Destiny have come out with the following statement:
“Andrew Owen the Senior pastor of Destiny Churches international says that we are very much looking forward to welcoming Dr. Creflo Dollar to Scotland in the next few months. Scotland has a tradition of warmly welcoming visitors from many diverse backgrounds and welcomes all and any to come and listen to Dr Dollar when the church meets at the Armadillo Clyde auditorium, the Aberdeen AECC or our own Gorgie campus Edinburgh.”
https://www.facebook.com/events/1708794026003771/
I don’t wish Destiny any harm (unless they are preaching a false Gospel) and I long to see the Gospel prosper in our cities, whatever the denomination or ethos of the church. But the above statement is at best disingenuous. If this is the criteria they use to invite speakers I look forward to Destiny inviting Donald Trump, Richard Dawkins and Marie Le Pen to preach at their churches. The question is not about Scottish hospitality, nor about Creflo Dollar’s ‘background’, but about whether a church is prepared to invite someone like Dollar to speak on its behalf. If they do so they are implictly and explictly endorsing his message and methodology.
Creflo Dollar’s prosperity gospel message is not the Christian Good news and his methodology is a ponzi style scheme racket which exploits the misguided, the naive, the sick and the poor. The Church in Scotland is in enough trouble without adding Creflo Dollar’s nonsense to our portfolio. I am sure that I speak for the vast majority of Scotland’s Christians, from all denominations, when I state that we do not welcome Creflo Dollar and his twisted version of Christianity to Scotland.
Again I would plead with Destiny to withdraw their invitation and not to invite the wolves into their flock. And if they are determined to go ahead, I make this simple offer. Go ahead and welcome Dollar, but are you prepared to welcome an alternative point of view? I am quite happy to come and debate Creflo Dollar when he comes on the 12th of June. Given that Destiny are so warmly welcoming and interested in diversity I look forward to their warm acceptance of my offer. Let Creflo bring his message and let me bring the Biblical answer. If you and Dollar are so confident that he is bringing the message of Jesus what do you have to lose? The God who answers by fire let him be God!
Creflo Dollar and Scotland – The Reaction
Why Creflo Dollar is not Welcome in Scotland
There were several articles in the Scottish press – this one in The Courier being an example –
Free Church moderator wants Dollar’s invitation rescinded
The Courier & Advertiser 18 Apr 2016
A leading Dundee minister has said an American who preaches that people will become rich if they are faithful should not have been invited to Scotland.Creflo Dollar from Georgia promotes the “prosperity Gospel” and will speak at a series of events organised by the Destiny Church in June.
The televangelist has asked his parishioners to donate money so he can buy a $65 million private jet.The Rev David Robertson, moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, said Dollar’s teaching are heretical and he has written to the Destiny Church asking them to rescind the invitation.And he called upon Dollar to instead use the $65m to build 65 new churches in Scotland.
Mr Robertson said: “There is a real need for many more living Christian churches in Scotland of whatever denomination.
“The Free Church with its strong emphasis on biblical teaching, discipleship, reaching out and its Presbyterian church government is in a strong position to help with that.”
Mr Robertson added: “As well as new churches in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Montrose we are seeking to develop even more. For example in the Charleston area of Dundee.
“From Orkney and Shetland to the Borders, in the urban housing estates and the suburban towns, we need to be planting new missional congregations which will reach out to those who have no meaningful church connection.“We have no shortage of young men coming into the ministry – now we need to find places to put them when they qualify from our Edinburgh Theological Seminary.”