If you have been reading the local newspapers, perusing this site or visiting the flagship website, bocachurch.com, you have no doubt been caught up in the "Crèche Controversy".
Taking place at the Boca Raton downtown public library, this battle for freedom of religion reached a crescendo on Tuesday, December 22nd. The beginning of this issue had its birth on the AM talk radio show, "CrossFire Live", featuring Rabbi Barry Silver and myself.
Well here I am, again, at the downtown City of Boca Raton Public Library. Standing on my first amendment rights and asking myself the question, "where is the leadership in this city?" Why is there no administrative presence regarding this sensitive issue?
Another missed opportunity to unite the faiths of Boca Raton and to redefine our similarities as we traverse the road of life together. I call on Christians throughout Boca Raton and the South Florida community to reexamine their core beliefs and what they truly mean to them.
Today it is the crèche. What will it be tomorrow? And will we have the unity and resolve to stave off this growing discrimination towards Christians in the city of Boca Raton?
click here for todays images
Church of All Nations
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Martin Camacho, Media Department (561) 329-7896
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM BOCA RATON OFFICIALS:
“JESUS BELONGS IN THE LOST AND FOUND”
CHURCH TO DROP OVER 25 CRECHES
AT BOCA RATON DOWNTOWN LIBRARY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 AT 12 NOON
December 21, 2009 (Boca Raton, Florida) One day after Pastor Mark D. Boykin and over 50 local residents donated a crèche at the Boca Raton Downtown Library and placed it next to their Christmas tree, it now rests in the lost and found.
“This is the kind of message from City Officials at Boca Raton during the holidays; to them Jesus belongs in the lost and found,” said Pastor Mark D. Boykin. “Like a lost wallet, a cell phone, or an old purse, City Officials took the crèche we gave them and cast it aside,” added Pastor Boykin.
“How ironic that over 2000 years ago, Mary and Joseph could not find a place in the inn. Now baby Jesus has no place in the City of Boca Raton facilities. Our Savior has been denied access,” continued Pastor Boykin.
Senior Pastor Mark D. Boykin and a number of church members and Boca Raton residents will drop over 25 creches at the City of Boca Raton’s Downtown Public Library.
CRECHE EVENT
(DELIVERING OVER 25 CRECHE)
12:00 NOON
BOCA RATON DOWNTOWN LIBRARY
Senior Pastor Mark D. Boykin will also stream live on www.bocachurch.com (video/audio) and over the radio on 1230 WBZT during the show "Crossfire Live with Pastor Mark D. Boykin and Rabbi Barry Silver"
Church of All Nations
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Martin Camacho, Media Department (561) 329-7896
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM BOCA RATON OFFICIALS:
“JESUS BELONGS IN THE LOST AND FOUND”
December 18, 2009 (Boca Raton, Florida) One day after Pastor Mark D. Boykin and over 50 local residents donated a crèche at the Boca Raton Downtown Library and placed it next to their Christmas tree, it now rests in the lost and found.
“This is the kind of message from City Officials at Boca Raton during the holidays; to them Jesus belongs in the lost and found,” said Pastor Mark D. Boykin. “Like a lost wallet, a cell phone, or an old purse, City Officials took the crèche we gave them and cast it aside,” added Pastor Boykin.
“How ironic that over 2000 years ago, Mary and Joseph could not find a place in the inn. Now baby Jesus has no place in the City of Boca Raton facilities. Our Savior has been denied access,” continued Pastor Boykin.
Senior Pastor Mark D. Boykin will deliver a press statement calling on the Christian community to join him as he will replace the crèche in the City of Boca Raton’s Downtown Public Library.
PRESS STATEMENT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20TH
11:30 AM
CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS
1300 N.W. 4TH AVENUE
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA 33432
Senior Pastor Mark D. Boykin will go to the Downtown Public Library on Tuesday, December 22 at 12:30 PM and will deliver another crèche.
Below is an excerpt from the Associated Press. I am both elated and humbled by the coverage this event has created in the city of Boca Raton FL. I wish to thank my staff and community support for their efforts in bringing to light another effort to marginalize our Christian faith not only during the Christmas season but throughout the year as well.
Church group delivers crèche to Boca Raton, Florida
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent
The city of Boca Raton, Florida doesn't accept donated holiday decorations, but the policy was not going to deter the Rev. Mark D. Boykin.
A crèche — a nativity scene depicting Jesus Christ’ birth — is the Christian symbol of Christmas, Boykin said, and has a rightful place alongside the Hanukkah menorah that sits atop a table in the city library. There's a Christmas tree nearby, but, Boykin says, that's a secular symbol that doesn't impart the true meaning of the holiday. So he and about 50 members of the Church of All Nations from Boca Raton, Florida , arrived at the library Thursday afternoon with crèche in hand.
For nearly an hour they sang hymns, recited prayers and waved signs calling for freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Just before 1, they filed inside the library to make their presentation. Library Services Manager Catherine A. O'Connell was expecting them.
"We're trying to be non-controversial and enjoy the season without being partial to any religious organization," O'Connell explained before the group came inside. "The menorah is a secular symbol as is the Christmas tree and garland."
Officials in the city manager's and city attorney's offices could not be reached for comment, despite attempts by phone. Encircling O'Connell, Boykin and his followers — accompanied by their own camera crew, which was streaming live to the web — asked her for permission to place the crèche by the Christmas tree. She explained city policy about donated holiday decorations, then watched as Boykin walked over and gently placed the manger scene beneath the tree anyway. He blessed it and thanked O'Connell for her understanding.
Two U.S. Supreme Court decisions deal with holiday decorations on public property but neither specifically addresses a crèche alongside a menorah and a Christmas tree, according to David Barkey, southern area counsel for the Anti-Defamation League.
"The Supreme Court says the menorah has religious and secular meaning," Barkey said. "Next to a Christmas tree the overall message is secular and OK. It's never addressed a menorah next to a crèche, or a menorah, a crèche and a Christmas tree. It's called the December dilemma and every year the same issue comes up." Boykin, who believes the menorah is a Jewish religious symbol, wants the city to purchase crèches just as it has menorahs.
"In 1984, the Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of a government-erected crèche. Significantly, the Lynch Court upheld the constitutionality of the holiday display in that case because the crèche was a part of a larger holiday display in which there were a variety of secular symbols,” Said Jay Alan Sekulow, Chief Counsel for the American Center For Law and Justice, “Courts generally examine several aspects of a display to determine whether a government- sponsored display violates the Constitution. So long as the religious elements of the display are part of a larger holiday expression—with Christmas trees, Santa Claus, or the like—such that the primary effect of the entire display is secular, the display is constitutional,” ended Sekulow
"This is not about the shades of candy canes or the height of a Christmas tree. It's about eight city-owned facilities where menorahs are present," Boykin argued. "They believe because they have a Christmas tree it should placate all Christians. (The city) is discriminating against Christians." As Boykin and his followers left the library O'Connell wished the group happy holidays. "Merry Christmas," Boykin replied. What will happen to the donated crèche is anybody's guess. "We're don't have responsibility for it," O'Connell said.
