Pastor responds....{and my invasion of a Bethel Church service}

Before reading this post in full, please scroll down and read the shorter post "update on what has transpired...." follow it's intructions, readf all it suggests and then come back and read this post.


BEGINNING OF THIS NEWEST POST:

So, The Head Pastor, Mike Davis, of Bethel Temple has responded to the current controversy.
he wrote a letter to the editor.

here is his letter:
CITY HALL PRAYER MEETING OPEN TO ALL FOR PEACEFUL PARTICIPATION:
I moved to Brandon five years ago and chose to recieve the Brandon Sun over the Winnipeg Free Press because I wanted to learn about our community and at that time there was only one newspaper. The paper still does a great job of giving us news from around town.
Most recently the Sun posted a letter to the editor from Bill Baker, who is a regular contributer to the letters section. His second most recent letter ridiculed the late Pope John Paul and it seems many other leaders who do not allign w/his personal views. {NOTE FROM BILL: I have writtena letter to the editor again, in it I defend in a couple sentences why I did this}.
His June 7 letter cited a lunch hour prayer that has been hosted in a room at city hall for the past 2 years. This prayer meeting is inter-denominational, not evangelical/conservative as Mr.Baker claims. {NOTE FROM BILL: Actually I never said "conservative' I said Evangelical/Fundamentalist, slight difference; second-I knew well that it was inter-denominational, but all the churches of all the denominations in this town are fundamentalist and/or evangelical, so I never said anything not true}.
The Purpose is to pray for our city and nation under the direction of 'Prayer Canada'. This takes place across the nation in many municipalities. We pray for our city and it's leadership, businesses, growth, development as Timothy 2:1 encourages us to do: "I urge,then, first of all that requests,prayers,intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone for kings and all those in authority."
A national poll was done in 2002 in Canada and found that 75% of canadians regularly are praying people. Our current prime minister-and most leaders-when a time of trouble befalls this nation, usaully concludes w/this statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are w/you at this time".{NOTE FROM BILL: I rebut these assertions and statements in my next letter}.
At this time particular time in Canada, I think there is a general consensus that help is needed{NOTE FROM BILL: I also comment on this in my next letter}.
This time of prayer is open to all who want to come and peacefully participate{NOTE FROM BILL: Um, really, what of liberal christians/faitheists whom wish to pray for equality across the boatd for ALL including gays??? What about non-christians, this statement of his is a bold faced lie!}
Those who regularly attend are not interested in debating or entertaining a protest{NOTE FROM BILL: of course not; because to do so would openly reveal that they are not intereste din democracy-but rather with subverting it}.
Our local misisterial association, of which I am privileged to be a part of in Brandon, has adopted a slogan which says "one city, one church, many congregations"{NOTE FROM BILL: "all christian, all evangelical and/or fundamentalist, all ignoring the exitence and ideals of other faiths, philosophies, and non-faiths"}.
If Mr.Baker has an issue w/leadership of govt, churches, and Christian charities,etc, so be it, but I think your newspaper has a responsibility to show some discretion on what is printed and where it is displayed.{NOTE FROM BILL; practice what ya preach Mr. invade the govt offices}.
Leadership of families, businesses, cities, nations, churches,etc. is a challenge in the best of times and needs the support of the people it tries to serve instead of negative articles undermining leadership{NOTE FROM BILL; hmmm.this coming from one of those that does so when the govt makes effort to make gays equal under the charter,etc}. Your readership deserves better reporting on these types of issues.
What has made Canada one of the greatest nations to live in was the sacrifice and hard work of it's citizens and good{not perfect} democratically elected leadership.
May God keep our land glorious and free!
Pastor Mike Davis
Brandon.


Now, I attended a service at Davis's church last night to talk to him about these things diplomatically. He was not there. But I stayed in silent protest of on behalf of democracy and freethought against the subversion os cuh by those of theocratic mind and may continue to do so, I also may continue to to go to the prayer meetings in the city halls councillors meeting room in silent protest, or perhaps-even though I've no faith-pray to the collective unconciuos or something out loud positively for things that are humanistic and defy the laws of the christian god. we'll see.

Now, my rebuttal letter has yet to be sent to the paper, and I may not even send it, but I might. "IF" I do, I will come back here and copy it to this very post following this very small paragraph here; so come back once in awhile to see if it is in here. it'll appear w/in a couple days probably "if' I send it to the paper.

