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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
September 2002 |
Freedom to say 'God'
The Constitution of The United States says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech."
In thinking about this and the recent decision about one person wanting the words "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, I find the court's decision appalling.
The basic concepts for the formation of the government of this country were founded on the belief that we do have a Creator, God, whose love for us provides these very freedoms. The decision of that court not only violates the basic freedom of free speech but forces the majority to kowtow to the wishes of a very small minority. It is just one more step to whittle away our rights to use the word "God" in any form.
American citizens are losing freedoms by very subtle ways, and this is just one of those incidences. I urge all concerned persons to write or call their Representatives, Senators, our President and the Supreme Court to decry the loss of basic tenets of this God-given country.
Joyce Phaneuf,
Epworth Forest UMC
Serving in Christian Unity
Dear Fellow Methodists,
I want to thank you for the privilege of representing the South Indiana Conference on the Servant Board of Indiana Partners for Christian Unity and Mission (IPCUM).
In 1996 this young organization supplanted the old Indiana Council of Churches. In this case the new is better than the old! For the past four years I have had the opportunity to worship with Roman Catholic and American Baptists, ministers of the Church of God, lay persons from the Church of the Brethren, laity and clergy from the Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have worked side by side.
We brought men and women from around the state to address issues of violence in our society, racial reconciliation in our churches, Christian Unity and how to make it more visible. We've prayed together, eaten together, even celebrated the Lord's supper together. My life has been enriched by friendships with men and women of the AME Church, the United Church of Christ, the Community Church and the Salvation Army. But more important, the prayer of our Lord that "They may all be one" is being answered right here in Indiana.
Mim Porterfield
Lay member, South Indiana Conference
Grateful for help after the tornado
Terrell Thompson has spent many hours organizing work teams to various areas in the United States by using the conference bus to transport and to house the work teams going in to areas hit by natural disasters. Pastors and members of local churches, I ask that you pray and support this project.
Back in June, Terrell brought the bus down for [two men] to have a place to stay since one was from Madison and one was from Patoka. They came in to help with the rebuilding of a home. These two men were the spark that the family needed to keep going after mom, and both of the girls and their families were among the 14 that totally lost their homes in the April 28 tornado that hit Tobinsport. We did have a few others come in and help the family, like Doug Walker from the Conference Disaster program. Doug is organizing a group from his church to come help another family putting a roof on his home.
As a Pastor, I really appreciate these men and their help in organizing work teams. I really appreciate Jim Bishop for all of his many hours in helping Emily and the kids. This allows me to have the needed time to continue ministering to the families in the area and the needs of my other two churches.
A great Big thanks also to Rev. Honna Schloss for bringing a group down to help pick up some of the yards that still have a lot of debris.
Sharon Summers, Pastor
Cannelton, Rome, Tobinsport UMCs
Gambling addicted cities and some hard questions
In January the Indiana Legislature started off with a plate full of gambling proposals offered ostensibly to relieve the state's budgetary crisis, but realistically designed to expand the grip of gambling upon the state.
Of the proposals to add an 11th river boat in a ditch between French Lick and West Baden, slots in the form of "pull-tabs" at two racetracks and five Off Track Betting Parlors (OTBs), dockside and barges, only one survived -- dockside.
Indiana legislators are to be congratulated for not falling for pressure from 103 registered gambling lobbyists.
"This session we finally took the process back from the gambling industry. I predict the General Assembly will not pass another major gambling bill for a decade," says Rep. Chet Dobis, D. Merrillville.
Northwest Indiana seems oblivious to strong anti-gambling sentiment in the rest of the state. Lake County mayors are already complaining of distribution of gambling revenue to all counties and a cap on their share. Forgotten is the marketing area of 50-100 miles around the casinos from which patrons' losses come.
Last month a 56 year-old woman living on Campbell Street in Valparaiso was reported by police to have attempted suicide after losing $30,000 at the boats. Should not revenue be used to meet the social costs in areas from where losers come?
Hard questions need to be asked. Are the schools in gambling-addicted cities better off than before casinos? Are the cities safer? Is the quality of life better? Like a quick fix by a dope addict, will the awakening come with a painful headache?
John D. Wolf
Indiana Coordinator, Coalition Against Legalized Gambling
(United Methodist clergy, ret.)
Valparaiso
Sovereignty under God
What is the source and purpose of the two words "under God?" [in the Pledge of Allegiance] President Lincoln, when he gave the Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863, verbally put in the two words under God as he read his manuscript. Much later the Congress decided to approve the insertion of those two words into the Pledge of Allegiance during the height of the Cold War.
It is not uncommon for a nation to appeal to God for legitimacy and blessing. God, however, also judges individuals, churches and nations. I propose that it would be quite in order that, whenever under God is recited, it is understood not only to refer to God's blessing but also to indicate our nation's limited sovereignty under God and that our nation is accountable to God and subject to God's judgment.
Edward Gardner, Pastor
Salem UMC, Evansville
Rebuttal to Religion and patriotism:
REF: July/August Commentary: In the aftermath of Sept. 11 there has been much shrieking from the far left on how Osama bin Laden "proves" the dangers of religious dogmatism. … Osama bin Laden does not prove the danger of absolute belief. He proves the danger of wrong belief. There is a difference. The historical record of Christ's followers illustrates that difference quite clearly. Over two millennia, men and women committed to the truth of the Gospel built hospitals ... brought public virtue, reconciliation, and peace. All these and more were achieved because of what they believed.
Where Christianity has gone, human rights and liberty have followed. The founders of our nation formed their concept of human rights and freedom from the Holy Bible, and were explicit in giving credit where credit was due. Indeed, we need not speculate on what might happen if a gang of Christian "Fundamentalists" got together to shape a government to their liking. That happened over two hundred years ago -- and the United States of America was born. Did it matter that they were Christian?
At times in history, Christian peoples were forced to defend themselves militarily. One hundred years after the death of Mohammed, Islamic warriors had conquered all of North Africa and Spain, and were poised to conquer all of civilized Europe. Miraculously, they were routed by Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours in the year 732. Were it not for such valiant, and ultimately successful, armed resistance to the Islamic invasions, we might have all been Taliban. And no debate of religion or patriotism would be tolerated.
Steven J. Willing,
Horizons of Faith UMC, Indianapolis
Last updated on 01/14/2004