![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hwireroad.org\/2008\/wp-content\/uploads\/0011.jpg\" "\\"0011\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nNow, I realize that it may be difficult to gauge the scale from the photo, but\u00a0allow me to interpret.\u00a0 Here in Shawnee, beverages start at 32 ounces and they bring unsolicited peanuts.\u00a0 I love these people.<\/p>\n
I found this community to be warm, engaging and kind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However last night, as I was looking to select a church to attend this morning, some red flags went up.\u00a0 By one count, there were over 56 churches to\u00a0choose from in a community of less than 30,000 people.\u00a0 For my bay area secular’s, I offer the following reference point.\u00a0 Palo Alto, California\u00a0is a community of over 62,000 and has 33 churches.<\/p>\n
A closer look was even more alarming to\u00a0this west-coast-inclusive Presbyterian.\u00a0 Thirty of the 54 churches were Baptist.\u00a0 Now, the presence of the Oklahoma Baptist University is clearly an influence.\u00a0 However, Shawnee is also the home of St. Gregory’s University, a Benedictine Catholic institution, and the result is only one Catholic church.<\/p>\n
I feel the\u00a0need to explain\u00a0my reaction to the Baptist dominance here in Shawnee.\u00a0 It is awkward to admit to.\u00a0 It is revealing and it is relevant.\u00a0 As much as this trip is about the political continuum and resulting dialog, for me it is also about the state of the church.<\/p>\n
For many progressive Christians, we have felt that the conservative churches have co-opted our faith.\u00a0 By interjecting\u00a0a\u00a0social agenda that does not reflect our beliefs,\u00a0many have come to feel that the greatest messages of our faith have gotten lost in the misguided and single issue focus of the right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And so it\u00a0was that I cautiously entered the University Baptist Church on N. Kickapoo Avenue in Shawnee.\u00a0 To say that I was greeted warmly is an understatement.\u00a0 Admittedly, I stood out.\u00a0 I was the only woman with\u00a0hair still damp from my shower\u00a0(Shawnee woman are well coifed) wearing motorcycle boots.\u00a0<\/p>\n The service today was led by the youth and the theme was, ironically, \u00a0Unity:\u00a0 One body, many parts.\u00a0 A young parishioner\u00a0named Raye Reeder used tangrams to demonstrate how many different shapes create a whole.\u00a0 She went on, cleverly, to show how those same shapes can create many forms.\u00a0 It was charming and impactful.<\/p>\n Stephen Whitmore, a high school senior, delivered the sermon.\u00a0 Here in this Southern Baptist church, he called for the left and the right fractions of the church to come together.\u00a0 He spoke eloquently of meekness and patience.\u00a0<\/p>\n Following the service,\u00a0Pastor Bob Searl and congregant Mary Chancellor graciously agree to an interview.\u00a0 They both speak beautifully\u00a0to\u00a0the special nature of the University Baptist Church.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n
![<\/a><\/p>\nAnd so it\u00a0was that I cautiously entered the University Baptist Church on N. Kickapoo Avenue in Shawnee.\u00a0 To say that I was greeted warmly is an understatement.\u00a0 Admittedly, I stood out.\u00a0 I was the only woman with\u00a0hair still damp from my shower\u00a0(Shawnee woman are well coifed) wearing motorcycle boots.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe service today was led by the youth and the theme was, ironically, \u00a0Unity:\u00a0 One body, many parts.\u00a0 A young parishioner\u00a0named Raye Reeder used tangrams to demonstrate how many different shapes create a whole.\u00a0 She went on, cleverly, to show how those same shapes can create many forms.\u00a0 It was charming and impactful.<\/p>\nStephen Whitmore, a high school senior, delivered the sermon.\u00a0 Here in this Southern Baptist church, he called for the left and the right fractions of the church to come together.\u00a0 He spoke eloquently of meekness and patience.\u00a0<\/p>\nFollowing the service,\u00a0Pastor Bob Searl and congregant Mary Chancellor graciously agree to an interview.\u00a0 They both speak beautifully\u00a0to\u00a0the special nature of the University Baptist Church.\u00a0<\/p>\n](\"https:\/\/www.hwireroad.org\/2008\/wp-content\/uploads\/0041.jpg\"){kind=link}