Posted on 06/03/2007 3:28:21 PM PDT by Condor 63
As a staff member at the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, I am frequently asked questions that require me to go where "angels fear to tread." Questions about displaying national flags in the church's sanctuary take us into that treacherous terrain.
Many United Methodist churches maintain a tradition of placing the United States flag in the sanctuary, by the altar, within the chancel, or at another prominent location on the church grounds. I heard of one case in which the U.S. flag actually covered the altar itself. So we must ask: Is this an appropriate use of the national flag from both a Christian and United Methodist perspective?
(Excerpt) Read more at umc.org ...
Heck Yes they should fly in sanctuaries. Flew in everyone I attended growing up.
By the Rev. Richard Stewart
June 1, 2007
Is it appropriate to display the United States flag in United Methodist churches during worship services?
As a life-long United Methodist, and as a former active-duty chaplain in the U.S. Army, I have no question as to its appropriateness. And, as a U.S. citizen, I find it hard to imagine why some people would not want to display the flag at their place of worship. In fact, I would be very concerned if the flag was banned from those times in which we come together corporately to worship God.
Since my childhood, throughout my years of wearing the military uniform of our country and in the years since, the U.S. flag has stood as the symbol of all that is good about this nation. I, along with countless others - both citizens and non-citizens - wore the uniform and served under the flag of this country, ready to give our lives for all it symbolizes. For those soldiers who fought our battles long ago and continue to fight them at this very moment, for those who died and continue to die in behalf of our nation, placing the flag in our sanctuaries demonstrates that the God who was with soldiers in those scary places is certainly with them now.
In my Catholic parish church the former pastor took out both the USA and Vatican flags from the sanctuary years ago. They are now hanging from the choir loft which is never used by the choir anymore; the choir now crowds up into the sanctuary to sing.
Interesting. I can understand the former although I don't agree with it, but not the latter...
For the record, my Church displays Old Glory. Our Pastor even sang a fine rendition of America the Beautiful and God Bless America from the pulpit the Sunday prior to Memorial Day in honor of our fallen Veterans. It was quite moving.
I suppose the fact of where I live allows him to do it without having to hear a bunch of grief. I wonder if he could elsewhere. Regardless, I know exactly where his heart it so I much appreciate the fact he does it.
**Commentary: Should U.S. flags fly in sanctuaries? 88
Why not?
Inappropriate to have it in the place for the worship of God or to pledge allegiance to it there, in my opinion.
This foreign concurs. The churches here in New Zealand normally don’t fly the flag as it is deemed the state. Only the Anglican and Presbyterian churches fly the English/Scottish “saints” flags on designated days, and at some major churches, the Southern Cross on flagpoles ouutside.
My synagogue displays the American Flag and that of Israel.
We never had them when I was growing up - it seemed to be something that you saw more in Yankee churches than in Southern churches.
I always wonder what message is intended by putting the flag in the sanctuary - is that church only for Americans? Should forigners worship somewhere else? Is the church showing loyalty to the state?
The Presbyterian church in New Zealand flies the colours of Scotland on St Andrew’s Day, while the Anglican church here always flies the St George’s Cross, the Southern Cross, and sometimes the Union Flag (and even all three).
But maybe it is because of the unwritten special privileges these two denominations enjoy in NZ’s constitutional arrangements.
I don’t like it, and never have. But then the Lutheran churches in the US were required to put the flag on the altar pretty much by force during WWI.
That said - there should be an American flag flown for every soldier who has given thier life in service
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