For nearly a year, during worship services, our flag has been missing. I know. I took it...sort of. Here’s what happened. As a team put the sanctuary back together after our Christmas programs, I made the decision (at the time, as the interim pastor), not to replace the U.S. flag or the Christian flag to their former positions of prominence. Why?
Let me begin, first explaining what the reason is not. The reason is not because I don’t care about or respect the U.S. flag. In fact, I’ve fought proudly to defend it. Humanly speaking, I’m much more proud of the four years spent in a Ranger Battalion (1st Bn/75th Infantry) than I am of my diploma from Florida State. In fact, while I would have to root through old files to find my FSU diploma, a copy of Rogers’ Standing Orders hangs over my desk.
This said, then what is the reason? There are two aspects to my rationale. The first has to do with our calling as a church. The second has to do with our own government’s directives as to how the U.S. flag ought to be displayed.
As a church, most would agree that our calling is the “gathering and perfecting” of the saints. To this end, those whom we are most likely to gather are those in our neighborhoods and who live close to First EPC. This includes not only the majority “white” population and the minority “black” population, but also the eighty or so “shades” (i.e. ethnicities) in between. In other words, in the providence of God, our church is in the midst of the most ethnically diverse community in the state of Washington.
Each week, more and more immigrants from places as distant as Africa, India, and Europe visit our services. While my sincere hope is that they respect the laws of our country and become fruitful, productive U. S. citizens, I have a greater hope for them. I want them to know Jesus. Until they are clear on that fact, I don’t want them to confuse his gospel with being an American. While being a Christian and being a U.S. citizen are not, by any means, mutually exclusive, neither are they necessarily bound together. By not displaying the U.S. flag during worship, confusing Christianity with citizenship or patriotism is much harder.
The second reason for not displaying the flag during worship has to do with our government’s own directives as to its display in public places. According to the directives passed and published by the U.S House of Representatives:
when displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.
Put differently, according to “the law of the land,” when displayed in any context, including church, the flag is to have the position of superior prominence. Do you see the inherent problem of displaying a flag in a worship service? In our tradition, the cross holds superior prominence. To this end, removing the flag from the context of worship is, practically speaking, the most respectful course to take.
Is the issue completely settled in my own mind? Not completely. On the other hand, if you’re ever in the neighborhood and have an urge to see a flag, stop by my office.
Shalom,
TA
*For a more thorough, ecumenical treatment of the “flag question,” a good place to start is “Should We Have Flags in Church?: The Christian Flag and the American Flag” by Methodist pastor Hoyt Hickman.
