On Sunday evening a local church which I have spoken at a couple of times is having its monthly Alternative Vespers service (vespers for the contrarian/ emergent crowd). The pastor in charge and worship guy are good friends and our family tries to attend as often as possible to show our support and fellowship with friends.
However, this Sunday night offers something a bit different than your average Alternative Vespers fair. It seems that Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka will be gracing us with their presence. If you are not familiar with the "ministry" of Fred Phelps and his "God Hates Fags" Evangenazis (can I copywrite this word?), you are missing out. They have chosen 4 churches in Tampa (1 Catholic for the "pedophile priests, 1 Episcopal for the homosexual bishop, Without Walls Church- among the largest churches in the nation with ministries to all outsiders and this Presbyterian Church- which happens to be a large church with an evening event in the general vicinity, but does not get a prime morning slot). They are in town to protest a local school board discussion regarding gay groups on campus (which is not even eliciting local coverage) on their way to protest miners in West Virginia and the Naval Academy.
The dilemma is this. I want to ignore these characters, which is what we are encouraged to do and have no desire to engage in discussion with such a marginalized cult that no one takes seriously (besides white supremists and the FBI). However, I really want my picture taken with them so I can post it on my blog! I want to have a shirt that says "God loves homophobes" and get my picture taken with Phelps himself.
Immature and unattainable, but I want it nevertheless.
press coverage on the event
wikipedia entry on WBC
6 comments:
i would love to do nothing less than help anyway i can in this feat. I am always up to hang with Westboro!
that didn't really come out right but you understand.
The think the picture would be priceless. Maybe you could plant a big kiss on Rev Phelp's cheek as well. Have fun!
you should do as whats his name... the guy who wrote clerks and dogma and the other jersey trinity... kevin smith.
when folks were protesting his movie dogma he and a buddy made their own signs and went and stood with them.
when the local news came to report on the protestors they actually interviewed smith, not knowing it was him!
I say go for it. Get the picture.
just watch out for his fist. i could see that old man getting violent. he might even challenge you to a duel.
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