Home Christian News Chicago Church Preaches ‘The Gospel According to Dolly Parton’

Chicago Church Preaches ‘The Gospel According to Dolly Parton’

gospel according to dolly parton
The congregation gathers outdoors on May 29, 2022, at Church of the Three Crosses in Chicago. RNS photo by Emily McFarlan Miller

CHICAGO (RNS) — She’s been hailed as a “secular country-pop saint” and the “Jesus of Appalachia.”

Her ability to bridge divides has been the subject of many a recent think piece, a popular podcast series, even proposals to replace statues of Confederate figures with her image.

And over the past few weeks, Dolly Parton has been the subject of a five-part sermon series at Church of the Three Crosses in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood.

The Rev. Britt Cox wrapped up her sermon series “The Gospel According to Dolly” on Sunday (May 29) at the church, which describes itself as an “ever-widening inclusive Christian community” belonging to both the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ.

“We’ve been using Dolly as a way to talk about story and our larger story of faith and that all of our stories matter and that God’s story is continuing on in us,” Cox told the congregation, accompanied by a flourish from the church’s pianist.

Church of the Three Crosses in Chicago shares about its series "The Gospel According to Dolly" on its Facebook page. Screen grab

Church of the Three Crosses in Chicago shares about its series “The Gospel According to Dolly” on its Facebook page. Screen grab

Church of the Three Crosses has been focusing on sharing personal stories since returning to in-person services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cox told Religion News Service. New members began attending while the church was meeting online. Longtime members hadn’t seen each other face to face or caught up in months.

Parton’s ability to connect with many different people — young and old, religious and non-religious, from red states and blue — through story felt instructive as the congregation got to know each other again.

Plus, Cox said, “She’s really a person who walks her talk.”

Growing up in Texas — where, the pastor said, country music is woven into the church — she admired Parton’s music and subversive sense of humor. Later, she realized the singer-songwriter, who is a Christian, also shares beautiful messages in her songs — some, overtly religious, like her 2019 song “God Only Knows” with Christian musical duo For King & Country.

Parton also invests the money she’s made into causes she cares about, like child literacy. Most recently, she’s earned praise for her $1 million donation to COVID-19 research, which was partly used to fund Moderna’s vaccine.

Parton has said she thinks it’s great if she can set a good example.

“But,” she told People Magazine in December, “I don’t want to be worshiped, because there’s a scripture in my Bible that talks about idol worship. And I see that happening all the time with movie stars and these celebrities. People literally worship them more than they worship God. And I just — I cringe at it sometimes.”