Texans who want the rest of the country to think of them as “honorable folk” — in the words of one local commenter at GoSanAngelo.com — have a chance today, Sunday, June 1, 2008, to show us why we should.
You can picket First United Methodist Church of San Angelo, calling for this Christian congregation to expel from fellowship Judge Barbara Walther for conduct that (I hope you agree) is unbecoming a Christian: false imprisonment and abuse of FLDS children and mothers and her callous refusal
Judge Walther’s fellow parishioners at First United Methodist look and talk like “honorable folk.” What are they really made of? On their website, they proclaim:
A joy for all generations to be in the company of those who love and are loved…
Amen & Amen
Sounds heartwarming. But talk is cheap. These are the people who have helped make Judge Walther the woman she is today. She’s a long-time parishioner and has presumably learned her manners and morals, in part, from them. Some of them undoubtedly voted or campaigned to put her on the bench. Perhaps they can persuade Sister Barbara to find some of that love in her heart for her FLDS victims.
Even Pharoah eventually let Moses and children of Israel go. The children are crying for their mothers. God hears them. Do you, members of First United Methodist of San Angelo?
Some may feel squeamish about “church-state separation.” It might help to remember the Nazi holocaust and the key role played by some protestant congregations — especially in Denmark — in saving Jewish lives. This is a similar situation. None of the FLDS has physically died, yet. But many are bleeding to death emotionally and spiritually. Catholics may want to recall St. Augustine who famously wrote that “an unjust law is no law at all.” Oh, and don’t forget: The American Revolution arguably began at the Old North Church.
You, the people of San Angelo, have in this horrific event a great opportunity to play the role of Good Samaritans and rehabilitate the good name of your community. I know some of you can be heroes. Stand up and show your colors! By your action today, you may purchase the undying gratitude of a few of God’s children.
I am encouraging a peaceful demonstration (no rowdies, please) outside First United Methodist between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., today. Here’s a map . The address and phone number appear below.
If you’re outside of Texas, you might call or e-mail Pastor Burk at Ricky@firstmethodist.net. You can also sign this online petition to impeach Judge Walther and file a complaint against Judge Walther with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct. You may contact the Commission here.
Dr. Ricky Burk, Senior Pastor
First United Methodist Church of San Angelo
37 E Beauregard Ave
San Angelo, TX 76903
(325) 655-8981
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Alaskagain 06.01.08 at 11:52 am
Hurray for Dr. Burk!
This statement now appears at the SanAngelo article you linked for Dr. Burk’s comment:
“The Standard-Times has disabled the comment feature on gosanangelo.com for 30 days as we evaluate our policy regarding Web site comments.”
This article http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/jun/01/web-comments-put-on-hold/
further explains. But I doubt that one comment from a former resident is the reason. I suspect Dr. Burk’s commentary had a large part to play in this action by the newspaper. Maybe the Judge complained.
Kurt Schulzke 06.01.08 at 1:00 pm
The blog entry above was NOT written by Dr. Burk. His pick is there so that if anyone in San Angelo has the opportunity to speak with him about the situation, they know who he is.
Alaskagain 06.01.08 at 1:16 pm
Thanks for clarifying that Dr. Burk is NOT the author.
ozmar 06.01.08 at 1:37 pm
At Judge Barbara Walther’s First United Methodist Church in San Angelo, they have the judge in their thoughts and prayers:
http://www.firstmethodist.net/prayer%20concerns.htm
Please let us know of your prayer concerns by calling Richard Evans, Director of Prayer Concerns at 655-8981 or by e-mail: richard@firstmethodist.net
“Each member and family is prayed for once each year by the entire congregation when their name is placed on the prayer calendar. Please consider using the prayer calendar in your daily prayers.”
I move that a few of us make prayer requests for The FLDS Children and The U.S. Constitution:
http://www.firstmethodist.net/prayer%20concerns.htm
Karen Seymour 06.01.08 at 5:16 pm
An Open Letter to Matt Phinney, columnist, via GoSanAngelo.com:
Thank you for your report, though it does not explain WHY Judge Walther did not follow through on her intent to vacate her order. It only suggests — that following her passing out the proposed order to various attorneys, community pressure was brought to bear to keep these children in their CPS Gulag. Am I amiss in concluding the local Baptists (and Methodists?) have promised to vote her out of office, if she allowed the children to go home?
I am not FLDS, but I am a firm believer in religious liberty. I do not agree with polygamy, but I do not agree with Muslim polygamy either. Nor with its horrific practice of “honor” killings of their daughters. Honor killings have happened in Texas. There are two bodies in evidence. Muslims prepare their daughters to marry young, to much older men, often their own uncles. It is documented (per the heroic Ayaan Ali Hirsi) that is done without regard to the will of the young women.
Yet to my knowledge, Muslims in Texas are not being either persecuted or prosecuted. The FLDS are, even though in their case, Texans have so far heard only allegations, which have proven to be a hoax. There are no bodies — not even the live body of the fraudulent phone caller.
The difference between the treatment of the FLDS in San Angelo and the Muslims in Dallas? It appears that bigotry rules the day in San Angelo, Texas Supreme Court notwithstanding. The story was told the minute the First Baptist buses rolled up to the YFZ gate.
Gravitas 06.01.08 at 5:35 pm
Dear Dr. Burk:
I am amazed at the unjustified, unChristian treatment of the FLDS people by the so-called Christians of San Angelo. The state’s highest courts have agreed there was insufficient cause for the wholesale kidnap of those children. They were not in any immediate risk of harm. Judge Walther was ordered to send the children home within ten days. She has failed to do so.
Yet strangely, I have yet to read of any disapproval, by you or your parishioners, of Judge Walther’s abuse of the law and the FLDS families. Are rumor and gossip about the members of a sect you (and I) do not understand going to be allowed to rule the day, in opposition to New Testament injunctions against unjustly judging others, and in spite of the counsel our Lord gives to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”?
Instead, the alleged Christians of San Angelo are engaging in an old-fashioned witch hunt. What a terrible discredit to the name of Christianity. Are Methodists and Baptists still claiming to be Christians these days? I plead with you, as a minister of the word of God, to rise to the occasion, and call your people — and Judge Walther — to their senses and to their sense of decency.