Topeka — The Kansas House chamber is scheduled to be the site this week of a three-day workshop for dozens of evangelical Christians.
But the event's main organizer said Wednesday that he may have to move the event because 170 people have signed up. The House chamber has space for 150.
The event is described as a beginner's course in preparing for a transforming revival. The workshop includes evening sessions Thursday and Friday and an all-day session Saturday.
The request to use the House chamber came in May from Dave DePue, state director for the Capitol Commission, a national nonprofit group that brings pastors to Statehouses to advise policymakers.
The event is drawing criticism from Americans United for Separation of Church and State. DePue said it's designed to strengthen families and communities.
Comments
Richard Heckler 2 years, 5 months ago
"The event is drawing criticism from Americans United for Separation of Church and State. DePue said it's designed to strengthen families and communities."
Nonsense it is more likely than not a fundraiser for the radical right wing Brownabck libertarians.
I wonder how many republcans are sorry they voted for radical right wing libertarians when they thought they were voting republican?
repete66211 2 years, 5 months ago
I usually vote Democrat but I'd vote Libertarian over Republican or Democrat any day. Pragmatic Libertarianism is fiscal conservativism--not spending what you don't have--and social liberalism--individual liberty (i.e. gay marriage, abortion access).
lgrant 2 years, 5 months ago
Are you kidding me? There is no place else for a religious group to meet than in state chambers?
EarthaKitt 2 years, 5 months ago
Wonder what they would have said if it had been a religion other than Christianity.
tomatogrower 2 years, 5 months ago
The same thing. There are places of worship that can handle more people.
Richard Payton 2 years, 5 months ago
Whats a transforming revival?
Hooligan_016 2 years, 5 months ago
Yeah, I wasn't sure of that myself ... thinking either the evangelical "born again" or preparing for Jesus 2nd coming.
Liberty275 2 years, 5 months ago
That's when you transform from being a jesus-love soul-saving jamboree into being a jesus-love political fundraiser. That's my guess.
tomatogrower 2 years, 5 months ago
Transforming the US from a secular government to a Christian theocracy.
Hooligan_016 2 years, 5 months ago
I have nothing nice to say about this, so I won't say anything at all.
voevoda 2 years, 5 months ago
Is this group paying rent for use of the facility? If not, we the taxpayers are underwriting the cost of the event.
Liberty275 2 years, 5 months ago
Do you think all groups should pay to use government facilities?
voevoda 2 years, 5 months ago
If it's for a private event, yes. What would happen, Liberty275, if you and I and hooligan and tomatogrower, etc. all showed up and insisted upon being admitted? If we're not invited, then the group ought to be paying rent.
kancan5 2 years, 5 months ago
no...if a buddhist group asked to use the facility, they would probably be allowed to use it, too; but there wouldn't be all the negative nonsense comments. The only time you see church & state hostility is when the denomination is Christian.
truman1902 2 years, 5 months ago
Brother Love's Travelin' Salvation Show in the statehouse? What, there's a shortage of TENTS?
headdoctor 2 years, 5 months ago
Merill, I don't think Brownback and company qualifies as Libertarian. At least in the sense of Libertarians in the US. The modern Republican and Libertarian party has been taken over by NeoLiberals. If you are using an extreme definition of Biblical Libertarians then you would be closer to correct except that modern US Libertarians have a problem with any form of Theocreacy(Unless your Ron Paul). In general I could see why you and others could make your statement because Biblical Theocracy is in many ways comparable to radical Libertarianism but not directly comparable to political Libertarianism that we know here in the US.
The modern Libertarians are closer to anarchists than anything else. It will really suck if the Republicans being a major party eventually join in the anarchy.
Mixolydian 2 years, 5 months ago
You wont get a reply from Merrill. It's a robo spambot programmed to spam comment boards with outdated links to the savings and loan scandal whenever key words are used by other commenters.
kernal 2 years, 5 months ago
Now that they're letting this "Christian" group use the building for their workshop, they'll have to let other non-Christian religious groups use it as well. If they don't, I don't know how they'll be able to claim they're keeping religion and state separate. This could get interesting.
repete66211 2 years, 5 months ago
Just so we know what kind of a group we have using our state buildings and accessing our elected representatives, here's the stated purpose of this group:
[quote]Capitol Commission puts a full-time pastor in the Capitol. Our goal is three-fold: 1). We evangelize our leaders (Colossians 4:5-6). The Scriptures tell us to be wise in our interactions, being gracious, sensible and ready with the right answer. 2). We help them become established in the faith, discipling them (Matthew 28: 18-20). Jesus gives this command based on His authority in heaven and earth. 3). And we equip these leaders to live as salt and light in a very high profile environment.[/quote] http://www.capitolcom.org/kansas
I have no objection to this meeting as long as a.) ALL groups are allowed access the same space at the same cost, b.) this meeting allows no special access to elected officials and c.) the meeting is in no way endorsed by a state employee or agency.
thinkb4utype 2 years, 5 months ago
Repete - anyone can submit a request to use either the Senate or House chamber through the legislative administrative services ...contact them here http://skyways.lib.ks.us/government/las/index.html From what i understand, it is up to the chamber's leadership whether to approve the request - meaning Minority Leader Paul David could have denied this request.
There is no charge to use a room in the statehouse but it does require the sponsorship of a sitting legislator.
booklover2 2 years, 5 months ago
This is just wrong.
