Proud of our local DFA group. Speaking out on church and state. Video.

I have gotten PMs from folks here about being careful, being low-profile for now. Sometimes I really resent it, as I do post intelligent posts usually with research. But then our group here is very outspoken. That is just how we are. One of our DFA leaders is being outspoken on the manger scene which the Baptist church put on government property in secret overnight.

Here is the video in which he appeared tonight to present the case for separation of church and state. I am proud of him and proud of his wife, and all of our group. He is a retired lawyer, and his wife was just elected State Committeewoman.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=11259

I think it is wrong for me to be criticized for what I post. I think it is the people who follow me around the forum to attack me who should get that criticism. I think intelligent discussion is being squelched.

So would Howard Dean want me low-profile while he is running for something for the party with which I am disillusioned? I rather doubt that.

I am proud of Richard for standing up for the separation of church and state.

Same county where churches gave out yard signs that supported the Iraq war. We have real problems here. I was a Southern Baptist, but I left. As I said, I am very proud of Richard for doing this. There has to be a line in the sand sometime.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041112/NEWS/411120390&SearchID=73193484803296


Reverend's Faith Grows Political
Local Baptist writes resolution banning same-sex marriage.

By Cary McMullen
Ledger Religion Editor
cary.mcmullen@theledger.com

LAKELAND -- The Rev. Jay Dennis is a reluctant political warrior. The pastor of the 5,000-member First Baptist Church at the Mall has never waded into secular political issues, but he makes an exception when it comes to gay marriage.

"This subject has implications in a lot of directions," Dennis said in an interview in his office Thursday. "If the definition of marriage is diminished, it's going to affect a lot of other moral issues. The very bedrock of what we believe as a country and as Christians will unravel."

Dennis authored a resolution at the Florida Baptist Convention meeting in Jacksonville on Tuesday calling for the passage of a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as "the union between a man and a woman." The resolution calls such marriages "the God-ordained building block of the family and bedrock of civil society."

This is alarming to me. The Marvin Pittman they refer to is/was a bigshot at the sheriff's department, and he would hold morning prayer meetings which were not really optional.

The Randy Wilkinson is a county commissioner who has a history of being rather weird...alleged mistreatment of his wife...threatening to steal his kid...etc. The religious folks here love him, though, because he is a fine Christian.

These guys are breaking the law.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-fmanger19.1dec19,0,1941034.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

SNIP..."BARTOW · Marvin Pittman said his Sunday-school class wasn't trying to cause a ruckus when they built a manger scene without permission at Polk County's administration building Wednesday night.

But the display has caused a stir in Polk County, where just hours before the manger was constructed, the County Commission denied a pastor's request to build a holiday display at the nearby historic courthouse."
Two commissioners voted to allow the display, two voted against it, and a fifth commissioner was absent for the vote.

Commissioner Randy Wilkinson, who voted to allow the request, said he supports the Sunday-school class and saw the manger Wednesday night.

"I thought it was wonderful," he said.

"It took some guts to do that, and I applaud ... the Sunday-school class."

In response to the manger, Polk County Attorney Joe Jarret sent First Baptist pastor Dr. Ron Burks a letter that reminded him that the church didn't ask for permission to put the manger on the lawn of the Neil Combee County Administration Building....."

I know they are really starting to push the limits here. It is sad.