A&O PRIZE FOR CLERGY (2011): Evangelical Pastor Jonathon Wiggins

AOA NEWS
By Tahlib

INDIANA - The readers of AOA News have voted to name Loveland, Colorado's Resurrection Fellowship Church Pastor Jonathon Wiggins the 2011 clergy advocate for artists. This 3rd annual A&O Prize for Artist Advocate is a top honor in the religious arts community, and is recognition of his decision to cross cultural boundaries to establish dialogue with a controversial American artist this past year.

A year ago, while other religious leaders were protesting the "blasphemous" artwork by Enrique Chagoya, this evangelical preacher reached out to the artist to seek understanding. During this heated period, the artwork of political protest (Misadventures of the Romantic Cannibals) was destroyed by a woman claiming to be a Christian, but a friendship developed between the pastor and the artist.

Six months later, the controversial artist donated a new portrait of Christ draped in the kind of love Pastor Wiggins showed to him during that tense period of time. Wiggins unveiled the life-sized painting to his evangelical congregation at Resurrection Fellowship Church during the Father's Day worship service in June 2011, and it received a standing ovation.

Chagoya said, “People who know me and are familiar with my work, and many practicing Catholics among them, have been very supportive.” He added, “I really appreciate the generous openness of Pastor Wiggins, since it made me feel there is hope in the world. We were touched by our mutual respect, and he invited me to do the portrait.”