Posted on 07/31/2015 9:12:57 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The decision comes after Pastor Stephen Converse of Grace Bible Church opened Monday's council meeting with a prayer that included his views on abortion and same-sex marriage.
No one interrupted Converse, who also serves as the city's volunteer police chaplain. But Mayor Jeff Gee later said the comments do not reflect the council's views.
"While I appreciate everyone's viewpoints, I do have to say tonight's invocation was not something I appreciate," Gee said.
Redwood City and San Mateo County LGBTQ Commissioner Jason Galisatus said a government meeting should be a place where everyone feels welcome.
"Unfortunately it doesn't surprise me anymore when I hear things like that, but I would never expect to hear it in that context where I normally feel safe as an LGBT person," Galisatus said.
Converse in a phone interview with NBC Bay Area said he did not mean to offend anyone. City leaders and the police department plan to meet with the Redwood City Clergy Network to review guidelines for the selection of police volunteers.
"The City of Redwood City has a long history of invocations going back decades without incident," Interim City Manager Aaron Aknin said in a statement. "The City of Redwood City is proud of our diversity and strong community. Invocations are not the forum to promote or discourage any particular religious or other belief.
Invocators are invited as guests of the mayor and city council and community as a whole to share peaceful and respectful insights. Suspending the invocation process until further discussion with the mayor and council will ensure that invocations support our community's diversity and values."
[”While I appreciate everyone’s viewpoints, I do have to say tonight’s invocation was not something I appreciate,”]
Pardon me, the pastor’s prayer was not addressed to ‘everyone.’ It was a petition to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
God bless the pastor.
Frankly, you can pray all you want....but in Redwood City’s case....it won’t help much.
Well, you are not going to be feeling particularly 'safe' and comfortable in hell.
Which is where you are going.
Unless you repent and turn
It is good that the Pastor made you feel 'unsafe' for a moment. Maybe pondering your eternal destination would be a good thing.
...'the mayor and council will ensure that invocations support our community's diversity and values."
So let's see here. I'm sure there are pedophiles, and rapists in their diverse community. Are the mayor and council saying that they will ensure that 'invocations' will support those diverse values?
Sure - there is no evil. Just join the Tolerance Conga Line heading into the Lake of Fire.
County LGBTQ Commissioner Jason Galisatus
If your County has a LGBTQXYZ Conmissioner your County either has way to much money to spend or your are truly failing the vast majority of your citizens............
That is, everyone but those who have morals.
Agreed. Excellent post.
Only churches that parrot official leftist propaganda will be tolerated.
“LGBTQ Commissioner”
At some point they will have LGBTQ Police Divisions, LGBTQ Spiritual Advisors. LGBTQ Elementary Counselors. You know so we will all feel safe and comfortable. And besides, its the only fair thing to do.
Support your local “same gender loving” person or else you will lose your job or business.
May unicorns bless you!
Everyone except people like the pastor who expressed a point of view different from their own.
A PRAYER made you feel "unsafe," did it? Good Lord!
I used to have the attitude of
‘live and let live’
and/or
‘It is YOUR mouth, you can haul coal in it for all I care’
BUT these Reps of the diverse groups- with all their whining and downright foolishness - have basically turned me against ALL of them.
By the time ALL the ‘groups’ have seated their reps, guess there isn’t enough money in the budget to do the ‘towns business’.
thanks to that pastor for the courage to follow the Spirit of God.
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