Carlton Pearson is a multi-talented gospel singer, Pentecostal minister in the United Church of Christ, linguist and scholar. A highly complex man, Pearson's early beginnings and spiritual development began to take shape when he attended the charismatic Christian Oral Roberts University, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he majored in Biblical Literature/English Bible. While attending the university, Pearson came under the stewardship of the American Pentecostal televangelist and founder of the university, Oral Roberts. Carlton later served 15 years as a member of the University's Board of Regents.
Pearson went on to create his own church, Higher Dimensions in Tulsa, Oklahoma and developed it, raising its membership to over 6000. By this time, through television, radio and publications, Pearson had developed a global and diverse audience of millions, embracing both secular and Christian fans.
A talented singer and performing gospel artist, Pearson brings the same qualities in his impassioned oratory and spiritual teachings to his music, inspiring fans with a mixture of intellect, wit, musical genius and humour. He has sold nearly a million recordings over the course of his career and his recording with his Higher Dimension Choir, along with other singles, secured Pearson two Stellar Awards and a Dove Award nomination.
Pearson has courted controversy over a series of strong religious views. One of these was over the Christian concept of hell, which he doubted when he suggested that souls are not necessarily destined to hell simply because they are non-Christians. Pearson espoused this idea, called the Gospel of Inclusion, triggering a furious debate. As a result of this controversy, the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops declared Pearson a heretic. Many other mainstream Christian leaders similarly made Pearson an outcast. Many of his congregation also objected at his church, Higher Dimensions, and over 80% of them left.
In 2006, with its membership greatly reduced to 1000 members, Pearson's Higher Dimensions church building was issued with foreclosure. The church renamed itself New Dimensions Church and began to congregate at the Trinity Episcopal Church, in Tulsa. Two years later, New Dimensions Church moved to All Souls Unitarian Church, also in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Later in the same year in September 2008, New Dimensions Church merged with All Souls Unitarian Church.
Pearson describes himself as a reformed "fourth-generation classical Pentecostal preacher" rather than an evangelical Pentecostal fundamentalist. An articulate and zealous exponent of the modern Pentecostal church, Carlton Pearson offers spiritual leadership not only in the United States but worldwide. Pearson provides a different approach on many subjects and while sometimes evoking consternation and reproach in some quarters, this multi-talented evangelist provides an alternative perspective on a spectrum of issues that confront Christians today.
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