Kansas Pastors Urge Adam Hamilton to Quit Senate Race
Methodist pastor says Hamilton is "out of step with the majority of the church"
A week after more than 500 pastors and lay leaders urged the Kansas Democrat to repent and leave the race, Hamilton defended himself in a national television interview.
A letter urging Kansas Democratic Senate nominee Adam Hamilton to repent of his theological views and withdraw from the race has become part of a broader public dispute over his faith. In the week since the letter was reported, Hamilton has pushed back against attacks on his beliefs in a televised interview and a video response to a U.S. senator.
Kyle Lammott, pastor of Exodus Church in Wichita, wrote the open letter, which had at least 500 signatures from pastors and lay leaders as of Friday, Oct. 9, according to The Christian Post. It criticizes Hamilton’s teachings on salvation, Scripture, marriage and abortion. Lammott argues that Hamilton’s 2022 sermon about the fate of people from other religions “undercuts the necessity of faith in Christ.”
On ABC’s This Week on Oct. 11, Hamilton responded to Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of his religious views, saying, “He doesn’t know me. Doesn’t know anything about my faith.” Hamilton also chose to ignore Lammott’s letter directly.
Hamilton did respond to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who pionted out Hamilton’s statements appear to reject central teachings of Christianity. In a video cited by Religion News Service, Hamilton said he believes Jesus is “the savior of the world” and that God may extend salvation “to anyone God chooses based upon what he sees in their hearts.”
Lammott’s letter also faults Hamilton for supporting abortion access and welcoming the United Methodist Church’s removal of language calling homosexual practice incompatible with Christian teaching. Lammott asked Hamilton to repent and “step out of this race,” while saying he was praying for him and remained open to dialogue.
One Methodist pastor says Hamilton was “out of step with the majority of the church”
Conservative Methodist leaders criticized Hamilton’s role in the conflict over LGBTQ inclusion. The Rev. Thomas Lambrecht, a United Methodist pastor and vice president of the Good News group, said Hamilton was “out of step with the majority of the church” on the issue. John Lomperis, a United Methodist delegate and staff member of the Institute on Religion & Democracy, criticized the One Church Plan Hamilton supported, calling it “the most guaranteed to split our denomination apart.” Their comments connect Hamilton’s proposals to the denomination’s divisions, though they do not show that he alone caused the later departures.
Hamilton, who announced he was an independent before switching to the Democratic Party, is the founding pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood and is challenging Marshall in a closely watched race. As of Oct. 15, Hamilton had not publicly addressed Lammott’s specific letter.
In an acknowledgment of how Hamilton’s campaign may have split Methodists in the Sunflower State, a separate letter from 120 Kansas United Methodist clergy said Kansas Methodists hold varied political views and would return to worship and serve together after the election.
Metro Voice has previously reported on the Hamilton campaign.
–Alan Goforth
