Beloved entertainer and American icon PAT BOONE has for decades now been universally regarded as squeaky-clean morally and sublimely sincere spiritually. He is a shining star and excellent example to all who love him. Yet -- unbeknown to most -- he has for nearly 50 years(!) been completely blackballed by his religion of choice.
In April 1971 Pat was disfellowshipped (similar to excommunication) by the board of elders of the Inglewood [California] Church of Christ where he faithfully attended. There was some sort of bizarre theological dust-up over Pat's passing interest in "glossolalia" (speaking in tongues). Soon, all nationwide & worldwide Churches of Christ honored the oddball blackballing of Pat, bluntly meaning they no longer considered him a brother and believed he was inexorably hellbound.
Through it all, Brother Pat continued to donate millions of dollars to the Church of Christ over the years and graciously maintained "I never left the Church of Christ -- they left me."
Now at age 86, in his golden years Pat surely deserves the ceremonial comfort of knowing he will walk the streets of gold under the mantle of his chosen religion. His loyal wife Shirley preceded him in death in 2019, and they had met on the campus of a Church of Christ college in 1953. For the love of God, literally, it is past time to right an ancient wrong and restore full faith and fellowship to an outstanding, obedient Christian brother. He deserves grace and mercy, not punishment and pain.
Board of elders, Inglewood [California] Church of Christ, vote now to restore full fellowship and membership privileges to Brother Pat Boone and Sister Shirley Boone (posthumously). It is never too late to do the right thing. "The churches of Christ salute you" (Romans 16:16, KJV).
*Editor's Note: The Church of Christ is a mainstream conservative Protestant sect of some two million adherents, centered mainly in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas. Its strident motto is sola scriptura ("speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent").
