Prophet and/or Father

These are comments of Herbert Richardson, former theological consultant to the Unification Movement. In "A Lecture To Students at the Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown, New York"¹ , he said,

I'm sure you will agree with me that Rev. Moon is important not only as a prophet, but also as a theologian. These are two different things. Because they are different, one might agree with Rev. Moon's theology without believing in his spiritual Fatherhood, or one might believe in his spiritual Fatherhood without agreeing with all of his theology. This fact is a real source of strength within the Unification movement. It means there is room for theological openness; you and I can debate, and even reject Moon's theology, without rejecting the man. This is the case because, as I understand it, the function of Rev. Moon within the Unification Movement is not primarily as a theologian, but as a True Father, through whom the new humanity, the new family of man, is to be formed.

Rev. Moon's Fatherhood is obviously his more important function. He is spiritual Father first, and theologian second. I might say that this was also true of Jesus. Whether we possess any actual words of Jesus is a debateable matter, but whether or not Jesus is Messiah is not a debateable matter within orthodox Christianity. All Christians agree that Jesus is Messiah even though they may disagree about his theology. So you need not feel anxious if I criticize the Divine Principle as theology because that does not directly affect your relation to Rev. Moon in his role as Father. For my part, I, as a Presbyterian, can learn a great deal from Divine Principle as theology without having to resolve the question as to whether the Rev. Moon is my spiritual father also.
 

¹ reprinted in “A Time for Consideration: A Scholarly Appraisal of the Unification Church”, pp. 291-92