Apologist Josh McDowell to Step Back from Ministry following Controversial Comments on Black, Minority Families
On Wednesday, prominent Christian author and apologist Josh McDowell announced that he is stepping back from ministry after making controversial generalized comments about Black Americans and other minority groups in America.
“At a recent conference, I made comments about race, the black family, and minorities that were wrong and hurt many people. It breaks my heart to know what deep pain I have caused,” McDowell wrote in a statement shared to Twitter on Wednesday.
“It has become clear to me, along with Cru Leadership, that I need to step back from my ministry and speaking engagements to enter a season of listening and addressing the growth areas that I have become aware of through this,” he added.
McDowell added that he will be taking this time to speak with others so that he can “personally grown and better understand how I can help contribute to the reconciliation and unity that God desires for us all.”
Statement directly from Josh McDowell: pic.twitter.com/bLbU2eXoE3
— Josh McDowell (@josh_mcdowell) September 22, 2021
As Christian Headlines previously reported, on Saturday, McDowell delivered a message on Critical Race Theory at an American Association of Christian Counselors event. While speaking on the discrepancies in educational opportunities, the apologist asserted that he does not believe Black Americans and other minority groups have been afforded the same educational opportunities as White Americans because of their upbringing.
“Most [minorities] grew up in families where there is not a big emphasis on education, security — you can do anything you want. You can change the world. If you work hard, you will make it,” he said.
“So many African Americans don’t have those privileges like I was brought up with,” he added.
After receiving backlash for his remarks, McDowell issued an apology and clarification on Sunday.
In a statement on Twitter, he wrote, “My statement as quoted does not reflect my own beliefs, and I want to begin by apologizing for my words and the implications they had.”
He continued, “My statement started by saying, ‘I do not believe blacks, African Americans and many other minorities have equal opportunity.’ I do believe this Racism has kept equality from being achieved within our nation.
“When I said that ‘most (minorities) grew up in families where there is not a big emphasis on education and security,’ I made a generalized statement that does not reflect reality,” he added.
McDowell concluded by apologizing for the offensive language and reiterated how important loving all people groups is to Christianity.
A statement from Josh McDowell: pic.twitter.com/MhYaL2iA28
— Josh McDowell (@josh_mcdowell) September 19, 2021
Josh McDowell Ministry will continue to operate with CEO Duane Zook at its helm while McDowell is on leave.
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Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Brian A. Jackson
Kayla Koslosky has been the Editor of ChristianHeadlines.com since 2018. She has B.A. degrees in English and History and previously wrote for and was the managing editor of the Yellow Jacket newspaper. She has written on her blog since 2012 and has also contributed to IBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com.
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