Posted on 07/18/2002 11:13:41 PM PDT by weegee
DISUNITY FOR ALL 9/11 event ruptures faiths in Woodlands
By HARVEY RICE Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
THE WOODLANDS -- An effort by evangelical Christians to commemorate the tragedy of 9/11 in The Woodlands has split the religious community and led to accusations of intolerance in this suburban area north of Houston.
Critics of the memorial service on the anniversary date accuse its organizers of implicitly stigmatizing the Muslim community in The Woodlands and of monopolizing the logical venue for a commemoration that would embrace all faiths.
The organizers, 23 evangelical Christian churches, could not agree with other faiths on a secular commemoration.
As a result, residents of The Woodlands must choose between competing 9/11 events: an evangelical commemoration at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion or an all-faiths event at Bear Branch Sports Park.
The event at the Pavilion is called "9/11: One Voice, The Woodlands Remembers."
"I don't refer to it as one voice, because that's a lie," said Rabbi James Brandt of the Congregation Beth Shalom of The Woodlands. "It's only one voice allowed."
"We have explained to them (the evangelical churches) the importance of coming together for a national day of mourning, a day, because of the nature of the attack, that we need to stand together as Americans," Brandt said. "But even after all that explanation they clearly have refused to honor this day by coming together as a community."
"My concern is that by its nature it excludes Muslims and sends an implicit message that9/11 was a tragedy perpetrated by Muslims against Christians," Brandt said.
The Rev. Greg Johnson, pastor of the WoodsEdge Community Church and one of the organizers of the evangelical commemoration at the Pavilion, said all churches in the community were welcome as long as they accepted the premise that it be centered on belief in Jesus Christ.
"Our desire was never to divide," Johnson said. "Our intent was not to say there is not a place for them, but we do stand on certain values and principles that define us as churches.
"I don't believe that's being exclusionary; that's just our principles and values."
Johnson and other evangelical church leaders began organizing the anniversary event several months ago. They decided the Pavilion was the logical place for so many churches to meet for the commemoration, he said.
Interfaith of The Woodlands, an organization that includes many community churches, including several evangelical churches participating in the One Voice commemoration, decided separately to conduct its own 9/11 commemoration, said Amanda Marks, Interfaith director of development.
Marks sought to reserve the Pavilion for Interfaith, but discovered the evangelicals already had reserved it for that date.
The double request presented a dilemma for Sheila Turkiewicz, Pavilion president and chief operating officer. "It's a difficult position to be in to have to choose," Turkiewicz said.
In an effort to resolve the problem, Turkiewicz asked Interfaith to meet with the evangelicals.
Interfaith Executive Director Chuck Ducharme met with Johnson over coffee, but after about 30 minutes they were at an impasse, Ducharme recalled.
According to Johnson, it was Ducharme who decided they could not join forces. "They said they didn't feel like it was appropriate from an interfaith point of view," he said.
"It's not simply Christians and not simply evangelical Christians," Ducharme said. "Greg made it clear that One Voice was evangelical."
Interfaith's membership includes Unitarians, Disciples of Christ, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Christian Scientists, United Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists.
Turkiewicz said she gave the date to the evangelicals because they had asked first.
"It seemed the most fair that the one who inquired first would be the one," she said. "The Pavilion has not been donated, it has been rented.
"I'm disappointed that all of these groups are not participating together."
But Brandt said the Pavilion has a responsibility to the community at large. "We are very disappointed that the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion would ultimately decide to award the Pavilion to a Christian-centered event.
"They have a responsibility to the people of The Woodlands not to award it to a religious group."
Aziz Jamaluddin, head of the Muslim congregation in The Woodlands, and his wife, Joy, also have misgivings about the evangelical commemoration.
"Most Muslims that know about it are kind of frustrated," Joy Jamaluddin said. "If the churches want to have this sort of commemoration in their own church, we have no problem.
"To advertise it as ecumenical, when it is not, to advertise it as representing the community, when it is not, is a little dishonest."
She said that having two separate events puts public figures who may want to attend in the awkward position of having to choose. A politician, she said, may want to attend the Interfaith commemoration, but feel obligated to attend the evangelical event because of his own religion or need for political support.
Central to the dispute is the view of religion's role in society.
Johnson said the United States is a Christian nation. "We just hold to the view that our future is in Christ," he said. "I believe this is what our country was founded on."
Aziz Jamaluddin disagreed. "This is not a Christian nation," he said. "We have a Constitution that affords everybody the freedom of religion. This is a secular nation."
Brandt said the insistence of the evangelicals on making the 9/11 commemoration a religious event drives a wedge into the community.
"As far as I'm concerned this is a very dangerous, very sad thing. To me, it is unconscionable. Having a religious service without other faiths is putting their faith in the context of false gods of Jews and Muslims."
Johnson disagreed. "It shows diversity in the community, and we've got two great events going on and that represents the spirit of our country and that we have the ability to worship in different forms," he said.
"My concern is that by its nature it excludes Muslims and sends an implicit message that9/11 was a tragedy perpetrated by Muslims against Christians," Brandt said.Christians do not see the attacks of 9/11 as a tragedy perpetrated "against" Christians. But we do find our strength and comfort in the protection provided by our savior. To come together and acknowledge His presence in a ceremony is the focus of their gathering.[snip]
Brandt said the insistence of the evangelicals on making the 9/11 commemoration a religious event drives a wedge into the community.
"As far as I'm concerned this is a very dangerous, very sad thing. To me, it is unconscionable. Having a religious service without other faiths is putting their faith in the context of false gods of Jews and Muslims."
Also, I don't know of any Christian who believes that Jews worship a "false god". We worship the same God they do but believe that the prophecy of the Old Testament has been fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ.
We do see the god of Islam to be a false god since their account dismisses much of the biblical record in a way that negates God's gift and sacrifice. There is much hostility in the koran directed specifically at Jews and Christians; this makes it hard to fathom the "we worship the same God" argument.
I found it interesting that they were concerned that politicians would feel pressured to make a choice between the events. We all must make choices in our lives.
I don't know that I will be there that day (this is the first I've heard of it). I went to 2 gathering services on 9/11 (the second one was better realized) and will probably go to one of the churches I already attend when the date 9/11 comes again.
To say that Islam has nothing to do with the conflict that we face is false. To say that "mainstream" Islam is responsible may not be the case but it is something for muslims to ponder; their role in shaping the course for modern Islam. I'm Presbyterian and there are riffs within the Presbyterian churches across America as to what positions will be supported on a number of social issues that have been made "relevant" (gay marriage and more).
Duh? Wake up America, the enemy is amongst you!
Concern yourself no further becuase, it was.
I noticed a sign for Interfaith on Montrose (near Westheimer) and could not decode the dozen religious symbols that made up their sign. To me, a gathering place for all faiths where we can co-exist is the marketplace/workplace. When it comes time to worship, I don't think that my God would approve of the other dieties, idols, or symbols.
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