Bishop Oscar Moore is known across the Pentecostal Holiness Church for his wit and wisdom, as well as for his kind spirit and keen memory. Before his retirement 18 years ago, he served the Pentecostal Holiness Church as pastor, evangelist, conference superintendent, general secretary and Bishop. Since then, he has maintained an active schedule.

In 1974, Bishop Moore spoke at the Muse Memorial Lectures. That series, compiled in a book entitled, Preachers, You Asked for It, is available from Advocate Press.

The Bishop and his wife Ruby Morris Moore live in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. As you will see from this brief interview, he still maintains a sense of mission, as well as a sense of humor. -the editor

Advocate: What are you doing since your retirement ?

Moore: I'm just traveling and tormenting people. I had expected retirement to be just that-retirement. When I decided to leave full-time work, I told someone, "I am looking forward to feeling the good earth under my feet in my garden, improving my golf swing, and filling in for ministers occasionally.'' But since leaving "official" work 18 years ago, I have accepted 612 engagements in 20 states and preached 1,696 sermons. My schedule stretches into the fall of '92.

Advocate: To what do you attribute this busyness?

Moore: I'm not sure I can answer that. My policy has always been to never ask for a place to minister or set a fee for my services.

When I began preaching in 1926 at age 17, I told the Lord, "If You will open the door and provide the means to get me there, I will provide the person." I have always felt strongly that I should go wherever I am asked with no hint of money. Someone once said, "The Lord will supply the need, even if He has to make the devil pay the bill."

Retirement for me meant leaving everything, except, of course, what I was called to do in the first place. I was never called to be an "official" of any sort. God called me to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm never more at home than I am in the pulpit.

Advocate: How does the church compare with the church when you began preaching?

Moore: I appreciate some things about the church today and regret to see some trends. In our early days as a denomination, the overemphasis on externals hurt us. A person's appearance often was more important than his attitude or the way he treated others. Because of our tendency of calling things sin that weren't sin, we lost many of our young people.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm comfortable with our doctrinal statement, with no additions or deletions. And I respect those who preach what I consider to be unscriptural beliefs. A truly sanctified person should be willing to disagree without being disagreeable.

Advocate: What are your pet peeves?

Moore: I have a problem with ministers who preach opinion and call it conviction. Preachers who solicit responses during their sermons-"Can anyone say, 'Amen'?' "Is anybody out there?"|-make me uncomfortable.

I'm peeved when preachers not only ask for money, but hint for it. I think I'm a generous person, but I can be as tight as bark if I perceive that someone is trying to manipulate me for money. Appeals for offerings should be simply stated, without manipulation or guilt trips.

Advocate: What offices in the church have you held?

Moore: I was converted at age 15, two years before coming into holiness. (My mother tried unsuccessfully to change my mind about the holiness movement.) My first official assignment was as deacon at the Hammond (Oklahoma) PH Church. I am the last surviving charter member of that great church.

Before transferring into the East Oklahoma Conference, I served as president of the youth department in the Oklahoma Conference. From 1935 until 1945, I filled the office of secretary-treasurer of the East Oklahoma Conference. It took me three hitches to serve 10 years as superintendent of East Oklahoma. (I made a career out of resigning.)

I held the position of general secretary for 12 years (1941-1953). Then for one quadrennium (1953-1957) the General Conference elected two general superintendents to serve concurrently. I was elected as one of those officials in 1953 and served four years alongside Bishop J. A. Synan. Altogether, I served on the general board of administration for 24 years. I pastored churches in the East Oklahoma, Tri-State, and Oklahoma conferences.

Before "retiring" in 1974, I served five years as superintendent of the Ozarks Conference. When I left that post, I transferred my membership back to my home conference - East Oklahoma.

I have no complaints. The Pentecostal Holiness Church has been good to me.

Advocate: If you could go back, would you change anything about your life?

Moore: I've lived my life the way I thought it should be lived at the time, but official work was never something I desired. If the Lord said, "Oscar, you can live your life over, and whatever you choose will be My will," I would not accept any position, except pastor. A pastor not only touches his own flock but many people in the community look to the pastor in times of need.

A Someone once said, "If positions offer fame or recognition, the ticket there will cost more than the trip is worth."

I'm not what I consider a "typical'' PH preacher. I've been outspoken when matters arose with which I could not agree. But I also realize that those who disagree with me have as much right to their opinions as I do to mine.

Advocate: What is your definition of the word pastor?

Moore: Shepherd. Father image. Caretaker...of everyone from infant to elderly. A pastor should be concerned about every situation in which his people are involved. The church is not a museum for saints; it's a hospital for sick souls.

Some church members treat their pastor like they treat their dentist. When they hurt, they want to see their dentist, fast. But they don't take him out to eat or fellowship with him. They just pay him for his services and go their merry way.

Advocate: What advice would you give other retired ministers?

Moore: Maintain a good attitude, and keep your nose out of the local pastor's business, even if he's doing it wrong. Keep the new convert touch on your soul. Remember how you loved everybody? Then you found out that they were human, like you.

Advocate: What are your goals?

Moore: My goal is to go to heaven, and please God in the process.

On June 6, 1991, Bishop Moore celebrated 65 years of ministry by preaching in the Hammond (Oklahoma) PH Church. He preached his first sermon at the Herring School near Hammond on June 6, 1926. The Hammond Church was organized from that congregation. -the editor