Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond died Wednesday. He was 61.
As a pastor he was a man of many words, and he spread them as far and wide as he could find people to listen to him.
He never shied away from controversy and he got more than his share with his strong, unshakable stand against gay marriage. He preached against it even while in the clutches of cancer that he had been fighting for 12 long and painful years.
Those who knew best said the gay marriage issue got most of the attention, but Hutcherson was just as committed to many other issues.
Hutch was a person that was bigger than life, he had an effect on a lot of people. People liked him because he stood on his words, if he said something he meant it and he used the word of God as his guide, said Antioch Pastor Gerald Lewis.
Hutcherson wrote books and articles about a host of religious issues. He helped change adoption laws that he felt were racist and treated babies like marketable items based on their race.
He made a lot of people angry, but he had the respect of conservative talk show host Glenn Beck, who expressed sorrow at his passing.
Gay activist Dan Savage, who once debated Hutcherson on the gay marriage issue, said Wednesday that he and Hutcherson had a nice chat about their children backstage at one event. Savage said he enjoyed their conversation.
Savage also expressed his sincere condolences to Hutcherson's loved ones and said he was sad to see him go, and never wished him any ill will.
People remember Hutcherson as a man who spoke strongly and with conviction but never with anger or hatred.
Pastor Hutch played college football and went on to play for the Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and San Diego Chargers.
