AREA CLERGY UNITE AGAINST CHURCH FIRES.Byline: Mary Beth Alexander Daily News Staff Writer They stood in a circle, hand in hand, an uncommon mix of Jewish, Methodist, Catholic, Baptist and Mormon leaders, all with a common prayer. They appealed to God to watch over the victims of church torchings in the South and now, the West, and to grant the perpetrators wisdom, so they might end their trail of hate and destruction. Mostly, the 25 San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. church leadersclasping hands Friday afternoon in the darkened dark·en v. dark·ened, dark·en·ing, dark·ens v.tr. 1. a. To make dark or darker. b. To give a darker hue to. 2. To fill with sadness; make gloomy. 3. sanctuary of St. Jane Frances de chantel sought strength to build a united front against the attacks. ``We are engaged in spiritual warfare
There are various opinions and definitions for Spiritual Warfare, however it can be summed up in the following quote: "Some speak of [Spiritual Warfare as being] the struggle between good and evil.,'' said Rev. Jeffrey Utter, pastor of the Congregational Church of Chatsworth. ``We have to put ourselves on the line. But we have to remember we can't do it without God's help.'' The meeting was called by the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council, to discuss a course of action for local religious leaders in the wake of an estimated 40 church burnings over the last year, targeting predominantly African-American congregations. Agreeing that prayer would be the mightiest weapon, the council president, the Rev. D.D. Chatman, called for a vigil Sunday at his church, the Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church, 11066 Norris Ave., Pacoima. The prayer session will begin at 2 p.m. and is open to the public. ``I would like to see . . . the black church does not sit alone,'' Chatman said. In addition to prayer, several organizations have begun donation drives to help the victims rebuild. The Kol Tikvah temple in Woodland Hills and the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. district of B'nai B'rith B'nai B'rith (bənā` brĭth) [Heb.,= Sons of the Covenant], oldest and largest Jewish service organization in the world, founded (1843) in New York by American Jews "to provide service to their own people and to humanity at large. each kicked off donation drives Friday. Earlier this week, the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. agreed to establish a fund for the victims of the torchings. Along with money, the affected congregations will need Bibles, hymnals, robes and musical instruments, said the Rev. Zedar Broadous, president of the San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. branch of the NAACP NAACP in full National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Oldest and largest U.S. civil rights organization. It was founded in 1909 to secure political, educational, social, and economic equality for African Americans; W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. . The Valley church officials who met Friday angrily condemned the crimes, which authorities believe are unrelated but spurred in most cases by hate or racism. They agreed that the crimes are an assault on all congregations, no matter what race or religious orientation Noun 1. religious orientation - an attitude toward religion or religious practices orientation - an integrated set of attitudes and beliefs agnosticism - a religious orientation of doubt; a denial of ultimate knowledge of the existence of God; "agnosticism . ``I want people to know that when they're burning down one building, they're burning down all our buildings,'' said Rabbi Aaron Kriegel of the Temple Ner Maarav in Encino. While appalling, the crimes are not new, Broadous said. Rather, they are a continuing expression of intolerance in this country, he said. ``This is just one of the battles in the total war,'' Broadous said. Federal figures released this week show that over 200 churches have been torched since 1990 - sanctuaries of every religious denomination For other senses of this word, see denomination. A religious denomination (also simply denomination) is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity. . The rate of African-American church burnings, the records show, have increased sharply in the past year. Most of the torchings have been in the deep South, but arson destroyed the sanctuary of an African-American church in Portland, Ore., on Thursday. Reminded of the torching of synagogues in Nazi Germany, Rabbi Steven Jacobs of Kol Tikvah said it will be up to people everywhere to fight back. ``I want there to be an outreach in part from the Jewish community, but also the entire community,'' Jacobs said. ``Silence now is akin to indifference.'' Donations may be sent to the following: Rebuilding Faith In America/UAHC c/o Religious Action Center of the UAHC UAHC Union of American Hebrew Congregations 2027 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20036 ADI-Rebuild the Churches Fund 823 United Nations Plaza New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , NY 10017 The Burned Churches Fund National Council of Churches Attn. Joan Campbell, General Secretary 475 Riverside Drive, Room 880 New York, NY 10115 NAACP San Fernando Valley Branch P.O. Box 330220 Pacoima, CA 91333 The B'nai B'rith Rebuild the Churches Fund 3580 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90010 Or call: The NAACP San Fernando Valley Branch (818) 899-4357 San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council (818) 718-6460 CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Church leaders from the Valley assemble at St. JaneFrances de chantel in North Hollywood to pray that the rash of church burnings stops. John McCoy/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion