City Council Invocations
Many of you who live in Lodi are aware of the controversial issue regarding the public invocations at the beginning of the city council meetings. I have participated in these prayers for years. Here is the inside perspective. A few years ago, the City of Burbank, California, was sued in court by a group because they allowed prayers to God in Jesus’ name to be mentioned. Those suing the city of Burbank contested that the city was endorsing certain religions by allowing prayer in Jesus name, etc. It went through the appellate court system and the ruling to ban any sectarian or denominational prayer was upheld. When this case law lissue became ‘law’ in California, many cities adopted a ‘prayer policy’ in order to stay within the law. The City of Lodi has this policy. For several years, many of the local pastors, myself included, ignored this policy. The City of Lodi did not attempt to inforce it either.
About three months ago, an anonymous person contacted the ‘freedom from religion foundation’ in Wisconsin. This group watched over 50 different invocations and noted that many times local pastors used the name Jesus Christ. They wrote the City of Lodi and threatened a law suit unless the city enforced its policy on invocations.
Now the issue has gotten all blown out of proportion and at least three different outside organizations have come to town to defend their positions. In my estimation, it has now become a three ring circus. NO ONE is mentioning the fact that we, Christians, Muslims or atheists, do not have a legal RIGHT to pray at city council meetings. The Lodi City Council has ‘allowed’ pastors to pray…but we do not have a legal or constitutional right to pray as part of the local city council meetings. It’s been a privilege.
So, what then shall we do? Pray! Pray for the City leaders that they will have wisdom in dealing with this legal matter. This is a legal issue not a spiritual issue. Pray that the wonderful name of Jesus is not futher damaged by these outside groups. Pray that threatening, caustic emails from apparent ‘christians’ cease. Pray that the unbelievers who sit on the sidelines and watch this ‘religious fiasco,’ do not get turned off to the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ, because of these outsiders actions and words. It’s too bad that these outside groups did not allow the local evangelical pastors, deal with this issue in cooperation with the Lodi City Council. May we all adhere to the words of James when he said, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 NIV.
Pastor Bill, I was just wondering if the radical Christians you are talking about would possibly be Gay Christians? I have been doing some research on a certain TV station, and they have these Christian Camps for Gay children which have nothing to do with Christ or his teachings.
Dear Pastor Bill,
So sorry to hear of the commotion in Lodi. I have witnessed some of the “hard core supposed Christians” here in Stockton. It seems their intent is to divide us as spiritual people and I know it turns off people who have an interest to know more about God and Christ. It also seems they have a doctrine of hate. I had a similar experience a year or so ago when some members of Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kansas with Rev. Fred Phelps got onto one of the early Legion Of Faith web-sites and linked a song called “God Hates You And Wants To Kill You” I was absolutely infuriated and ended up calling the webmaster for the site who was in England. I asked him to remove their link and he said it was “freedom of speech” and would not remove it so I removed the site and closed it down. Isn’t God about love? I believe He is! So sorry these kooks are wasting yours and the city of Lodi’s time and resources. I will pray for a kind and mighty response from the Lord that this passes and that the truth is revealed.
All the best and God Bless………Jim
Pastor Bill,
You need to repent for publicly denying Jesus Christ. Christians are told in Scripture that if we deny Jesus before man, Jesus will deny us entrance to heaven. You can’t say you’re standing up for Jesus with integrity if you pray in his name in a church building but deny his name in a government building. The Apostle Paul never muted himself like you are. Your actions speak louder than your words. From yesterday’s Stockton Record:
The Rev. Bill Cummins of Lodi’s Bear Creek Community Church said outside groups on both sides should allow the situation to be resolved locally.
Thomasson’s organization has a Sacramento mailing address, and Klingenschmitt’s group is based in Colorado. A national organization based in Wisconsin that fights to keep religion out of government also has weighed in on the matter.
Cummins said he led the invocation at Lodi’s council meeting in late June. He said he kept Jesus’ name out of it.
“Mentioning the name is becoming a real point of contention,” Cummins said. “I can pray to the God of the Bible without mentioning that one five-letter word.”
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090804/A_NEWS/908040313
Who are you “A committed Christian” that you don’t have the guts to use your real name? You probably have no idea of the level of work Pastor Bill does for the Lord, his church members and our community or the extent of his love for Jesus and God. Get a grip, quit judging others and go do something useful ……… Jim Johnston