I went to the same Church for almost 20 years. It's a Baptist Church. I was very close with my pastor too, but I never let 'his' personal belief, or views change my own, or shape my own either. My pastor never had any 'hold' over my own thoughts, or my personal beliefs on many different issues and levels. I've been a supporter for gay righs since the 70's. I have always been an advocate womens rights... Pro-choice.
Why do people automatically 'believe' every Church, rev, or pastor brainwashes people into thinking the exact same way they do? Not everyone who goes to Church lives, breaths, or thinks the same way their rev or pastor does. Many folks actually have a mind of their own.
Hmmmmmmmmm, would you sit in any church where there is a Sunday racist rant? Would you sit in a church where your pastor puts the blame of 9-11 the sunday after 9-11 on the American people who were in deep trauma and grief for their fellow citizens? Keep in mind that 3,000 American civilians were MURDERED that day. Obama did and he did it for 20 years.
Oprah used to go to that church and she had to bail, because there was too much hatred spilling forth from Reverend Wright's pulpit for her to take..