Lawrence's annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will be watched carefully this month by a pair of county commissioners one concerned about county funding, the other wary the event is knocking down the wall between church and state.
Douglas County commissioners Monday agreed 2-1 to donate $1,250 to the Ecumenical Fellowship for its events commemorating King in Lawrence this month.
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But for the second year in a row, Commissioner Jere McElhaney voted against the funding, saying it sets a bad precedent. And this year, McElhaney nearly had another commissioner join him in opposition.
Commissioner Charles Jones said this may be the last year he can support the organization if it doesn't adopt a more ecumenical approach.
Jones said he became concerned after attending last year's commemorative service at the Lied Center. There a speaker advocated evolution not be taught in Kansas schools and that the Ten Commandments should be posted in all courtrooms. The event also featured several speakers leading the group in faith-specific prayers that Jones said easily could have made non-Christians uncomfortable.
"I'm increasingly concerned with the separation of church and state with this event," Jones told members of the fellowship. "This isn't our money we're giving. It is the money of the citizens of Douglas County and that includes many people who are Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, atheists, gays, lesbians and many others, and they should feel like this celebration is for them too, and right now I'm not sure they do."
The Rev. William Dulin, president of the Ecumenical Fellowship, said after the meeting the group had no plans to change how it presents the events.
"I have heard down through the years this talk of separation of church and state, and that is why we are in the dilemma that we are in," Dulin said. "When you take God out, you bring in only one other force, and that is evil."
Dulin said he doesn't believe non-Christians or anyone else should feel uncomfortable at the group's events.
"We're not asking anyone to change their faith," Dulin said. "I hope no one feels uncomfortable because how can you feel uncomfortable in an environment of love?"
Jones, though, said the fellowship will need to answer several questions if it hopes to win his support for funding next year. Included in a list of type-written questions Jones handed to Dulin were:
How non-Christians at the events should participate in prayers offered in the name of Jesus Christ.
What distinction the fellowship makes between celebrating King's legacy and proselytizing in the name of Christ.
Whether a gay or lesbian group would be welcome to participate in the event.
Several members of the fellowship have been vocal in criticizing gay and lesbian lifestyles, with Dulin calling homosexuality an "abomination of God." Dulin said he would deliver a response to Jones for each of the questions.
Jones said he also was miffed that the fellowship last year returned a $200 personal donation from McElhaney after the commissioner voted against funding the celebration.
"I didn't see anything loving in the rejection of that contribution," Jones said.
Dulin said the fellowship council voted against accepting McElhaney's contribution because it ran counter to his public position.
"We refunded his personal donation last year because it was publicly known he didn't support the event," Dulin said. "We felt coming in around the back door was not in keeping with the ideals of the celebration."
McElhaney said fellowship members badly misinterpreted his motives.
"I want you to know that I was not coming through the back door to give our family's continued support to the celebration," McElhaney said. "I have stated before that I believe the private sector could do a good job in funding this event and I was just trying to do our part in that effort."
McElhaney has consistently voted against funding the celebration. He said Monday the reason wasn't because he didn't admire King but because funding the event sets bad precedent.
"I feel if I were to vote for moneys for this event, we would open the door for other organizations to ask for money, and then where would we draw the line?" McElhaney said. "For example, the Christmas event downtown is an important event and is always in need of more finances, and that is an important holiday too."
McElhaney said he didn't share Jones' concern the event was violating separation of church and state, but said the celebration does "walk a fine line."
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