William Eugene Scott
William Eugene Scott, also known as Dr. Gene Scott, (August 14, 1929 - February 21, 2005), was a United States pastor and teacher who served for almost 50 years as an ordained minister and religious broadcaster in Los Angeles, California. In 1975, he began nightly live broadcasts as a televangelist, and eventually, satellite broadcasts extended his services and talk shows to many countries. Delivering long, sometimes rambling, sermons and biblical scholarship, Scott became known for his quirky stage persona as much as his preaching skills. He frequently employed comical props -- including an ever-changing assortment of headgear and hats -- chomped on cigars, occasionally swore, and played clips of pretty young women dancing during breaks in his presentation. On stage with him were always several chalkboards or dry-erase boards which he would fill with scriptural passages in the original Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic as he preached, discussing the nuances of biblical languages and their interpretations. During his live fundraising broadcasts, he would stare into the camera and ordering viewers to "Get on the telephone!", successfully raising $1 million a month. His charitable activities included raising money for the Los Angeles Public Library and the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena.
Early life and career
Gene Scott was born in Buhl, Idaho. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophies of Education at Stanford University in 1957 and subsequently served as an ordained minister for almost 50 years. During his long career, Scott served as a traveling evangelist for the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, the president of the Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International for nine years and, for a combined total of 35 years, as the pastor for the non-denominational Protestant Wescott Christian Center and Faith Center which he took control of and privately owned. For the last fifteen years of his career, Scott held weekly Sunday gospel services at the Los Angeles University Cathedral in Los Angeles, California.
In 1975, Scott was elected pastor of Faith Center, a 45-year old church of congregational polity in Glendale, California. In that same year, he dissolved the polity and terminated the board members, thus seizing control of the ministry and its assets. He then began to host a nightly live television broadcast, over "The University Network," of straight talk, Bible teaching and eclectic programming and defiance of the American government and its agencies. The Federal Communications Commission revoked all three of his network licenses, worth about $15 million, reportedly because of his refusal to turn over financial records to the commission, but he subsequently succeeded in rebuilding his broadcast operations.
In 1983, the University Network began broadcasting 24 hours a day via satellite to North America and much of Mexico and the Caribbean. Scott reported that his sequentially numbered congregants grew to over 60,000 in succeeding years (including 15,000 locally), without adjustments for attrition and deceased congregants. Affiliate television and radio stations broadcast Scott's Sunday church services and nightly talk shows. In 1990, he became the international voice of "The University Network" which, at its peak, broadcasted to 180 countries of the world. In 2007, Melissa Scott, his widow who assumed his role, announced that the broadcast ministry is nationwide, but no longer worldwide.
Scott wrote and published some 20 booklets. According to Melissa Scott, he recorded over 70,000 hours of teaching, much of which were edited and restored after his death to air on his network. He was a financier, philosopher, artist, philanthropist, philatelist, equestrian, and bible scholar who was ahead of his time in marketing his teachings. He painted well over 1000 watercolors, acrylics or oils, which brought in millions of dollars of revenue.
Assemblies of God
Although declaring himself an avowed agnostic while attending Stanford University, after receiving his Ph.D. he briefly taught at Evangel College (now Evangel University), then assisted Oral Roberts in establishing Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Scott eventually joined the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination and served overseas in the mission field for several years. As a minister and scholar, however, Scott was difficult to pin down theologically. He preached lessons that tended to emphasize biblical philology and his own idiosyncratic social gospel over traditional evangelical themes such as sin, repentance and being "born again". On the other hand, he frequently railed against what he considered to be government intrusion on his activities, gave credence to some stranger conspiracy theories about UFOs and other phenomena, and enthusiastically supported the Iraq War. Many conservative Christian observers considered his teaching suspect and disapproved of the casual attitude he took towards moral issues such as sex and drinking. For his part, Scott showed disdain for other religious broadcasters like Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart and bristled when people referred to him as a "televangelist", preferring to be regarded as a theologian, philosopher and philanthropist more than a minister. Others criticized his aggressive fundraising tactics, lavish lifestyle and the lack of transparency in his ministry's operations and finances.
