Political pundits are still weighing in on the Saddleback Forum of last Saturday evening, where Pastor Rick Warren interviewed the two presidential candidates.

So while the political types continue to offer their assessments, I thought I’d get some feedback from pastors. After all, the Evangelical vote is one of the most sought after constituencies, and could very well decide the presidency.

My panel of ‘pastor pundits’ includes Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church in the Washington, D.C. area; Pastor Tommy Nelson of Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas; and Mark DeMoss, President of the DeMoss Group.

Two of the pundits watched the forum, one didn’t. I talked with each to see how they judged the event, Pastor Warren, and the possible impact on this election. And I have to say that the most interesting response came from the minister who didn’t watch, Pastor Nelson of Denton Bible Church. He’s included in the panel because of his straight forward, southern comfort style views on politics and religion … and because he’s an evangelical who’s not enthusiastic about the New Evangelicalism that Rick Warren represents. His voice here represents thousands of other Evangelicals.

But first let’s hear from Pastor Rick Warren himself. He told me the response to the forum has been “over the top,” that one political pundit observed that he has “redefined the political discourse.” Whether or not that’s true, Warren says he loved the forum… that it allowed the American people to see the candidates, the way he sees them, that they’re totally different men with different gifts.

Pastor Warren says, Senator Barrack Obama has a “thoughtful concern” approach to issues, and that that will appeal to some people… while Senator John McCain is a straightforward commander, whose style also would appeal to certain people.

But Warren’s conclusion is that “it shows how God uses people,” uses their different gifts. Here you have two men with totally different personalities who are both serving their country by seeking the presidency. Warren’s two frustrations though was that time didn’t allow for follow up questions. He says he could have spent 30 minutes on each question.

But ‘no follow-up’ may have been a blessing in disguise says Bishop Jackson. Jackson, who’s also the author of “Private Faith, Public Policy,” has only kudos for Warren. “I think Rick Warren hit the ball out of the park.” He adds, “He’s just moved into the Billy Graham role, the D.L. Moody or our generation.” Bishop Jackson says that because Pastor Warren didn’t have time to ask follow up questions, the candidates’ responses had to stand on their own, and Warren’s position on the issues could not be inserted. Bishop Jackson says, “He [Rick Warren] asked the questions that the evangelical community wanted to hear,” on abortion, gay marriage..” He didn’t sidestep any of the hard issues.” … yet he asked them in such a way that was fair.

But has the forum and Rick Warren affected voter decisions? For that it’s time to turned to pastor pundit number two, Mark DeMoss. Officially DeMoss is not a pastor but works very closely with them, representing many including Franklin Graham, head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. TheDeMoss Group, is a public relations firm that specifically serves Christian organizations and causes. Mark is also the author of “The Little Book of Wisdom,” that contains what he says are “proven principles for personal and professional fulfillment.”
DeMoss says he thinks pastors are quite pleased with the direction of the forum. that the surprise was not in the result, but in the construction. He says “Most of us who follow the campaigns knew what the answers would be … we didn’t know what the questions would be.” And the questions and the style of the interviews, revealed “some distinctions that could make a difference.” But how, is yet to be seen.

And that brings up pastor pundit number three, the sometimes gnarly, Pastor Tommy Nelson, who shoots straight from the hip. First thing he told me about the forum was, “didn’t see it… didn’t know it was on.” Now before you think he’s an ignorant old fool, hear him out. (But in all honesty he did say of himself “I’m an old fart!” And he gave me permission to quote that. So read on.

Pastor Nelson, said even though he didn’t watch the forum, he talked to many of his staff members at his mega church near Fort Worth, that did watch it. He said everybody thought the format was great, “the idea that guys didn’t have the time to prepare nothing…honest ideas, on crucial issues of life as far as the Christian community” is concerned. They, Obama and McCain “didn’t get to be clever, and had to be honest.”

And the biggest compliment from Pastor Nelson, is that if he were to interview the candidates, it would be in the exact same way: back to back, the same questions, and let them say what’s on their minds… as opposed to a debate, which Pastor Nelson believes is of little help. He says “debates mar the issues of truth… debates expose good debaters but not the issues.” Forums like the sort at Saddleback expose thoughts, how candidates think.

As the election enters the final stretch, with both parties’ conventions around the corner, then the debates, and then the November vote… Pastor Nelson’s words may be worth remembering.