Mayor Denounced For Saying Lancaster Is 'Growing a Christian Community' January 31, 2010 Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris drew criticism from a leading Muslim group today after saying in his annual State of the City address that the high desert town was “growing a Christian community.” "We're growing a Christian community, and don't let anybody shy away from that,” Parris told the audience of ministers gathered for his address. “I need [Lancaster residents] standing up and saying we're a Christian community, and we're proud of that," the mayor said. The Greater Los Angeles area office of the Council on American-Islamic...