Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2015)
Page 6A FAITH East Oregonian Three Muslims mourned, speakers blame hate crime despite initial police report people execution-style, we know what this is about. And they have posted on their Facebook how much they RALEIGH, N.C. — The hated faith, there’s no doubt.” fathers of three young Mus- The funeral crowd was so lims allegedly slain by a large it had to be moved from neighbor who was angry DPRVTXHWRDQDWKOHWLF¿HOG over parking spots stood be- at North Carolina State Uni- fore their caskets Thursday versity in Raleigh, where all and urged a crowd of thou- three studied before Barakat sands to protect others by de- and Mohammad moved to manding justice. Chapel Hill to pursue careers More than 5,000 people in dentistry. came to the funeral of Deah The families viewed the Shaddy Barakat, 23; his wife, victims’ bodies in a small Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, building before the funer- 21; and her sister Razan Mo- al. Then midday Muslim hammad Abu-Salha, 19, who prayers were held. The crowd were killed Tuesday in the cou- was solemn and silent — ple’s Chapel Hill apartment. only a few children crying in A self-described “gun tot- the distance could be heard. ing” atheist with a reputation Finally, hearses carried the for bullying his neighbors, WKUHH FRI¿QV LQ JUD\ ZKLWH Craig Stephen Hicks, turned and silver, to an Islamic cem- himself in and was jailed on etery outside Raleigh. ¿UVWGHJUHHPXUGHUFKDUJHV Namee Barakat told the AP Chapel Hill police said that Hicks had visited his son’s they are investigating wheth- FRQGREHIRUHÀDVKLQJKLVJXQ er religious or ethnic hatred as he demanded they stop us- motivated Hicks in any way, ing visitors’ parking spots. and federal investigators said “Yusor told her dad that hate crimes haven’t been this guy, he does not like us,” ruled out. The FBI also an- Barakat said. “He does not nounced Thursday that it has like our hijab. She was con- “opened a parallel prelim- cerned.” inary inquiry to determine Abu-Salha told the AP whether any federal laws that he’s certain his daughters were violated.” “were targeted for their reli- U.S. Attorney Ripley gion.” Rand, the district’s top fed- “This is not a parking eral prosecutor, had said dispute,” he said. “These Wednesday that there was children were executed with no immediate evidence Mus- shots in the back of the head.” lims were being targeted. Police have said they are And that didn’t sit well not commenting on evidence with many at the funeral, in the case, including manner where the victims were hailed of death. as martyrs for their faith. “We understand the con- “When we say this was cerns about the possibility a hate crime it is all about that this was hate-motivated, protecting all other children and we will exhaust every in the USA,” Dr. Moham- lead to determine if that is mad Yousif Abu-Salha, who the case,” Chapel Hill police lost his daughters, told the Chief Chris Blue said in an crowd. “It’s all about making email Wednesday. this country that they loved, Hicks, 46, is a Second where they lived and died, Amendment rights advocate peaceful for everybody else.” with a concealed weapons “We need to identify permit who often complained things the way they really about organized religion on are,” Abu-Salha continued. Facebook. “Some call me a “If somebody picks up a gun toting Liberal, others call ¿JKWDERXWDQ\WKLQJWKH\FDQ me an open-minded Conser- invent, and they murder three vative,” Hicks wrote. By EMERY P. DALESIO and MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press Mormon ousted for website that doubts church teaching By BRADY MCCOMBS Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — A Mormon man who gained notoriety over the past de- cade for running a website that offers doubting Lat- ter-day Saints a forum to chat has been kicked out of the religion. John Dehlin announced the decision from region- al church leaders Tuesday. He becomes the second KLJKSUR¿OHFKXUFKPHPEHU to be excommunicated in the past year in what Mormon scholars consider to be the Utah-based faith’s way of keeping dissenters in line. A regional church leader in North Logan told Dehlin in a letter that Mormon of- ¿FLDOV PDGH D XQDQLPRXV decision to excommunicate KLP IRU DSRVWDV\ GH¿QHG by the church as repeatedly acting in clear public oppo- sition to the faith. While not a lifelong ban, excommunication is a rare move that amounts to the harshest punishment avail- able for a church member. The letter from Bryan King says Dehlin is being kicked out not because he doubted and asked questions