APPLAUSE FOR AN IRAQ WAR CHURCH PROTEST

[babylonsister]

APPLAUSE FOR AN IRAQ WAR CHURCH PROTEST
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-12-13 09:13. Media

Church Blogging #7
By Nick Mottern
With commentaries by Gayle Dunkelberger, Margaret Eberle and Debbie Kair


On Sunday, December 9, Gayle Dunkelberger, Margaret Eberle, Debbie Kair and I attended the 10 a.m. service of the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, New York, continuing our banner campaign in Westchester County churches to encourage clergy to begin to speak out publically for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

For the first time in our series of visits members of a congregation applauded us, some standing.

snip//

At the conclusion of his announcements, the man asked if anyone else had announcements, and we stood, moved to the aisle on the right wall, lined up and unfolded a banner that read:

3,840+ U.S. Soldiers Killed-Thousands Wounded
1 Million Iraqis Killed – Millions Displaced
Much of Iraq and Its Culture Have Been Destroyed
The U.S. Has Spent $468 Billion - $4 Billion From Westchester
WHY THE SILENCE?

For almost a minute there was total silence in the church, and then there was applause. I was holding the banner up high in front of me and was not able to see how many people were clapping, but it sounded as though it might have been at least 15 or 20. Margaret was able to see some of the congregation from her position and said some of the people were standing to applaud.

I shifted the banner so that I could see Reverence Lenhart, standing on the platform at the front of the church. He was silent for a few more moments, but his face seemed to be reddening, and he looked angry. He said: “Take it Out.”

We began to fold the banner, and I hesitated in leaving, thinking perhaps Reverend Lenhart just intended for us to sit down. But my companions said, no, he intended for us to leave, and that we should go. It appeared that they were correct, as he said nothing to stop us.

As we walked down the ailse, at least one parishioner thanked us for coming.

As we entered the vestibule, we were met by another parishioner, a man in his 40s, who had rushed out to tell us that we were “very rude.” At virtually the same moment, another man, quite tall and in his 50s or early 60s, who had also rushed out, gave us a big smile and said that what we had done was “teriffic.”

The younger man was sufficiently agitated that the older man stood aside, allowing him to carry forward with his criticism,. The younger man said that what we did was counter-productive because it didn’t “leave room for the moderates.” He said again that we had been “rude”.

The older man countered this point, telling us “You did it the right way” in that we were silent and respectful. He shock hands with each of us and said “Thank you.” He remarked to his fellow parishioner that it alright to have different opinions.

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[unhappycamper]

1. Thanks for posting, 'sister.