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TEMPE, AZ - A controversial Tempe pastor who admits he prays for the President's death got into a heated exchange with a reporter for the Phoenix New Times newspaper Sunday.
Two days later, the story is still generating a lot of attention.
Pastor Steven Anderson and Reporter Stephen Lemons got into the argument following Sunday night services outside Anderson's Faithful Word Baptist Church near 48th Street and Southern.
"You'd love to turn this into a race thing," said Anderson to Lemons. "I know who you are. I've read your newspaper."
Lemons and Anderson argued after the New Times' reporter began questioning the pastor about his other job, installing commercial fire alarms.
"Are you running a church and business at the same place," asked Lemons.
"I'm not running a church and business at the same place," responded Anderson. "You are trying to make up a story. You're a liar."
"I don't operate a business here," continued Anderson. "I store equipment here."
See RAW VIDEO of the argument
"Don't touch me," replied Lemons.
"I'm not the Border Patrol so don't touch me," added Lemons, referring to an incident earlier this year in which Border Patrol agents deployed a stun gun on Anderson.
The back and forth between Lemons and Anderson continued with Anderson eventually shutting the front door on Lemons.
"Idiot," said Lemons.
"Jerk," replied Anderson.
You can read Lemons' account of the exchange, by clicking here.
A phone call to the Editor-in-Chief of the Phoenix New Times was not returned.
Anderson has also confirmed he received a phone call from the United States Secret Service within the past week.
Acting on advice from his attorney, Anderson said he denied a request to be interviewed by the Secret Service.
Dozens protest at Tempe church they say preaches hate
TEMPE, AZ -- Nearly 100 demonstrators lined the streets outside a Tempe church Sunday to protest what they consider hate speech.
Last month Pastor Steven Anderson delivered a sermon at the
Faithful Word Baptist Church, near 48th Street and Southern Avenue, entitled "
Why I hate Barack Obama."
In response to that sermon and several subsequent
controversial comments by Anderson, the
People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate held a Love Rally Sunday outside Anderson's church.
"It's hard to believe we could have someone of a religious nature wishing our president was dead," said protester William Crumb.
"I'm just disgusted with this man who claims to be a minister of the Lord preaching hate toward the president," added protester Larry Crane.
Unlike in previous weeks, Anderson declined to comment following Sunday's services.
"I'm sure you have plenty of footage from previous interviews you did with me," said Anderson. "I'm just a little tired right now."
Several of Anderson's parishioners, who declined to identify themselves, defended their pastor's sermons.
"I hate people that hate God," said one Faithful Word parishioner.
"As far as I know we live in America, we have freedom of religion, freedom to assemble and the freedom of speech," added another Faithful Word parishioner.
Protesters say they'll continue to picket Faithful Word Baptist Church so long as Anderson continues to preach what they consider hate.
"I just think it's sad," said Crane. "We can have discourse without preaching hate. That's what this minister is doing."
