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By ERIN JAMES
For the Daily Record/Sunday News
Updated: 06/25/2009 02:09:16 PM EDT Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos of Freedom Valley Worship Center is speaking out
against a policy of the state House that requires guest chaplains
invited to offer prayers at the Legislature's sessions to keep their
words 'nondenominational.' (DAILY RECORD / SUNDAY NEWS -- JAMES ROBINSON)
Gerry Stoltzfoos is a man of faith -- but not the type who preaches
constantly with in-your-face theology. Even the Gettysburg-area church
where he serves as lead pastor is designed more as a gathering hall than
as a shrine full of religious imagery. But when it comes to prayer, Stoltzfoos is steadfast in his approach of
speaking directly to and addressing by name the Christian God he worships. "I think prayer is talking to God, so when I pray, I try to talk to
him," said Stoltzfoos, the pastor of Freedom Valley Worship Center in
Straban Township, Adams County. However, that principle clashed recently with a new policy of
Pennsylvania's Speaker of the House, Keith McCall, D-Carbon County. Stoltzfoos had been invited by state Rep. Will Tallman, R-Reading
Township, Adams County, to open Tuesday's session of the House with a
prayer as guest chaplain. The pastor declined the invitation after someone on McCall's staff told
him he could not use Jesus' name in the prayer. "First of all, I don't see how Jesus is denominational. The whole
Christian world is called after him," Stoltzfoos said. "I just feel
like, if you want me to pray, then I have to pray to the one thing I
know. I only know one God personally. I only serve one God. How do I do
something that dishonors him?" The policy -- not yet three months old -- requires guest chaplains to
first submit their prayers in writing and then, if deemed necessary,
agree to change their words to meet "nondenominational" guidelines established by McCall's staff. It is not an attempt to silence religious leaders, McCall spokesman Bob
Caton said, but rather an effort to prevent taxpayers from having to
foot the bill of a lawsuit if someone objects to a prayer's contents and
chooses to sue the state. "Unfortunately, it's because states like Indiana and Ohio have been
sued," Caton said. "We've followed the example that unfortunately was
set in other places. We're bringing Pennsylvania's practices in line
with what other states have done." Tallman, whose district includes Hanover and Penn Township, said he
invited Stoltzfoos to lead the prayer because he respects him both as a
man of God and for his service as president of the New Oxford Borough
Council. As for what transpired, the representative said he believes "some of the
leadership is probably not respecting diversity." "Why is somebody from the speaker's office going to pre-approve a prayer
by a man of God?" Tallman asked. "They're putting themselves in a pretty
interesting position there." He also said he does not believe concerns over potential lawsuits are
legitimate, though he declined to comment further as to why. Tallman said he plans to organize a bipartisan group of legislators
displeased with the new policy and propose an alternative that could
satisfy both sides of the issue. "We think we need to have a more balanced look at this issue," Tallman said. REP. MOUL ALSO OBJECTS State Rep. Dan Moul, R-Conewago Township, Adams County -- whose district
includes Straban Township, where Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos' church is
located -- said he also objects to the prayer policy. "I personally don't think it's reasonable because our country was
founded on Christian-Judeo beliefs. That's who started our government,"
Moul said. "We should never be ashamed to speak about our Christian
beliefs. That's what our prayers are for." Moul said he supports the right of legislators of all religious
backgrounds to invite clergy in as guest chaplains. Legislators have the
ability to leave the floor if they find the content of prayers
offensive, he said. "I am extraordinarily tired of the vast majority changing our way of
life to accommodate a few," Moul said. As for the argument that the state could face lawsuits, Moul said
simply: "Let 'em sue us." - For years, York/Adams has been involved in First Amendment
controversies. See story, photos at York Town Square blog.
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