| |
Fred
Phelps to Protest at North Carolina Baptist Church
Fred Phelps and his misguided followers from Westboro Baptist
Church in Topeka, Kansas, picketed Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel
Hill, NC, on Sunday, May 16. Binkely drew the attention of Phelps
because the congregation allowed their building to be used for the union of two
men who are members of the local UCC. Their church does no currently have a
building.
Phelps, for those who do not know him, is the Kansas pastor who regularly leads
protests at the funerals of people who have died from AIDS related
complications. The group probably got the most pubilicity for their shouts and
signs of hate at Matthew Shephard's funeral. Their message is generally
that all gay folks and anyone who has AIDS deserve to die and go to hell because
God hates them. Phelps' message and his tactics are pretty vile.
When the picketers showed up they quietly walked the sidewalk by the church with
their disgusting, hate-filled signs. Most of those attending church had to drive
by them to enter the parking lot, but since no one shouted at the picketers or
tried to provoke them, they remained fairly quiet. They got some press coverage,
but not a lot.
In the parking lot, in the hallways, in the classrooms, and
in the sanctuary, however, there was an awe-filled sense of community and love.
The sanctuary was packed and we had to add extra chairs. Worship began with the
singing one of Binkley's favorite hymns -- "All Are Welcome." The
final verse says "Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter All are
welcome in this place" It was sung with spirit and feeling that brought
chill bumps to peoples skin and tears to their eyes. There was no doubt that
folks meant what they were singing. April Baker, a member of Binkley says,"
I am so grateful and proud to be a part of Binkley Baptist Church."
The prayers included care and love for those hurt by such
messages of hate as those being spread just outside. They also included prayers
that
the Phelps group experience the liberating and transforming love of God and that
the response to them and others be free of the temptation to "do unto
them as they have done unto you." A rainbow candle, a gift from Lake Avenue
Baptist Church in Rochester, NY, burned on the communion table as a reminder
that Binkley was not alone. A litany of words of support from far and near were
read aloud.
May 16th had been scheduled as Youth Sunday. The young people
were given the option but chose not to change the date. They led the worship
with enthusiasm for life, calling us to compassion for humanity and setting
before us the reality that though meanness and injustice are all too evident,
hope reigns eternal.
That evening, Jim Pike, one of Binkley's pastors, shared an
experience he had in the afternoon. He was still at the church when a woman he
did not know came in and asked if the minister was still around. After
identifying himself to her, she said that she had driven by and seen the signs.
Her comment to him was something along the lines of "I don't know what you
did to have them come here and do that, but I had to stop and say thank you for
whatever it was."
It was a glorious day! Love truly dispelled the negativity
and hatred. The only regret anyone seemed to express is that the Phelps group
was unwilling to be a part of such a gift of support and love. Binkley thanks
all who were with them in spirit and in love that day.
|
|
