12 APR 09: Open Hearts, Open Doors, Open Season

"HALLELUJAH WE'RE FREE" proclaimed the sign outside Metropolitan Baptist Church on Fifth Avenue Saturday. The message admittedly surprised me a bit - because this mostly African-American church never posts that message on Juneteenth or Martin Luther King Day.

The message was a reference to "Resurrection Week," and many Christians celebrate Jesus's resurrection this weekend. But how many church leaders really feel free these days -- after several deadly shooting sprees, including a couple during services? You can see why sanctuaries long ago had preachers high above the congregations, where they could duck for cover.

I spent time this weekend with a local congregation which is growing concerned about possible trouble at services. It stems from a less threatening incident at a sister congregation a few weeks ago, when a beggar walked into an evening activity and asked people for money. He apparently only wanted an offering, but the next person might demand an outright tithe.

Several men gathered before the worship service to talk about how to protect the congregation. One key will be to watch people closely at the door. So if a greeter "presses the flesh," he'll also be pressing against your suit coat for unusual bulges.

The group talked about setting up a specially-marked row of seats for visitors and guests. This row would be in the back - because as I heard a minister say in Oklahoma years ago, the empty front row is to identify the members which show up late.

Putting the visitors' row in the back will guard against any disruptions during a service. For instance, someone might stand up and start talking loudly. Just because the congregation holds a special service on Pentecost Sunday does NOT mean the group is Pentecostal.

This congregation also has an open snack table at the back of the hall. To guard against moochers sneaking in for free food, the table will be covered during services and marked as off-limits. We suggested the sign say "meat of the Word" and point toward the speaker's stand.

Several members of the group said their goal was to use the minimal amount of force possible. One man said that's what people in martial arts classes are trained to do. I assume he hasn't had any training in "MIXED martial arts," because that seems like just the opposite.

If worse comes to worst, the church security team will try to hustle an unruly visitor out the door. If you want to debate a minister during a service, call the "Know Your Bible" panel Sunday mornings on WLTZ.

One thing struck me during the lengthy security discussion -- as none of the men suggested carrying guns inside the meeting hall. I've met plenty of people at local churches who would gladly volunteer for that duty. For one thing, it keeps them sharp for hunting season - and I think some of them keep guns in the church parking lot already.

I actually served from time to time on "security duty" with a congregation in Atlanta. The duty was little more than watching over a parking lot for 30 minutes on Bible study nights. And sometimes I actually found the Bible study so interesting, I forgot it was my turn to step outside....

But there's one fact in the back of my mind, as I consider what this local congregation is doing. It's part of a movement which had a deadly shooting spree in Wisconsin four years ago - and the killer came from within. He was a church member, who apparently lost control of his senses. So the local worshipers may be wise to hug each other a bit more fervently.

The recent gun violence isn't stopping other congregations from conducting business as usual. North Highland Assembly of God had an event for children Saturday, which boasted of 16,000 eggs. That new chicken processing plant in Phenix City must be more successful than we thought....

Meanwhile, Rivertown Church on Schomburg Road is using Easter to make another change. The congregation which eliminated Saturday evening services last fall is reducing its Sunday service length from 90 to 60 minutes. If Rivertown downsizes any further, people will compare it to the Ledger-Enquirer.

BLOG UPDATE: Speaking of which, the Ledger-Enquirer provided equal access Saturday. It let Muscogee County District Attorney Julia Slater give a front-page reply to a recent critical commentary. Wow, is Wane Hailes under pressure now -- because Piggly Wiggly's managers will expect the same treatment in The Courier.

Julia Slater wrote the families of victims allegedly shot by Charles Johnston "approve of my decision" NOT to seek the death penalty. Really?! The widow of Pete Wright seemed to say exactly the opposite on TV a couple of weeks ago [29 Mar], wishing Slater would seek capital punishment. And no, we don't mean what Seth Harp could face if he wins statewide office....

Julia Slater dared to bring up the record of former District Attorney Gray Conger -- writing he "sought death in 12 cases," but only put defendants on death row in two of them. Apparently the phrase "better to try and fail than never to have tried at all" only would make sense to Slater if she loses an election.

In fact, the District Attorney threw the Charles Johnston decision into Gray Conger's briefcase. Julia Slater said Conger didn't give required notice at an October arraignment hearing that he wanted to seek the death penalty. Slater faulted the Ledger-Enquirer for endorsing Conger without bringing up the matter -- while she was so busy campaigning that she didn't mention it, either.

We'd analyze this further, except we only wrote four jokes about Ben Holden's original commentary. So we'll suspend play with the score tied at four, and move on to some of the other weekend news:

+ A dangerous line of storms produced several Friday night tornadoes across the area. My power went out a couple of times while eating dinner - reminding me of the need to light a candle before dining, to add to the atmosphere.

+ A check of Troup County records revealed several companies have filed liens for almost two million dollars against Kia Motors. They claim subcontractors haven't paid them for work relating to the West Point plant. If you can't even pay the port-a-potty guy, people will think the entire project is going down the.... well, you know....

+ The Associated Press dug deeper into Rep. Sanford Bishop's "earmarks" in the latest federal spending bill. He obtained more than $70,000 for a Thomasville foundation which owes more than $120,000 in back payroll taxes. So much for effective government -- the earmark won't even pay off the debt.

+ The Columbus Lions won their fourth game out of five, handling Harrisburg 35-33. Star wide receiver Troy Bergeron was NOT in the Columbus lineup, and I could find no explanation for it. We hope he's OK -- and didn't sneak off the team bus in Philadelphia, to try out for the Eagles.

+ Instant Message to the woman I saw placing plastic eggs on the grass at Idle Hour Park in Phenix City: I've never seen that before - a Saturday night after-sundown Easter egg hunt. Did you assume someone was going to steal them all by Sunday morning?

SCHEDULED MONDAY: The big weekend event at South Commons.... and let's start a barbecue battle royal....

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