Ralph Drollinger
Encyclopedia
Ralph Kim Drollinger is an American
clergyman
and retired professional basketball
player. He was a 7'2" (2.19 m) and 250 lb (114 kg) center
and played collegiately at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA). He played for the United States men's national basketball team at the 1978 FIBA World Championship
.
Drollinger was taken in the NBA Draft
three times. He was selected with the 17th pick in the seventh round in 1976
by the Boston Celtics
, also with the 1st pick of the eighth round in 1977
by the New York Nets
, and finally with the 17th pick of the fifth round in 1978
by the Seattle SuperSonics
. Signing with the Dallas Mavericks
in June 1980, he played six games in the Mavs' inaugural season in 1980–81, in which he averaged 2.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He retired from basketball in March 1981.
, capital of California. When Drollinger called Roman Catholicism a "false religion" because he disagreed with its position on salvation
, his Bible study groups were kicked out of the governor's offices
. When one of his Bible lessons said it was a sin for female legislators to leave children at home to work in Sacramento, about a dozen senators, male and female, protested on the floor of the Senate. In the wake of these controversies, Drollinger's home church, Grace Community Church
in California, investigated accusations that Drollinger engaged in "unchristian behavior" including "pride" and "bullying" of members. The church subsequently deemed him unqualified for spiritual leadership and disassociated with him.
In 2009, 16 of the 22 Capitol Ministries chapters broke away to form a new organization without Drollinger called Capitol Commission. He continued to run the remnants of Capitol Ministries from his home in Santa Clarita, California
. Drollinger also leads a congressional Bible study group in Washington, D.C.
In 2011, Drollinger was sued for copyright infringement in a dispute over the use of the brand name "Capitol Commission" for various groups that lead Bible studies in state capitols and Washington, D.C.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
and retired professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was a 7'2" (2.19 m) and 250 lb (114 kg) center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
and played collegiately at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA). He played for the United States men's national basketball team at the 1978 FIBA World Championship
1978 FIBA World Championship
The 1978 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Philippines from October 1 to 14, 1978.Rizal Memorial Coliseum at Manila and Araneta Coliseum at Quezon City, Metro Manila were the venues for the event.-Venues:...
.
Drollinger was taken in the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
three times. He was selected with the 17th pick in the seventh round in 1976
1976 NBA Draft
The 1976 NBA Draft was the 30th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 8, 1976 before the 1976–77 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, also with the 1st pick of the eighth round in 1977
1977 NBA Draft
The 1977 NBA Draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1977 before the 1977–78 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the New York Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and finally with the 17th pick of the fifth round in 1978
1978 NBA Draft
The 1978 NBA Draft was the 32nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 9, 1978, before the 1978–79 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. Signing with the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
in June 1980, he played six games in the Mavs' inaugural season in 1980–81, in which he averaged 2.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He retired from basketball in March 1981.
Ministry
After his brief injury-plagued playing days, Drollinger became president of Capitol Ministries, an evangelical group that provides ministry to political leaders. In 2004, Drollinger's teachings caused controversy in SacramentoSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, capital of California. When Drollinger called Roman Catholicism a "false religion" because he disagreed with its position on salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
, his Bible study groups were kicked out of the governor's offices
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
. When one of his Bible lessons said it was a sin for female legislators to leave children at home to work in Sacramento, about a dozen senators, male and female, protested on the floor of the Senate. In the wake of these controversies, Drollinger's home church, Grace Community Church
Grace Community Church (California)
Grace Community Church is a non-denominational, evangelical megachurch located in Sun Valley, California. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of the congregation, founded in 1956...
in California, investigated accusations that Drollinger engaged in "unchristian behavior" including "pride" and "bullying" of members. The church subsequently deemed him unqualified for spiritual leadership and disassociated with him.
In 2009, 16 of the 22 Capitol Ministries chapters broke away to form a new organization without Drollinger called Capitol Commission. He continued to run the remnants of Capitol Ministries from his home in Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States and the twenty-fourth largest city in the state of California. The 2010 US Census reported the city's population grew 16.7% from the year 2000 to 176,320 residents. It is located about northwest of downtown...
. Drollinger also leads a congressional Bible study group in Washington, D.C.
In 2011, Drollinger was sued for copyright infringement in a dispute over the use of the brand name "Capitol Commission" for various groups that lead Bible studies in state capitols and Washington, D.C.
External links
- Drollinger biography from Capitol Ministries
- Right Wing Watch - Ralph & Danielle Drollinger interviewed in March 2011 by James DobsonJames DobsonJames Clayton "Jim" Dobson, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder in 1977 of Focus on the Family , which he led until 2003. In the 1980s he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesman for conservative social positions in American public life...
- NBA statistics from basketballreference.com