Pastor on Limbaugh’s Fourth Wedding

Trevor Persaud

Rush Limbaugh’s June 5 marriage to girlfriend Kathryn Rogers has generated a lot of discussion. Much of it is about his surprise reception singer, Sir Elton John — but a few people have commented on his choice of pastor.

Ken “The Hutch” Hutcherson, a former NFL player and the famously pro-family pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Wash., officiated at the conservative radio icon’s fourth wedding.

"He had asked me to come to the wedding, and his uncle, Judge [Stephen] Limbaugh, was supposed to do the entire service, and there were some complications," Hutcherson told CT.

Judge Limbaugh could not solemnize a marriage in Florida, so Rush asked Hutcherson to make it official.

“Uncle Steve led it off, and then the Hutch, in his own inimitable way secured the deal,” Limbaugh told his audience on his June 15 radio show.

Some have questioned why Hutcherson, well-known for his pro-marriage stand, would preside at the thrice-divorced Limbaugh’s Palm Beach, Fla. ceremony. The former Dallas Cowboys linebacker uses a football analogy to explain why he felt he ought to be a part of it:

"The Buffalo Bills went to the Super Bowl and they lost a lot of times, but they never gave up," Hutcherson said. "Rush Limbaugh never gave up on the institution of marriage."

The wedding, he says, was “absolutely fantastic,” with the couple “committing themselves to Jesus Christ.” If they are growing in Christ, Hutcherson believes, a couple won’t have a hard time growing together.

And Hutcherson says he didn’t mince words in his message to the bride and groom.

"If anyone knows me they know that I would not bite my tongue [about what makes] a successful marriage," he said, namely: "There's no such thing until there's 'death do us part.'"

Hutcherson says that a number of the guests, including conservative luminary Sean Hannity and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, came up afterwards to thank him for his message.

Surprise over Hutcherson’s part in the wedding was nothing compared to the transatlantic — correction, worldwide — bemusement surrounding Elton John’s concert at the reception.

Hutcherson says he and the assembled guests greatly appreciated the knighted pop idol’s unexpected performance.

"It was a great concert. It was surprising," Hutcherson said. "Rush and Katherine didn't let anybody know" that John was coming.

"I think Elton was blown away by the reception he got," Hutcherson said, musing that if Limbaugh had shown up to a liberal crowd, he would not have gotten as warm a reception as John did at the Limbaugh wedding.

After his honeymoon, Limbaugh returned to the air June 15.

(Image source: Wikipedia User: Apache119)

Comments

"'I think Elton was blown away by the reception he got,' Hutcherson said, musing that if Limbaugh had shown up to a liberal crowd, he would not have gotten as warm a reception as John did ..."

Hutcherson is deeply confused.

Elton John makes a living singing songs and playing the piano.

Rush Limbaugh makes a living mocking, criticizing, demonizing and lying about liberals, poor people, women and non-whites.

Those two things aren't parallel.

Captain Fantastic may have been surprised to receive a warm reception from an outspokenly and aggressively homophobic crowd, because they are famous for hating people like him.

Rush Limbaugh would be unlikely to receive a warm reception from a liberal crowd because he is famous for hating people like them.

Elton John has made a career of winning over people who hate Elton John (even Eminem!). That's not a parallel to, but the opposite of, a Rush Limbaugh trying to win over the people hated by Rush Limbaugh.

If this isn't HYPOCRISY, I don't know what is.

Excuse me. Divorce is synonymous with giving up on the institution of marriage, except in rare cases. You can't tell me that in three divorces, not an ounce of culpability rests in Mr. Limbaugh.

Thanks Christianity Enquirer!

I am highly skeptical that Rush Limbaugh knows Jesus Christ. If disciples are known by their love and their fruit, he surely isn't one.

Some of the comments freely use the word 'hate'. Limbaugh hates these people and those people. Do these people really listen to Limbaugh, or are they just parroting those who actually want to silence him? Hate, it seems is the worst four-letter-word that there is. If you can just tag someone as a 'hater' then you don't have to listen to them. I've listened avidly to Limbaugh for over 15 years and 'hater' isn't how I would characterize him at all. After all he calls himself the "lovable little fuzzball!"

I'm always amazed at how preachers who call themselves 'Bible-believers' will assist adulterous couples in their sin by 'marrying' them. If you don't affirm what Jesus VERY clearly said - that anyone who divorces and remarries is guilty of adultery, and keeps on being guilty of adultery for as long as they remain separated from their first spouse - then you AREN'T a Bible believer!
I guess when you elevate yourself above God, as Limbaugh has done his entire life, you think you can change the rules in your benefit. One day, however, Rush will find out very differently. And Hutcherson is just another phony ear-tickling deceiver masquerading as a preacher. I'm surprised he doesn't have his own show on TBN.

I'm so glad that I go to a church where the pastor's theology on marriage is based on the Bible and not football. SMH.

Hey, if the money is good, some pastors will marry just about anybody. Besides, the bride and groom may have spent more money on the pastor than on flowers - quite possibly a first. Although I'm sure Elton John got a nice check for his efforts. It's all conjecture because I don't really care...

@ J.J. ...My thoughts, EXACTLY! It's nice to know there is someone like you tuned in to, what I believe, is the church's "elephant in the room," that nobody sees or cares to confront. How have we let mis-interpretation of scripture go on for so long?

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