One of the more interesting television preachers you will find anywhere is Pastor Melissa Scott, who is Senior Minister at the University Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles, California. Scott can be seen in the late evenings on ION and other cable/satellite TV networks five days a week, Monday through Friday.Apart from Scott's stunning beauty, she ministers with a style that is totally unique among so-called 'televangelists.' In fact, one would be hard pressed to define her as an 'evangelist' at all, given the fact that she never uses emotion, guilt, or psychological techniques to 'win converts.'
Instead, Scott's presentations are scholarly, pedagogical, well-researched, and relying on her extensive knowledge of the ancient Biblical languages, in addition to up to 15 modern languages.
Watching Melissa Scott in action is a fascinating study of the innovative manner of presenting timeless truths. Against the backdrop of three massive white marker-boards, which she uses to translate ancient Bible passages from their original languages into English, Scott unfolds a message that represents an appeal to the rationality of the human mind.
It would be a big mistake, however, to assume that Scott's message is purely an intellectual exercise. Her own story is one that demonstrates the power of the Christian Gospel to so deeply move the human heart that a person who comes under its soul-stirring influence is changed dramatically and irrevocably.
Scott's past is one of which she is not particularly proud, yet she has not attempted to hide it from her congregation. Before she embraced Christianity and became a minister she was involved in the world of pornography.
It was during this time that she met and formed a relationship with the late Dr. Gene Scott, the founder of the University Cathedral.
Dr. Scott possessed an earned Ph.D. and was fluent in Biblical languages, and it was he who implemented the unique teaching style at the Cathedral which Melissa continues to use to this day.
One of the most colorful figures in modern-day Christianity, Dr. Scott had used a variety of techniques to connect with the average non-church-going person, often to the dismay and disapproval of fellow ministers and others within the Christian community.
At one time not only did Gene Scott televise the Sunday teaching service at the University Cathedral, but he hosted an informal talk-show format during which he would sometimes puff on a cigar while discussing religious issues.
It is difficult to determine just how effective Gene Scott was in his methodology, but we do know that it worked with at least one person--Melissa Scott. Not only did she embrace Christianity but she became Gene Scott's wife, in spite of the fact that he was significantly older.
Eventually the Scotts became a ministry team at the University Cathedral. Melissa would sing and Gene would teach. In time, Melissa herself began to take some of the teaching responsibilities, particularly as Gene grew older and fell into poor health.
As the Founding Pastor, Gene Scott had the power to determine who would be his successor once his chronic and fatal illness overtook him, and that person would be Melissa Scott.
Dr. Gene Scott died in 2005, and since that time Melissa Scott has held the role of Pastor.
While there have been rumors along the way of discontent among some of the members of the University Church, apparently the ministry barely missed a beat as Melissa Scott assumed the duties of Senior Pastor/teacher of the church. The congregation is the largest in the downtown Los Angeles area, and it would appear that her television teaching ministry has not only survived but flourished.
Of course, periodically Pastor Scott is forced to fight off rumor and innuendo concerning her past. There are those, unfortunately, who refuse to allow the woman to move on with her life and would rather expediently focus on her past life in order to make a buck or two.
But there is absolutely no credible evidence that Pastor Melissa Scott is anything but a genuine Christian and an effective teacher who is a living testimony to how the Christian Gospel can mold and shape a life--and put us in places we had never dreamed.
While none of this is in any way to be construed as an endorsement of the Scotts or the University Church (I simply don't know enough about the Church's doctrine and polity to comment), I do find the Melissa Scott teaching phenomenon to be fascinating and refreshingly different.
For more information on Pastor Melissa Scott and the University Cathedral, click here:
3 comments:
Agreed.
Melissa Scott is unique among the telly preachers in that she makes you sit up and take notice of the ~education~ that you receive during her talks, although she sometimes is a bit too cryptic & rambling.
Me thinks it's because she attempts to emulate her late husband in style & substance, but falls short because he was simply outstanding!
Good post. Thanks. I can honestly say that your blog is the only blog I've ever seen that posted about the Scott's and their ministry.
The Scotts make for a fascinating story...so fascinating, in fact, that the post virtually wrote itself.
Glad you enjoyed it...
i just want to say goodbye gene scott and thanks for all you've done.
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