Wescott Christian Center
In 1970, Scott resigned his Assemblies of God credentials in good standing and formed Wescott Christian Center with his father, a pastor in Oroville, California. Later, Scott assumed control of "Faith Center" in Glendale, California, and brought his father, affectionately known as "Pop Scott" and his mother, known as "Mom Scott" to assist him.
Wescott Christian Center is the titleholder to the Los Angeles University Cathedral, other church properties and bank accounts, according to County records. (Los Angeles County Recorder, North American Title Company, Los Angeles Superior Court of California, Articles of Incorporation on file at the Secretary of State of California.) Upon Scott's passing, all assets and copyrights were transferred to his wife, Pastor Melissa Scott.
Full Gospel Fellowship
Scott was voted vice president of the fledgling "Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International", of which his father was a member, and later served as its president from October 1975 to July 1984.
Full Gospel Fellowship president, Don Arnold visited and spoke at Scott's church on more than one occasion in recent years.
Faith Center
In 1975, while serving his Oroville ministry, Scott was approached to serve as a financial consultant for the forty-five-year-old "Faith Center" church in Glendale, California, by its then pastor and founder, religious broadcast pioneer Ray Schoch.
Faith Center owned four broadcast stations, which included KHOF-TV channel 30 in San Bernardino, California, KHOF-FM 99.5 in Los Angeles, California, KVOF-TV channel 38 in San Francisco, California, and WHCT channel 18 in Hartford, Connecticut. Faith Center was in crisis, both financial and in regards to its leadership, because Schoch had suffered severe cardiac problems.
Scott often stated that he never wanted to be a preacher and it was the congregation of Faith Center that unanimously voted him in as pastor. He was so against leading Faith Center that he purposed a contract of sixteen demanding conditions that he designed to persuade the congregation from voting him in. This contract immediately dissolved the church's governing body that had contributed to the crisis. Other conditions gave Scott complete control and a $1.00 annual salary. Scott returned the church from debt and for his teaching purposes, acquired a valuable collection of rare bibles and ancient manuscripts.
Church of the Open Door
In early 1985, Scott tried to purchase the 70 year old Church of the Open Door building in downtown Los Angeles. This buildings' historic red neon rooftop "Jesus Saves" signs had become a very familiar sight to Los Angeles area residents over the years.
The owners (who were in the process of selling the church for development to Lincoln Properties) declined Scott's overture. In December, the development deal fell through and the owners approached Scott, who quickly agreed and pursued his move to save the historic structure. Months into the purchase, and after many millions had been paid, Scott announced to his congregation that a cloud was discovered on the title which might very well preclude him from conducting services there. The cloud arose by restrictions in the original deed not disclosed by the sellers but confirmed in Los Angeles Superior Court records. Scott took both informal and legal actions to dissolve the sale but to no avail. The owners entered into a 3rd deal with the then Obayashi-Koll, while still pursuing payment from Scott.
With the prospect of demolition looming again, aggressive efforts were made to save the historic structure, both by his occupant rights, and work with the Council of the City of Los Angeles to have the building designated a Historic Monument. The historical monument designation had already existed at the state level.
The most prominent proponent to the saving of the historic structure was Councilman Gilbert Lindsey, who fought before, during, and after the designation, including a Council-voted moratorium against construction at the site. While the Church of the Open Door church corporation consummated the sale to Koll, Lindsey experienced an untimely hospitalization and while in a coma. Shortly into his absence from matters in his district, the building was demolished.
Many suits were filed, both before and after the demolition. In an arrangement made between Scott and the final buyer, The "Jesus Saves" signs were given to Scott, and actions were dropped. Koll agreed also to pay for the restoration of the sign, and current placement atop the Los Angeles University Cathedral.
Scott was quoted as saying, "The wrecking ball still lost!"
Los Angeles University Cathedral
In 1989, Scott was approached by Bruce Corwin, then president of Miracle on Broadway and Chairman of the Metropolitan Theatres Corporation to restore the United Artists flagship theater in downtown Los Angeles.
In 1990, Scott and his congregation moved their Sunday service to the building now called the "Los Angeles University Cathedral". According to the Los Angeles County Recorder's office and North American title report, Scott acquired ownership of the cathedral through his entity, Westcott Christian Center, in December 2002.
