Christ Church taking down plaque of Washington

[Sparko]

George Washington’s Virginia church taking down his memorial

A church attended by George Washington will take down a memorial to the nation's first president, a move church leaders say is intended to make the place of worship more welcoming.

The Washington Times reported Friday that Christ Church in Alexandria, Va., will remove memorials of Washington and former Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, which stand on either side of the church's altar.

“The plaques in our sanctuary make some in our presence feel unsafe or unwelcome," church leaders said. "Some visitors and guests who worship with us choose not to return because they receive an unintended message from the prominent presence of the plaques.”

Washington began attending the church soon after it opened in 1773, and bought a pew there. He attended for more than 20 years, though he appeared more regularly at Pohick Church, southwest of his estate at Mount Vernon.

Christ Church's decision to remove the statues comes amid a national debate over whether Confederate statues and monuments should be taken down. That debate resurfaced in August after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., turned violent.

While that debate has focused primarily on Confederate memorials, President Trump suggested shortly after the Charlottesville protests that taking down some memorials would eventually lead to statues of Washington or Thomas Jefferson being removed as well.


http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefi...n-his-memorial

[Cow Poke]

I've got mixed feelings about this, as I believe "the Church" is "all about Jesus".

What's dumb is their claim that people feel "unsafe or unwelcome". Like one of these plaques is gonna fly off the wall and attack you?

[mossrose]

I've got mixed feelings about this, as I believe "the Church" is "all about Jesus".

What's dumb is their claim that people feel "unsafe or unwelcome". Like one of these plaques is gonna fly off the wall and attack you?

I highly doubt that doing this will make them focus more on Christ.

Sounds like seeker-sensitive to me. Next comes tickling ears.

[Darth Executor]

I've got mixed feelings about this, as I believe "the Church" is "all about Jesus".

What's dumb is their claim that people feel "unsafe or unwelcome". Like one of these plaques is gonna fly off the wall and attack you?

It's standard sjw language used to corrupt an institution. If someone in your church demands a change because it makes them feel "unsafe or unwelcome" excommunicate them on the spot.

[Mountain Man]

I've got mixed feelings about this, as I believe "the Church" is "all about Jesus".

It's just a plaque on a building commemorating something of historical significance. I don't see how it detracts from the gospel.

I'm more troubled by the fact that a church promoting a historically based religion would seek to suppress history. How long before they start downplaying other truths that might make the congregation uncomfortable,

[One Bad Pig]

I more troubled by the fact that a church promoting a historically based religion would seek to suppress history. How long before they start downplaying other truths that might make the congregation uncomfortable,

They're Episcopalians - they started doing that a while ago.

[Cow Poke]

It's just a plaque on a building....

It specifically states "on either side of the church's altar" and "in our sanctuary". If it were a plaque on the outside of the building, that might be different.

[Cow Poke]

It's standard sjw language used to corrupt an institution. If someone in your church demands a change because it makes them feel "unsafe or unwelcome" excommunicate them on the spot.

Whenever somebody tells me they feel "uncomfortable" in worship, I ask them how "comfortable" do you think Isaiah was in the year that King Uzziah when one of the seraphim took a live coal from the altar and smooshed on his mouth.

[Mountain Man]

It specifically states "on either side of the church's altar" and "in our sanctuary". If it were a plaque on the outside of the building, that might be different.

Doesn't change anything as far as I'm concerned.

[TheWall]

I can't say i'm surprised.

[KingsGambit]

It's standard sjw language used to corrupt an institution. If someone in your church demands a change because it makes them feel "unsafe or unwelcome" excommunicate them on the spot.

How does this justify excommunication from the church (which biblically implies a state of eternal condemnation)?

[KingsGambit]

It probably shouldn't be in the actual worship space as that is a place for God's glory only. It wouldn't be an issue if it was in the narthex/lobby or on the outside of the building, though it's strange that people would feel physically uncomfortable. Personally I'm more bothered by churches that display flags in the worship space.

[Darth Executor]

How does this justify excommunication from the church (which biblically implies a state of eternal condemnation)?

Because they are attempting to corrupt the church with a different religion (liberalism)

[ke7ejx]

They're Episcopalians - they started doing that a while ago.

Seriously, Pig?

[ke7ejx]

George Washington’s Virginia church taking down his memorial

A church attended by George Washington will take down a memorial to the nation's first president, a move church leaders say is intended to make the place of worship more welcoming.

The Washington Times reported Friday that Christ Church in Alexandria, Va., will remove memorials of Washington and former Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, which stand on either side of the church's altar.

“The plaques in our sanctuary make some in our presence feel unsafe or unwelcome," church leaders said. "Some visitors and guests who worship with us choose not to return because they receive an unintended message from the prominent presence of the plaques.”

Washington began attending the church soon after it opened in 1773, and bought a pew there. He attended for more than 20 years, though he appeared more regularly at Pohick Church, southwest of his estate at Mount Vernon.

Christ Church's decision to remove the statues comes amid a national debate over whether Confederate statues and monuments should be taken down. That debate resurfaced in August after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., turned violent.

While that debate has focused primarily on Confederate memorials, President Trump suggested shortly after the Charlottesville protests that taking down some memorials would eventually lead to statues of Washington or Thomas Jefferson being removed as well.


http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefi...n-his-memorial

Yeah, as an Episcopalian I can say that I definitely don't agree with this decision. You can change history by hiding the reminders. I can appreciate their motive to be welcoming but this definitely is the wrong way to go about it.