about church doctrine, but because he made categori- cal statements opposing the faith that were disseminated on his website. King wrote that Dehlin’s actions have led others to leave the faith. “You do not have the right to remain a member of the church in good standing while openly and publicly trying to convince others that church teachings are in WALLA WALLA — Journey Church leaders are the featured speakers of the upcoming Walla Walla Aglow Community Lighthouse. Andrew and Heather Robinson will share their testimony. Everyone is invited Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Whitman Court, 305 Ash St., Walla Walla — with entry at the south entrance on Isaacs. A freewill offering will be taken for the event, which includes lunch. For more information, call Paula McKee at 509- 220-1408 or Darya Tucker at 509-876-1668. celebration, precedes Ash :HGQHVGD\WKH¿UVWGD\RI Lent. The all-you-can-eat meal at St. John’s, which includes pancakes, ham, scrambled eggs, applesauce and a beverage, is $6 each or $15 per family. It’s Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at 665 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston. The Redeemer Church all-you-can-eat dinner features pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and a beverage for $7 per person, with children under 3 free, or $20 for a family. The meal is Tuesday from 5:30-7 p.m. at 241 S.E. Second St., Pendleton. Everyone is welcome at both meals. For more information, call 541-567- 8683 in Hermiston or 541- 276-3809 in Pendleton. Evangelist to speak Christian musician at Faith Center to perform in Church Pendleton PENDLETON — Evangelist Dr. Greg Romine ZLOOVSHDNDERXW³)XO¿OOLQJ Your Prophetic Destiny” at the Faith Center Church Sunday during the 10:30 a.m. service. The church is located at 108 S. Main St., Pendleton. Dr. Romine is pastor of King’s Church in Vancouver, Wash., president of The College of Global Deployment, host of the TV show “Options” and co-leader with wife Cyndi of Called to Rescue, a ministry that defends and rescues FKLOGUHQIURPVH[WUDI¿FNLQJ For more information, contact Pastor Ray O’Grady at 541-276-9569. Churches announce Shrove Tuesday meals St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hermiston and Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Pendleton are planning Shrove Tuesday meals. Shrove Tuesday, which is marked with feasting and PENDLETON — Living near a tobacco farm in Kentucky, Charlie Walker grew up singing songs such as “I Never Picked Cotton” and “Do Lord.” Now living in central Oregon, Walker presents Biblically based, life- inspired songs that make it easy for audiences to relate to him. The country Christian artist will perform in Pendleton. The free concert is Sunday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. at Pendleton Baptist Church, 3202 S.W. Nye Ave., Pendleton. Walker’s musical career began in 1985 when he and a friend formed the FRXQWU\EDQG&RXQWU\¿HG They performed at fairs, conventions and opened for big name acts across WKH3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVW Following a call from God in 1997, Walker began a solo career. For more information, call the church at 541- 276-7590. For more about Walker, visit www. charliewalkermusic.com. AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune John Dehlin arrives with his wife Margi at the North Logan Stake Center for a disciplinary council in North Logan, Utah, on Sunday. error,” King wrote. Dehlin lives in North Lo- gan, a city of 9,600 about 85 miles north of Salt Lake City. The decision comes two days after he met with church leaders in a four-hour disciplinary hearing. Dehlin, 45, is a married father of four who has been a Latter-day Saint his entire life. He is a doctoral candi- date in psychology who pre- viously worked in the high- tech industry. He hoped he wouldn’t be excommunicated but told church leaders he could not in good conscience stop operating his website, Mor- monstories.org. “We’re going to keep telling stories and keep pro- viding support and commu- nity for Mormons who are unorthodox,” Dehlin said Tuesday. The family hasn’t been attending church services since June and doesn’t plan to return. “We’re happy to use our Sundays to bond to- gether as a family,” he said. Dehlin said he was told last year that his website and his public support of same- sex marriage were reasons he was being accused of apostasy. But Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement that while Dehlin’s views on gay marriage go against church teachings, they were not the reasons for his discipline. The letter