-
May 14, 2008 6:33 pm US/Eastern
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Plan For Cross Upsets Some In Columbia
COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) ―
People living in Columbia are questioning if a church should build a cross on its new building.
Kelly McPherson explains why this is causing a stir.
"If you want to identify who you are, you need to have it in a place where people can see it," said Dave Douds, who is on the building committee.
The cross will be 17 feet tall and on a new brick building. It's typical for a church but it's part of an interfaith campus.
The whole idea of an interfaith center is to allow several different religions to share the same space. But the new building that's going up is just for St. John United and they want everyone to know that it is a Christian building.
"We don't intend to exclude anyone by having the cross there. It simply identifies who we are as the initial occupant," Douds said.
Some people say seeing a cross there will be a sign of exclusion.
"The idea for an interfaith center is to make sure that all faiths can serve at it and certainly a cross is, as a symbol, represents one faith," said Amani Dove.
"For me, it's fine, but I appreciate the fact that there are other people, religious congregations, who may be offended by that, so I guess out of respect for them..." said Nick Vonhagel.
Catholics, Presbyterians and Methodists meet at the center regularly. Even with a cross, church members say any faith can still use the space.
"I sort of am a more spiritual person, so it really doesn't bother me. I think it's great if that's what they want to do," said Eileen Lankenau.
The cross will set a precedent for all of the six interfaith communities in Columbia.
"I doubt that it will be the last, but it will be the first," Douds said.
How those symbols will impact the interfaith name is yet to be seen.
The interfaith center did decrease the size of the cross and change the material to blend in with the building. That plan is set to go forward, despite any objection from the community.
The center plans to break ground in the fall and finish construction in one year.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WJZ.COM's Most Popular Pages