Churchgoers were surprised to find a handful of "Save ObamaCare" protesters marching around the Episcopal church in Rock Hill South Carolina this past Sunday morning (see the story and a short video at "The Herald"). Since Episcopalians represent a minuscule minority in York County, I am not sure what the protesters were expecting to gain by targeting the corner of Caldwell and White streets. Plus, they were preaching to the choir at the Episcopal church, which at its highest levels is likely to be supportive of the protest. As evidence, just look at TEC's history of backing the passage of the "Affordable Care Act" in the first place. The following is from 2010 h/t George Conger,
Disappointed by the apathy shown by local Episcopalians, our protesters marched across the street to demonstrate in front of the much larger and better attended Methodist and Presbyterian churches who seemed equally unperturbed.
I have to question the motives of people who try to disrupt Sunday church services. I wonder if they represent an atheistic, secularist segment of the population, and if so, then those are the very people we should be inviting inside to hear the Gospel.
Shame on us for failing to do so.
"The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations and the Episcopal Public Policy Network had lobbied lawmakers to pass the Democrat bill, and sent emails to Episcopalians across the country urging them to contact their congressmen to back health care reform.This Sunday in downtown Rock Hill, there was no one who spoke up in opposition to the protesters, but more telling is that it reveals the spiritual desert in this part of town, a corner bordered on three sides by church buildings, as it appears that no attempts were made to invite the protesters to stop worshiping their cause and instead come in to worship the Lord!
The Episcopal Church’s national office endorsed a Feb 24 letter prepared by the Faithful Reform in Healthcare coalition that urged legislators to 'complete the task at hand on behalf of the millions who are left out and left behind in our current health care system,' and pass the Democrat health care bill.
'We now stand closer than ever before to historic health care reform. Turning back now could mean justice delayed for another generation and an unprecedented opportunity lost,' they argued."
Disappointed by the apathy shown by local Episcopalians, our protesters marched across the street to demonstrate in front of the much larger and better attended Methodist and Presbyterian churches who seemed equally unperturbed.
I have to question the motives of people who try to disrupt Sunday church services. I wonder if they represent an atheistic, secularist segment of the population, and if so, then those are the very people we should be inviting inside to hear the Gospel.
Shame on us for failing to do so.
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You really think any of them would invite them in? We have a hard enough time inviting our friend who belongs to the Methodist Church, but hasn't attended in 18 years, or our atheist friend because he is a devout atheist. They wouldn't invite the protesters in, they're trying to ignore them, just as they are ignoring their empty pews, as long as they can be buried in the church cemetery. . .
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