A prominent conservative evangelical who was recently criticized for saying evangelicals need to repent of homophobia was extended an empathy card from an unlikely source this week.

Brian McLaren, who is considered an emergent pastor and whose teachings are rejected by evangelicals, released an open letter to Dr. Albert Mohler on Wednesday, lamenting the ridicule Mohler received from Christians.

“I wanted to express my sadness at the way your recent comments about repenting of homophobia were attacked and ridiculed by one of your fellow conservative Christians,” McLaren wrote.

“I know what it’s like to take a risk and say things that you believe need to be said – because you believe they’re true and because justice, kindness, and humility require you to say them – only to be maligned for doing so. I’m sincerely sorry you are experiencing this.”

McLaren is referring to the debate sparked by Mohler’s comments made at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Phoenix earlier this month. After giving a report on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, of which he serves as president, Mohler was probed by a delegate from Waco, Ga., about statements he made in an earlier interview.

The Waco pastor, Peter Lumpkins, took issue with this statement: “We’ve lied about the nature of homosexuality and have practiced what can only be described as a form of homophobia,” which Mohler made in an article featured in The Christian Science Monitor in March.

Addressing the issue in front of thousands of Southern Baptists, Mohler reaffirmed his belief that “evangelicals have a very sad history in dealing with [homosexuality].”

“The reality is that we as Christian churches have not done well on this issue. And I think that if we are unwilling to admit that, it is further to our shame,” he maintained.

“We have also exhibited a certain form of homophobia of which we must, absolutely must in Gospel terms repent.”

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