OBITUARY
The Oklahoma Eagle
Photo Gina Gauthier, Facebook
Editor’s Note: The announcement of Bishop Carlton Pearson’s passing is republished by The Oklahoma Eagle from a social media post from Gina Gauthier. The obituary notification was edited for publication. (Updated on Nov. 27, 2023)
Bishop Carlton D’Metrius Pearson, one of the most popular and influential preachers in America and around the world, died peacefully on Nov. 19, 2023. He was 70 years old. He had a brief battle with cancer that had returned after first defeating it 20 years ago. He was surrounded by his family.
In a post on social media from his family, it said Pearson “…sacrificed everything for a message of unconditional love and acceptance by God.”
Moving to Tulsa in 1971 to become a student at Oral Roberts University, Pearson was invited by Rev. Oral Roberts to join the World Action Singers on his nationally aired TV specials, eventually becoming an associate evangelist with the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association in 1975.
In 1977, Pearson launched his own ministry, Higher Dimensions, Inc., traveling the country with a small ministry team. In 1981, with the help of his college roommate, Gary McIntosh, Pearson started Higher Dimensions Evangelistic Center. Higher Dimensions had an original membership of 75 people attending its first service in Jenks, Okla. Quickly outgrowing the small storefront location in Jenks, Higher Dimensions eventually settled at 8621 S. Memorial Drive in Tulsa. The church would become an integrated, multi-ethnic, cross-cultural congregation of more than 5,000 members.
A national television program launched in the mid-1980s, “Everything’s Gonna Be All Right,” expanded Pearson’s outreach to a national and international audience. He became at that time one of only two African American preachers with a nationwide television ministry.
His annual AZUSA Conference, begun in 1988, developed into an international movement. The conference gave national exposure to a variety of preachers and gospel singers, bringing together believers of all denominations, cultures, races and walks of life. The annual conference attracted as many as 70,000 people to Tulsa each year, generating tens of millions of dollars to the Tulsa economy during the week-long conference, as well as smaller weekend conferences held across the country each year, such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Jose, Tacoma, Buffalo, and even Durban, South Africa.
His “Live at AZUSA” albums were nominated for multiple Dove and Stellar Awards, winning three Stellar Awards for “Carlton Pearson Live at AZUSA 2: Precious Memories.”
On the opening night of AZUSA ‘96, a group of pastors and bishops recognized his leadership by declaring him “a bishop in the Lord’s church.” The opening night of the following year’s conference, Bishop Carlton Pearson was officially consecrated in an ecclesiastical ceremony as the Presiding Bishop of the AZUSA Interdenominational Fellowship of Christian Churches and Ministries. In his new position, Pearson oversaw thousands of churches and ministries all over the world.
He gave counsel to multiple U. S. Presidents, as well as international presidents, kings and other leaders, who were won over by his intelligence, charm, humor and kindness.
At the height of his popularity, Pearson had a shift in his theological beliefs, and began to preach that Jesus did not just die for and save Christians, but for all mankind, and that no one goes to hell as we’ve known it. This became known as “The Gospel of Inclusion,” a form of Christian theology known as universalism. This shift in belief caused churches, upon whose stages he once frequented, to close their doors to him, shut down his annual conference and caused his church to dwindle from thousands to only dozens.
His theological shift was dramatized in a major motion picture, Netflix’s “Come Sunday,” starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years A Slave”), Danny Glover (“The Color Purple” and “Lethal Weapon”), LaKeith Stanfield (“Judas and the Black Messiah” and “Atlanta”) and Martin Sheen (“Apocalypse Now” and “The West Wing”).
Pearson’s message and example of unconditional love, though it gained him the moniker of “heretic” by some in the Christian church, had a whole new world opened to him as a result. Non-Christians, as well as Christians who had left the church because of church hurts, abuse, hypocrisy, etc., loved the new message of love, healing and restoration. He leaves a legacy of love through the multiplied thousands of lives he touched during his time on earth and the impartation of grace and mercy he preached and exhibited to everyone he encountered.
The following arrangements have been made for Pearson’s services: Nov. 29, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., and Nov. 30, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Public Viewing at All Soul Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria Ave.; Nov. 30, 11 a.m. – Interfaith Celebration of Life at All Souls Unitarian Church; Nov. 30, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Final Public Viewing at All Souls Unitarian Church; Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m. – Musical Celebration of Life at Greater Grace Temple, 1010 E. 56th St. N.; and Dec. 1, 12 p.m., Episcopal Celebration of Life at Transformation Church, 10441 S. Regal Blvd.
According to the social media post, the Pearson family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and continued support. They ask for and appreciate privacy during this challenging time.
