Dudley C. Rutherford
Encyclopedia
Dudley Rutherford is the senior pastor of the Shepherd of the Hills Church
in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California, USA. This is a nondenominational Christian "megachurch
" with 8,000 attendees at its services each week.
He earned a Bachelors degree in Church Growth from the Ozark Christian College
in Joplin, Missouri
.
He went on to the Pacific Christian College (now called Hope International University
) in Fullerton, California
where he earned his Masters degree.
He is an active convention speaker, and was Vice President of the North American Christian Convention
.
He has spoken for several professional sports teams, and was a featured chapel speaker for the World Series
.
He is married with three children and lives in Porter Ranch.
Rutherford became pastor of Hillcrest Christian Church in Granada Hills in 1987.
The church's congregation grew from 350 to 1,000 people by 1995, when the church was united with Baptist Shepherd of the Hills to become the present Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch. Since then the church has expanded to more than 10,000 members worshiping at 21 different venues each weekend.
There are two daughter churches and four satellite campuses.
In 2008, Outreach Magazine
ranked Rutherford's Shepherd of the Hills Church 92nd in size in America, with attendance of 7,400.
Some criticize churches like this, calling them "church lite", but others say they help people who find the experience more accessible than traditional churches.
In October 2006 the church opened its first hybrid, Westside Shepherd of the Hills Church, based at the Wadsworth Theatre on the grounds of the Veterans Administration
in Brentwood, California
.
Rutherford travelled to the new location almost every Sunday to deliver the message.
The church was planning to launch hybrids in Lancaster, California
and Compton, California
in 2008.
In August 2009 Rutherford, who had spent the previous fall preaching about Bible prophecy, said attendance had grown from an average of 8,030 in the previous year to 9,673 in 2009, a 17% increase.
Rutherford attributed the increase to a feeling of despair brought about by the economic downturn, and a need to focus on spiritual needs rather than pursuit of the dollar.
Rutherford was a prominent proponent for California Proposition 8 and has claimed, for instance, that legalizing gay marriage would ultimately lead to "it being illegal to read some sections of the Bible" and that "the polygamists would be next."
Shepherd of the Hills Church
Shepherd of the Hills Church is a nondenominational megachurch based in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California, USA in the "Southern California Bible Belt".The senior pastor is Dudley Rutherford....
in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California, USA. This is a nondenominational Christian "megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
" with 8,000 attendees at its services each week.
Background
Rutherford's grandfather, father, uncles and brothers are all preachers, as well as his in-laws.He earned a Bachelors degree in Church Growth from the Ozark Christian College
Ozark Christian College
Ozark Christian College is a private, not-for-profit college located at 1111 North Main Street, Joplin, Missouri.-History:In 1942, it was founded in Bentonville, Arkansas by Seth Wilson. In 1985, OCC received accreditation by the Association for Biblical Higher Education...
in Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
.
He went on to the Pacific Christian College (now called Hope International University
Hope International University
Hope International University is a Private Christian University in Fullerton, California. The campus is located just south of California State University, Fullerton. Hope International University has an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students representing 35 states and 40 countries...
) in Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
where he earned his Masters degree.
He is an active convention speaker, and was Vice President of the North American Christian Convention
North American Christian Convention
The North American Christian Convention is an annual summer convention supported by churches, colleges, institutions, and missions programs associated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ, mainly across the United States, but also in other parts of the world. First started in 1927, it...
.
He has spoken for several professional sports teams, and was a featured chapel speaker for the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
He is married with three children and lives in Porter Ranch.
Rutherford became pastor of Hillcrest Christian Church in Granada Hills in 1987.
The church's congregation grew from 350 to 1,000 people by 1995, when the church was united with Baptist Shepherd of the Hills to become the present Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch. Since then the church has expanded to more than 10,000 members worshiping at 21 different venues each weekend.
There are two daughter churches and four satellite campuses.
Congregation
Shepherd of the Hills is a nondenominational megachurch (one with at least 2,000 congregants) in the "Southern California Bible Belt".In 2008, Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Vista, California. It focuses on activities of growing churches and is non-denominational.It is a periodical from the organization Outreach, Inc...
ranked Rutherford's Shepherd of the Hills Church 92nd in size in America, with attendance of 7,400.
Some criticize churches like this, calling them "church lite", but others say they help people who find the experience more accessible than traditional churches.
In October 2006 the church opened its first hybrid, Westside Shepherd of the Hills Church, based at the Wadsworth Theatre on the grounds of the Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
in Brentwood, California
Brentwood, California
Brentwood is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population is 51,481 as of 2010....
.
Rutherford travelled to the new location almost every Sunday to deliver the message.
The church was planning to launch hybrids in Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
and Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
in 2008.
In August 2009 Rutherford, who had spent the previous fall preaching about Bible prophecy, said attendance had grown from an average of 8,030 in the previous year to 9,673 in 2009, a 17% increase.
Rutherford attributed the increase to a feeling of despair brought about by the economic downturn, and a need to focus on spiritual needs rather than pursuit of the dollar.
Rutherford was a prominent proponent for California Proposition 8 and has claimed, for instance, that legalizing gay marriage would ultimately lead to "it being illegal to read some sections of the Bible" and that "the polygamists would be next."