Richard Heckler 2 years, 5 months ago
"The modern Libertarians are closer to anarchists than anything else. It will really suck if the Republicans being a major party eventually join in the anarchy. "
They have managed to over throw the GOP next must be the USA.
headdoctor 2 years, 5 months ago
I am not so sure that they wouldn't like to see a Government coup. Their concepts of how things should be and what they want to happen are very similar to the 1933 coup attempt.
msezdsit 2 years, 5 months ago
"The event is described as a beginner's course in preparing for a transforming revival."
Yep the fake christians are having a pretend christian get together. Their goal is to coach how to be a fake christian and claim god is on their side so therefore no laws or morals or a persons lack of character and honesty or just plain old common decency gets in the way of their reckless pursuit of imposing their ideology and greed above all. Real christians don't push the anti people agenda that these phony's are trying to stuff down everyones throat. Oh but of course, judge them by what they say not what they do.
rockchalker52 2 years, 5 months ago
"I have nothing nice to say about this, so I won't say anything at all." Hooligan_016
You nicer than I am, bro (or is it sis?) Keep these self-righteous f'tards out of the chamber. They have no business holding religiously affiliated activities there. Total friggin' BS. I don't give a damn what their goals or motivations are, they do not belong in American legislative chambers. This is more than a little offensive, it stinks to the highly imagined heavens.
naturalist 2 years, 5 months ago
Religious workshops do not belong in our state's House Chamber. Let them rent a space somewhere. Or better, I want to hold a nudist workshops for 150 people. Is the House Chamber available for that?
rockchalker52 2 years, 5 months ago
p.m. the dates to me on that & try to go 50/50 on the gender ratio
somedude20 2 years, 5 months ago
Guess they do not know that "god" is not real. Sssppppp, over here....(whispers) santa, the easter bunny and compassionate conservatives are all not real either.
by somedude20
Hooligan_016 2 years, 5 months ago
I love you too.
Katara 2 years, 5 months ago
I don't care whether the ACLU is "godless" or not. They defend many people and that includes Christians whose First Amendments rights have been violated.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/may/22.64.html?paging=off
hujiko 2 years, 5 months ago
One time a friend and I were discussing elections, and how it seems rather ironic to cast your vote in a church or other house of worship. I'll never forget him saying, "at least that building that's not being used five or six days a week is actually being used for something meaningful."
question4u 2 years, 5 months ago
True Christian values would probably do the House members a world of good. Even better would be a visit from Jesus himself, who isn't be too fond of people who put their own greed above the welfare of children, the sick, and the poor. He's not keen on the idea of hating your neighbor for his different colored skin either. It would be awesome to see Jesus smiting those hypocrites and bigots and driving them from the statehouse.
Katara 2 years, 5 months ago
by Katara
headdoctor 2 years, 5 months ago
The modern Republican party isn't any more Christian than they are true Republicans.
Katara 2 years, 5 months ago
They should contact Doug Compton and see if the Masonic Temple is available.
Sylvie Rueff 2 years, 5 months ago
When churches/religions pay taxes, then we can talk about using tax-payers paid-for venues. Sorry, division between church and state cuts both ways. This is not appropriate.
blindrabbit 2 years, 5 months ago
Update: This story has changed; the group is no longer going to use State facilities, instead will rent out the Topeka Performing Arts Hall. Common sense finally prevails.
Mixolydian 2 years, 5 months ago
Right. It's not common sense to cram 170 people into a 150 person sized room.
pace 2 years, 5 months ago
I would love to rent that space for my son's wedding. That would be so cool and perfect. I wonder the fee?
Jonathan Fox 2 years, 5 months ago
I don't see how this bothers anyone. They're not preaching to anyone not willingly attending, they're not inhibiting any other activities upon getting scheduled approval, these are tax paying citizens utilizing public space.
There is no reason outside of bigotry to think that people can't use a public space to practice a cause they believe in. If you don't believe in it, don't go. How would this effect someone if they hadn't even heard about it? They're lives would go on as if the event never even happened.
Jonathan Fox 2 years, 5 months ago
It's a private event at a public space. Just because it's a government building doesn't mean they're taking money from anyone that isn't perfectly willing to pay to attend.
What part of paying for a private event have to do with a government ATM machine?
How does people using public space for their faith sell Islam (you DON'T have to go!). This event isn't going to change anything. People will enter a government building, practice something that could happen in any appropriate space, and then leave. They're not preaching to you or anyone not willingly attending.
JackMcKee 2 years, 5 months ago
KS Republictards sure love themselves some laywers.
kernal 2 years, 5 months ago
And darker skinned than they are.
Alexander Smith 2 years, 5 months ago
So much for seperation of Church and State that our for-fathers wanted. What is amazing about all this is it shows the double standards the GOP has. Its also amazing how they quickly forget that it was not just Christianity that built this country. I mean.. forget all the black slaves they owned, the native Americans, the Jews (most conservative do not view Jews as a Christians), the thousands of Asians that died building our transportation infratstructures.. list goes on.
OH did I mention the thousands of sweatshops full of child labor and insanly poor working conditions that the CHRISTIAN FAIL looneys thought was okay.
I am just waiting for them to try and pass a law that makes it illegal to say the Lords'name in vain in public.
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