The arrival of Grace Church at 1776 Emma Road in Basalt–1776 is not a misprint–roiled and soiled the community in Emma as they contemplated a megachurch, albeit a teensy one, in their midst. Dead center in the Roaring Fork Valley, the more liberal members of the town were universally concerned at the prospect of hundreds of Evangelicals worshipping in their midst.
The founders of Grace Church were nothing if not resilient, and managed to beat back all challenges. The church, now visible from Highway 82, has seemed on the verge of completion for months, even though building that has yet to sport the telltale sign of the Cross. Given the inevitability of yet another Christian Church in the valley, concerned locals simply ran out of protests. A church, after all, is far more benign than a McDonald’s, or so the story goes.
And that was that, from my perspective–until the wife espied the cheerful green banner in front of the Eagle County municipal building Sunday afternoon, with the words: “Grace Church Gathers Here,” with the times for “Sunday worship.”
Church and state, anybody? The Eagle County building is where I have caucused and voted. It’s where we protested our property tax hike and signed our marriage license. Now I have no doubt that civilian groups meet in the building, and that Eagle County throws the door open to the holy and heathens alike, but to drive past a building built for the state and see the church take over, if only on Sundays, gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach. A megachurch in my neighborhood I can live with, especially on private land. But a church holding services in a county buidling is like a stake by the state to the heart.
Just a beat or two after snapping the picture and retreating to my car, two men appeared outside the Eagle County building and took down the sign. Maybe there is a God after all.
I’m suprised Michael! A simple vinyl banner to let the community know where the church gathers to worship while their future, more permanent home is continually being held up in court by Pitkin County. Check the US Supreme Court rulings over the past decades. The government, federal, state or local, is not allowed to discriminate against any group, including religious groups, (sounds kind of like the first ammentment?). Would a banner saying “Boy Scouts Meet Here” or “AA meets here” put a stake in your heart as well?
Sure but you dont care about the church and state co-mingeling for housing for illegals?
http://www.postindependent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100213/VALLEYNEWS/100219965/1083&ParentProfile=1074
Archdiocese eyes Glenwood site for new housing project
Financial assistance sought from the county
John Stroud
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs CO Colorado
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Archdiocesan Housing, Inc., is gearing up to propose a new 56-unit affordable rental housing project on a vacant piece of land north of the Wal-Mart store in Glenwood.
AHI is an arm of the nonprofit Catholic Charities organization. It has built and manages several low-income family and senior housing projects throughout Colorado, including the Machebeuf Apartments in West Glenwood and the Villas de Santa Lucia in Carbondale.
Before a development application is submitted to the city of Glenwood Springs, however, AHI is seeking to obtain $7.6 million in tax credits from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA).
It is also looking for financial support from local governments to help offset the $12.3 million project cost, including $560,000 from Garfield County and $550,000 in fee waivers from the city of Glenwood Springs.
Michael,
[Just a beat or two after snapping the picture and retreating to my car, two men appeared outside the Eagle County building and took down the sign. Maybe there is a God after all.]
Am I wrong to think the only thing that would have made this scene more perfect to you would be if the two men who took the sign down were Federal employees?
Cheers,
Very funny, Mitch. Who says the religious right is humorless? Maybe it was Ted Haggard who said that. Or Jesus. Are there any (intended) jokes in the Bible?
Of course, had you sharpened your pencil you would have said it was the county employees NOT federal–unless you were banging the drum for federalsim.
BTW, the only thing that would have made this scene more perfect for me would have been the appearance of Satan (state) versus Jesus (Church) right there on the steps of county government.
Best, Con Man!
Memo to infowars.com: Huh?
He has a Prius chip.