OK, HERE IS MY REBUTTAL LETTER{I've sent it in}:
Regarding Pastor Mike Davis' letter in Sundays Sun.
Pastor Mike said that I said the prayer meeting at city hall was/is Evangelical/Conservative, and that it isn't, that is is inter-denominational. Fist, I said Evangelical/Fundamentalist, not "conservative"; this may be semantics, but their are slight though notable differences. Second, I never said it was not inter-denominational, I knew that it was, otherwise I would've been more specific and said something akin to it was "pentecostal" or "Baptist" or "Protestant" or "Catholic",etc. In Brandon, most of, if not all of these denominations ARE Evangelical and/or Fundamentalist. So, I never said anything that was not true.
Next, in regards my letters to the editors on the Pope and on faith-based charities, I will not redefend my opinions, I will simply say that I adequetely explained why I hold those positions and why I believe they are ethical and correct in the actualy letters.
As far as the national poll that Mike makes referance to. First, there are margins of error in all polls that vary in degree. Also, regardless of how many people "pray", they are not all praying to the same god{s}/ess{es}, and even many Christians are praying to a more liberal/equality minded god{or perhaps one that is a metaphor}. Many are simply praying to{or sending thoughts out to} the ether, the collective unconciuos,etc.
The Statement "our thoughts and prayers are with you" said by the govt leaders is a fair statement, it does not show favor to a monotheistic god or any version of divinity at all; it is fair and inclusive to the faithful of all faiths and to the faithless by way of term "thoughts".
Many people{faithful included} believe help is needed; however, not all of them are asking for this from a monotheistic,anthropormorphic ancient, Abrahamic sheep herder/war deity. Many are against the monopoly {some Christians/Abrahamics included} that Fundamentalist faiths have on "positive" ideals and on deity/divinity} and their opposition to democratic equality rights-such as "gay marriage" for exampl{many christians agree with me on this}.
Mikes quote from the book of Timothy reveals the devotion to Pauls ideas rather than to Jesus's that most modern evangelicals/fundamentalists have. they should call themselves "Paulians".
Mike says that this meeting is open to "all" whom wish to come and peacefully participate. Really? How would you react to a Liberal Christian coming and praying for equality for all{including gays in marriage,etc}? How would you feel about Non-christians coming and praying to their version of deity in this supposedly inclusive prayer meeting?
Those who regularly attend are not interested in debating or entertaining a protest, pastor Mike says. Well, Pastor, I think we know the reason for this. Could it be because of your desire to pretend to be democratic while praying for your faith{and your version of it} to dominate everything including the political and social spheres. Could it be that you are afraid that to answer any questions as to the ethicalness or validity of praying in govt offices will expose a agenda of wishes to subvert democracy w/theocratic ideals of the fundamentalist christian faith}?
"One City, one church, many congregations". Indeed. And all of them are Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian denominations, and this whole thing undermines and excludes those opf other faiths,philosophies, or no faith. My assertion that your version of the christian faith has too much wealth,power, and influence here by your own proclamations-shown, by evidence, to be quite true.
Now, as far as Mikes attack on the Branodn Sun for what he says is "negative articles' against the authorities/leaderships; that's quite hypocritical coming from one whom is part of a version of the Christian faith which often goes out of it's way to attack, speak negatively in the press and public,etc, against those authorities that seek democracy for all{such as for gays}. The pastor is one of their most vocal mouthpieces here in Brandon. It seems that unless it serves the evangelical/fundamentalist christian agenda it is negative, if it serves their agenda-it is positive.
Here, Pastor Mike is dooing to the Brandon Sun what he did to the editors of the BU "Quill" several months ago, telling them what is appropriate and not appropriate and responsible or non, for them to print. Why? Well, because he as a conservative/fundamentlist/evangelical Christian{beeing as specific as I can} is offended at the democracy and fair-minded displayed, and the humanistic values, because they do not serve to glorify his version of god as supreme aobe all others..
I am a man of reason, as such I am not against all Christians/faithists, nor equality for "all" of them and us included{by us, I mean the faithless, or people of alternative faiths}. I am simply opposed to "Absolutists"{that would include those of faith and of no-faith} having special privelages or excess wealth,power, and influence. All I want{as many other do} is equality across the board.
And after all is said and done here, the fact still remains that Burgess and Dvis group are avoiding apologizing for their corrupt,untehical actions-the Mayors and other "govt" offices used by any special interest/faith group is innapropriate and should be aknowledged as such, or again-make them pay for the usage like in say Winnipeg{or "tax" them-the churches}. Allthough, since some don't have the equal wealth that these churches have and would'nt be able to afford it, the best thing to do is to not allow any in there. There is a sayig about "respect all, or respect none' in this case because of these facts, the govt should respect all by respecting none{this is too Burgess}.
To Mike and his group and all the evangelical/fundamentalists; don't pray in our govt offices and we won't think in your churches. However, if you want to do so, then it's only fair that we be allowed to come into your churches and think out loud like you pray out loud in govt offices. And Burgess, you owe the city an apology, instead of dodging the fact that is is wrong.
One more thing, I wish to thank publicly the Sun for their open-minded and fair coverage of this issue, I also wish to thank Tannya A. Ross for her encouragement.
In Reason:
Bill Baker
p.s. to Brandon Sun editor. Tnak you again for your coverage of the issue. Myself, and others such as Miss Ross, and other like us thank you..
Peace to you

In Reason:
The Very Irreverand Bill Baker