Seventh-day Adventist Church: Pasadena Public Health Director Dr. Eric Walsh does not represent church

Eric Walsh


By Lauren Gold, Pasadena Star-News


Posted: 05/06/14, 3:05 PM PDT

More stories on Pasadena Public Health Director Dr. Eric Walsh

PASADENA>> The Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists issued a statement Tuesday stating that Pasadena Public Health Director and SDA associate pastor Dr. Eric Walsh does not represent the views of the church.

Walsh is an associate pastor at the Altadena Seventh-day Adventist Church and is paid by the conference; however, “he does not hold ministerial credentials from the Adventist Church, does not speak on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, and as far as we know, does not represent his views as anything other than his own,” spokeswoman Betty Cooney wrote.

“The Seventh-day Adventist church has a long history of defending the rights of everyone to believe, practice and express their personal religious convictions,” Cooney said. “Questions regarding exactly what Dr. Walsh said in previous years, their meaning, intent, and whether or not he has changed his mind, should be addressed to Dr. Walsh.”

Walsh has come under fire in recent weeks for discriminatory statements against homosexuals, Catholics, Muslims and other groups in religious sermons that have been posted online. Walsh has been placed on administrative leave from his position at the city of Pasadena while City Manager Michael Beck conducts and investigation to look into whether Walsh’s personal views have influenced his job performance.

Walsh’s sermons came to light after he was invited to speak at Pasadena City College commencement, following a scandal in which the college uninvited Oscar-winning screenwriter, actor and gay rights advocate Dustin Lance Black. Walsh backed out last week and Black has been re-invited and will speak at the commencement this weekend.

Many groups across the country have spoken out on Walsh’s statements, some, like the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, calling for his removal. Others have defended Walsh’s right to freedom of speech and religion, saying the city may open itself to a lawsuit if it terminates him.

Cooney said the Seventh-day Adventist Church does not discriminate against groups of people based on sexual orientation, race or other factors.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and seeks to minister to all men and women in the spirit of Jesus,” Cooney said.


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