cites three key issues, including Dehlin’s belief that the Book of Mor- mon and Book of Abraham are fraudulent and his rejec- tion of the religion being the “true church with power and authority from God.” Hawkins said excom- munication is not the end, but rather the “beginning of the road back to full fellow- ship.” People who are kicked out or leave the church are welcome to return “through the grace and Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Hawkins said. The move is likely to send ripples through the Mormon community. It comes on the heels of the June ouster of Kate Kelly, founder of a group pushing for women to be allowed in the religion’s lay clergy. Scholars say Kelly and Dehlin are the most KLJKSUR¿OHH[DPSOHVRIH[- communication proceedings since 1993. That year, the church disciplined six Mor- mon writers who questioned FKXUFKGRFWULQHRXVWLQJ¿YH and kicking out a sixth tem- porarily. “The church is sending a message with this: ‘Don’t express your doubts or con- cerns publicly, or you risk excommunication,”’ said Mike Huband, a Dehlin supporter and active Mor- mon. “They are saying to those people on the fringes, ‘We don’t want you in the church.’ It’s very disappoint- ing.” To supporters like Hu- band, Dehlin is a hero who risked his standing in the faith to create a much-need- ed forum where church members could openly dis- cuss sensitive or controver- sial issues about the faith. Church Directory BRIEFLY Walla Walla couple to share testimony Friday, February 13, 2015 s h i W o r p w i t h u s ! Adams Community Churc h Duane Geyer, Pastor 140 N. Main, Adams, OR 566-9457 Worship 9 am OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR www.graceandmercylutheran.org Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. 541-289-4535 Dot Hensley, President 164 E. Main St. Hermiston, Oregon 97838 St. Johns Episcopal Church All People Are Welcome Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 “Love Is Spoken Here” First Church of God FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 712 SW 27th Pendleton 541-276-1894 -Presbyterian Church (USA)- 201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” Early Service: 8:30 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Second Service: 10:30 am Wednesday Service (All Ages) 7 pm www.fcogpendleton.com Service of Worship - 10:00 am Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am Fellowship - 11:00 am www.pendletonpresbyterian.com FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH Living Word Christian Center Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM Pastor Jon Jensen in Mission for Christ LCMC Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 AM www.faithpendleton.org www.livingwordcc.com Community Presbyterian Churc h Faith Center Church Worshiping God • Loving People 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 Seventh-Day Adventist Church Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am Pilot Rock 104 W. Main Sabbath School 9:30 am Worship Service 11:00 am All Are Welcome Come meet Jesus at PENDLETON BAPTIST CHURCH 3202 S.W. Nye Avenue, Pendleton, OR 541-276-7590 Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 & 11:00 AM Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM Awana Kids Club Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM K - 6th Grade (Sept-May) 210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA Join us Sundays 9:30 Sunday Worship 9:30 am am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class Sharon Miller, Pastor 401 Northgate • Pendleton 278-8082 Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Worship Noon Wednesday Evening Prayer and Pot Luck 6:00 p.m. P eace L utheran C hurch Sunday Worship Service 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 PM ( Oregon Trail Room ) Red Lion Hotel Open Hearted...Open Minded 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org ~Come and be at Peace~ on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday Sunday Worship Services: 9 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. First United Methodist Churc h 352 SE 2nd St., Pendleton, O R Office 276-2616 New Pastor Dr. Jim Pierce Worship Service 9:00 AM Fellowship 10:15 AM Broadcast KUMA 11:00 AM Childcare Available Choir practice Sundays 8:30 AM 585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868 (541) 443-2500 prbconline.blogspot.com Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship Service: 10:45 am Wednesday Services: Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm Youth Group: 7:00 pm To share your worship times call Amanda Jacobs 541-278-2683
