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Iraq War gives new role to church leaders
As war breaks out, worshipers of all faiths are turning to spiritual leaders for answers and reassurance.
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[Times photo: Lara Cerri]
Alexandria Crawford, 9, holds onto her father, the Rev. Hayden G. Crawford of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, during a special service to address worshipers' fears Wednesday at St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral in St. Petersburg. |
By ANITA KUMAR and WAVENEY ANN MOORE
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 20, 2003
As news of the war in Iraq spread late Wednesday night, spiritual leaders of all faiths in the Tampa Bay area began fielding questions from their congregations about how to cope with the conflict and developing plans to deal with the growing concern.
"There is a lot of uncertainty about what we're getting into and what it means and what the repercussions on American soil will be," said Rabbi Michael Torop of the Temple Beth-El in St. Petersburg. "And there is heightened concern about the spillover in Israel."
Centers of worship were preparing for special services the next several days.
Kevin James, superintendent for the St. Petersburg District of the United Methodist Church, writing in the district newsletter, said, "I encourage our pastors to preach and teach with passion the following: love as the antidote to hate, life as the antidote to death, good as the antidote to evil, hope as the antidote to despair and peace as the antidote to confusion."
On Wednesday, as the news of the war spread, Rabbi Jacob Luski of Congregation B'nai Israel told his Hebrew High School students:
"I express with all of you our joint concern for our leaders and military personnel who are ready to engage in this battle against terror and evil. None of us like the idea of war, yet we are hopeful that the goals will be met quickly for the sake of the Iraqi people as well as all Americans and our allies in this hour of challenge."
Hours earlier, as the United States waited for word on the war, members of St. Petersburg's Christian community prayed for peace and support for American troops.
"Tonight we gather in the shadow of war and the cross," said Rev. John Lipscomb, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida. "Tonight I would challenge us -- that we not be fearful."
Lipscomb held a special service at St. Peter's Cathedral in downtown St. Petersburg to help calm fears and unite people in prayer -- something he said all people could do to help the United States get through the confrontation in Iraq.
"In this season of conflict, our church has been called to be a community," he said. "We need to open doors for prayers."
Lipscomb asked for prayers for the military and their families, Arab-Americans, Islam followers around the world, the Iraqi people and "all who will be caught in the conflict."
More than 200 people from across the city attended the special service.
"It's important for the Christian community to get together for prayer," Lipscomb said. "The time for questioning and debate has to come to an end and we must now support the men and women in the armed forces."
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