At the age of 14, I was a freshman at Landis High School, and was assigned to give a speech in support of John Fitzgerald Kennedy to the entire student body. During assembly before Sunday School, as everyone was discussing politics, I said that I had given a speech at school in support of Kennedy. My Sunday School teacher (whom I adored) said that if I supported Kennedy, I wasn’t a Baptist. I left assembly and never went back to that church.
I was in Margaret Sloop’s home economics class at South Rowan Senior High School when President Kennedy was shot and killed. Mrs. Sloop (who now lives at Trinity Oaks) was the best consoler her class could have had. I felt inner hurt in my chest and that was my first truly broken heart.
— Elaine Howle
China Grove

Saturday’s Post (Nov. 23) featured a front-page article on couples’ requests for same-sex marriage, and the Faith section had an article on “waning Sundays” — both notable.
Gays who request marriage are asking for legalization of an assumed immoral situation that the state never has any authority to allow.
Marriage, the conjugal unity of a man and a woman primarily for family, is a divinely bestowed, indispensable asset for society that outdates the universe. The desire for same-sex marriage because it feels good or seems a shared “right” is an overall distortion resulting in social damage.
For business reasons only, let there be some legal arrangement but not marriage.
Regarding the Faith article by the Rev. Tom Ehrich, after some churchy generalizations, he makes the point of discouraging pulpit messages that “reinforce negative perceptions of religion as jugmental, harsh” and so on.
But the Scriptures and commandments naturally and properly look into mankind, disallowing sin. St. Paul urges so, and today’s clergy ought to continue this.
Frequent and more vigorous assertions in the past might have brought on a more godly society today. May we all cooperate more fully with the kindly Lord’s help.
— Donald P. Heidt
Salisbury