Scott's restoration of the theater signaled the beginning of an attempted revitalization of the former theatre district along Broadway. The Spanish Gothic style (patterned after a cathedral in Segovia, Spain) University Cathedral became the largest non-denominational Protestant church in downtown Los Angeles. Both the Cathedral and the world-famous "Jesus Saves" signs are designated historic monuments.
Thousands of visitors have viewed Scott's exhibition of the "Dr. Gene Scott Bible Collection" with its many historic Bibles, books, and manuscripts which is housed at the Los Angeles University Cathedral.
The University Network
In 1975, Scott began a series of broadcasts, which resulted in the creation of the University Network. By 1983, the University Network was broadcasting his sermons twenty-four hours a day via satellite to the United States and Canada, as well as to much of Mexico and the Caribbean. By 1990, his network was available to 180 countries, and by 1992 his sermons were being broadcast in several languages on AM, FM, and short-wave radio. His programming consisted of his trademark informal style of Bible teaching mixed with provocative commentary, music, and personal interests in such diverse subjects as his paintings, scientific interpretations of the great wonders of the world, and his American saddle-bred horses.
Drawing from nearly thirty years of recorded programming, Scott's radio, satellite and television ministry continues to be broadcast although on different stations and at different times. Current and past programming may also be viewed via streaming video online courtesy of www.drgenescott.com.
Stage and broadcasting presentation
During two and a half years following Scott's passing, his surviving wife and successor, Melissa Scott has purchased many hours of time over broadcast, cable, and satellite television for the presentation of 1-hour programs of his messages in his later years, as well as many recent lectures done by herself from the Los Angeles University Cathedral. Still available are the 24 hour a day satellite, Internet, short-wave radio broadcasts, carrying the raw network feed, featuring 30 years of Scott's recorded teachings.
Other activities
The membership and interests of Dr. Scott included:
- Los Angeles Central Library Save the Books telethon
- Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center and one of its founding directors
- Member, Board of "Rebuild L.A."
- Member, Philatelic Foundation of New York
Marriages
Gene Scott's first marriage was to Betty Ann Frazer, his high school sweetheart at Oroville Union High School. This marriage lasted 23 years. Subsequent marriages include a twenty-year marriage to Christine E. Shaw, divorced in 1998, and then to Melissa (nee Peroff) Pastore in August 2000. Since Dr. Scott's death on February 21, 2005, Melissa Scott (b. 1969) has been the successor leader of Wescott Christian Center and Faith Center.
Melissa Scott points to her preparation for the position as her assistant administrative pastor duties in charge of finances and operations. She studied theology under the tutelage of Dr. Gene Scott for 10 years prior to his death.
Death
Originally diagnosed with a small but aggressive type of prostate cancer in 2000, Gene Scott declined chemotherapy. Four years later and consistent with the known pattern of his cell type, cancer had spread unchecked to all the major systems of the body. Rigorous combined regimens of conventional treatment were implemented and were unable to stop the metastatic terminal cancer. Complications of cancer and treatments set in leading to heart failure, fluid on the lungs, and abnormal blood clotting which Dr. Gene Scott described to his congregation during several months of continued live broadcasts. A few days prior to his death, Scott experienced a stroke, and following through with his intentions announced throughout the previous year, he signed papers to transfer powers and assets to his wife, "pastor" Melissa Scott. Dr. Eugene Scott then entered into a coma in Glendale Adventist Hospital. Mrs. Scott reported that at some point Dr. Scott awoke from his comatose state and ordered his favorite refreshment, yogurt, in true Dr. Scott style. Dr. William Eugene Scott finally suffered a fatal stroke and was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m. PST on Monday, February 21, 2005. According to Mrs. Scott's press statement, a private nurse and committed follower were in attendance at his bedside during his final days. (Los Angeles Times, Mrs. Scott's public internet announcement.)
External links
- The Official Biography ( X Site down 12/21 R/ )
- Dr. Gene Scott.com Home
- The Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Dr. Gene Scott
- Pastoral Words In Memory of Dr. Gene Scott by Gregory S. Neal
- Video Tribute to Gene Scott
- Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International
- Stanford Magazine Obituary
- Scott Reference page
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