Snarky Sermon on the Blog: "Different Kinds" Of Christians

Did you know that there were "different kinds" of Christians?

Of course, you did.

Duh.

Sermon steps on toes; school steps away
By Leila Summers

Complaints that this year's baccalaureate service was too preachy and insensitive to people of different beliefs have prompted the Woodland School District to cut its ties to the event.

The late June decision by the school board holds open the possibility that the ceremony could still be held on school property, but organizers would have to pay standard facility rental rates, which had been waived for the baccalaureate.

School officials will no longer advertise, promote or have staff the event, though employees still may attend on their own, High School Principal John Shoup said last week.

Woodland's baccalaureate is a Christian service for graduating students, usually the weekend before commencement. It has traditionally been held in the gym.

This year, parents said the baccalaureate started with a traditional prayer by Woodland Baptist Pastor Tim Elliott. Then a musician performed a few Christian worship songs -- prompting some audience members to stand up and wave their arms while singing to the music. After awhile, participants started screaming, crying and gyrating, recalled audience members.

Two graduates give personal testimonies and two others played their flutes. Woodland graduate Chelsea Wilder said she closed the ceremony and talked about the path to heaven, and some parents say she also spoke of hell.

Several parents who attended service said they were uncomfortable with some of the songs, speeches and testimonies. Many pointed the finger at Woodland's Life Center Church for crossing the line. "That's not the way I worship, and I certainly didn't expect that for baccalaureate," said Patti Wise, the parent of a 2007 graduate.

She said she expected a nondenominational ceremony. As a Mormon, Wise said she regards prayer as a reverence, something personal and respectful. She pulled her son out of the baccalaureate ceremony early.

"I felt it was a showcase of one particular religion. It was offensive to the way I worship," Wise said. "It really cut to the core of my beliefs."

Woodland parent Sherry Marlowe said she attended baccalaureate expecting to hear a blessing of the graduates and a message of inspiration. Christian music and messages about going to heaven and hell took her by surprise, she said.

"That really upset me because that person had no right saying that," said Marlowe.

Chelsea Wilder, a member of Life Center Church who helped organize the baccalaureate, said her church didn't intend to offend people.

"There was passion when I spoke because I'm passionate about God," said Wilder, 19. "We're a passionate church."

She said no one warned her before the event to neutralize her speech and "we were encouraged to give our personal testimony." Wilder said she wanted the baccalaureate to reach out to students, and not just be "routine." "I wouldn't change a thing just because the whole message that got across about being passionate about God was so real, that I wouldn't change a thing," she said.

Shoup said the baccalaureate is organized by the local ministerial association, with the help of Woodland students and parent volunteers.

But hosting the event at school and having three school staff members on hand to help gave parents the wrong impression the school district was more involved with the event than it was, he said.

He noted similar complaints were heard after the 2005 baccalaureate, after which churches were warned not to stray from traditional speeches and nondenominational prayers or the district would withdraw its involvement.

--snip--

Hosting baccalaureate at Woodland High School is a tradition, said Kathie Griffin, the district's community liaison who oversees school facility rentals.

"It's been going on much longer than I've been here," said Griffin, who joined the district in 1996.

--snip--

But board members agreed they can no longer support the service, wishing the Woodland Ministerial Association good luck for the future.

"We have turned baccalaureate back to where it belongs," said board member Steve Bosen.

Thus endeth today's sermon.

Go forth today, knowing that some people handle snakes, some people speak in tongues, and some people walk on fire.

And some people just want a nice, benign public school prayer service sans hellfire and brimstone, thank you very much.

And people in hell want ice water...

But that doesn't mean they're gonna get it.

Think about the whole public school baccalaureate tradition today.

And be careful what you wish for.

I mean it, damn it!

Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.