Redeemed Zoomer on the Future of Mainline Churches

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I'm pleased to welcome Richard Ackerman, also known as the Redeemed Zoomer on YouTube, to the podcast. Richard is currently a seminary student at Dubuque Theological Seminary. But he is mostly known for his big presence on social media, especially YouTube, and his Operation Reconquista, now labeled Operation Reformation movement while he was a student at SMU. He then co-founded Presbyterians for the Kingdom. He seeks to support theologically conservative churches in the mainline denominations. As a PCUSA minister who is very active on social media, I come across his content and his supporters frequently. I wanted to speak with Richard to find to understand his point of view. 

Welcome Richard!

Teaser Questions:

Please give a brief bio. What has led you to do the work you are doing? Are you surprised by the huge response you've received. You have a big public presence. How does this reflect on you personally?

You show a strong sense of theological history. But it appears that you don’t have a formal theological education yet. Where does your knowledge come from?

Define what you mean by Theologically Conservative and Liberal. In what ways has the PCUSA remained faithful and in what ways has it strayed in your opinion? 

You are highly critical of the non-denominational mega church movements. Why do you think they grew so much in the last 50 years and what do you think they get wrong? Why are the mainline churches a better choice?

Your focus on LGBTQ inclusion in the church seems to match some of the people that I have worked with for nearly 40 years in the church. Why is this so central to your messages about theological liberalism? Correlation without causation. Not a decline but awareness.

The responses I get and see to your content comes exclusively from mostly young, white men. Do you have any statistics on the demographic engagement with your organizations? 

Where do women pastors fit into your version of orthodoxy? 

As you might be experiencing in your seminary experience, young women are rejecting the organized church in record numbers. Some have found a home in progressive churches, but most seem to turn away completely? What should we do to make the church more welcoming to them? 

It seems like people have used you as an avatar or even an enforcer? What is your goal for the church? What polity do you want changed? Do you affirm Belhar?

You are very confident of your views and clearly on an anti-woke, anti LGBTQ campaign. What motivates you? When you mention DEI, this sounds more like a political movement? Why isn't it? 

Beverly Gaventa quoted Karl Barth to me. In her Romans 14, she said "The danger in being right. Right in the worst possible way." You seem to be missing a main part of Barth's theology, the heartlessness and lack of grace. 

It’s irresponsible to equate affirming Christians with 19th century liberal theology, because you are implying that they are non creedal and dishonoring scripture. That reformed theology and affirming lgbtq people is inherently incompatible. 

I agree with the Confessional and Creedal, but why does that make LGBTQ, Women in Leadership, or even Biblical Inerrancy the top litmus tests in the PCUSA? How does this clash with Neo Orthodoxy? 

Did you participate in GA this year? What are your impressions of it? Should we have thought police in the PCUSA? Do advocate for that?

I have been a PCUSA elder since 1990 and I have watched the church its many forms. It appears to me that young conservatives have an idealized view of the what the church was and want to return to that image. What do you have to say about that? 

What are your plans? Are you seeking ordination in the PCUSA? What do you intend to do with this? By the way, I am part of CPM and I have graded many ordination exams. I really enjoy speaking to people in preparation for the ministry.