C. Hunter". Northland Church. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-60402-615-3
- ^ "Our History - Northland Church". www.northlandchurch.net. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ TV Spot: Evangelicals and Global Warming
- ^ "15 Green Religious Leaders". 25 July 2007.