- Target:
- Sioux County Residents
- Region:
- United States of America
Dear All:
Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that people associated with Sioux County Conservatives (SCC) have placed a very aggressive and antagonistic flyer at our community members' doorsteps. Other than my petition, NOTHING on the second side of the flyer was shown to me prior to it being distributed and I was not consulted on the content of the other side. I disavow 100% of what the second side of the flyer discussed.
I will not be associated with this rogue behavior from Sioux County Conservatives on this matter today. Therefore, this petition is closed so no one will be influenced by these inflammatory rhetoric and sign the petition.
I am sorry about this, but this is just unacceptable.
Terry Chi
terry.chimera@gmail.com
Since its inception in the early 1870s, Orange City has been a city reflecting Christian values and faith in its names and institutions. The first major decision enacted by Henry Hospers and his followers from Pella, IA was to name it after William of Orange, a member of the Dutch royal family and a champion of the Christian faith (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/william_iii_of_orange). After naming the city, Hospers and followers established a church – First Reformed Church (http://www.frcoc.org/about-us/our-story/) – which eventually planted eight additional churches in Sioux County. In 1872, Rev. Seine Bolks, the first senior pastor of First Reformed Church and one of the people who started Hope College in Holland, MI, established a Christian academy, which later became Northwestern College (https://www.nwciowa.edu/about/history-and-heritage).
These faith roots have flourished into 15 local churches (19 if we count the surrounding community of Alton, IA) for about 7400 individuals. These churches include the Reformed Church in America (RCA), Christian Reformed Church, United Reformed Church, Southern Baptist Convention, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, Evangelical Free Church, Presbyterian Church in America, Catholic Church, Christian Missionary Alliance, and Episcopal Church denominations. Between Orange City and Alton, there is one church for every 388 people. The Heartland Synod of the RCA Church is also located in Orange City (http://www.heartlandsynod.org/). In a town where “Merry Christmas” is heard in the winter time and town decoration includes the Holy Trinity sign and crosses over the central town street, faith and family values are indeed part of the “personality” of this place. In fact it is the DNA of this place.
For many of us in this close-knit town (native Iowans or not), this focus on Christian faith, family values, and unabashed pride in them are refreshing changes from the ever-retreating spheres of influence of Christianity in larger communities. The recent ascendancy of non-biblical activities such as Room for All, the OC Pride event, and the library acquisitions are signs that our Christian values are slowly being eroded from within.
The past and recent acquisition of materials dealing primarily with LGBTQ issues were requested by a few individuals around the same time as the OC Pride Event and it was done without proper OCPL Board oversight or community feedback. While it was a legal request, we believe it is something very contrary to the attitudes and values of an overwhelming majority of Orange City / Alton residents.
The plan is to put this up for 1 month. If we get 1000 signatures from local residents, we will share the community sentiments with the OCPL board and OC council members.
**As of 2/17/18, I want to make it 100% clear that antagonistic and ultra-aggressive rhetoric like the house flyers issued by Sioux County Conservatives IS NOT WHAT I AM ABOUT. IT IS NOT WHAT THIS PETITION IS ABOUT**
We, the undersigned, call on the Orange City public library (OCPL) staff, board of trustees, and Orange City council members to support the Christian values of the majority of the city residents through material acquisitions that are consistent with these values.
We urge the staff, board members, and council members to: (1) approve the labeling and separate shelving of materials* that deal primarily with LGBTQ issues so patrons and parents can be fully informed and exercise discretion when selecting library materials to check out for themselves or their family, (2) provide on each computer terminal and online interface book rating services (e.g., http://www.compassbookratings.com/about-us/) so each patron can make a conscious and informed decision about the materials to be checked out, and (3) halt new acquisition of any additional materials that primarily deal with LGBTQ materials before a public discussion can be held about the acquisition so valuable feedback can be given by important stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and faith communities.
WE ALSO DISAVOW THE INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC OF SIOUX COUNTY CONSERVATIVES' (SCC) FLYER ON 2/17/2018 THAT WAS FORWARDED TO HOUSEHOLDS IN ORANGE CITY. THIS CONVERSATION DOES NOT NEED UNNECESSARY AND UNSOLICITED VERBAL AGGRESSION, ATTACKS, AND ACCUSATIONS SHOWN IN THE SCC'S FLYER.
*Include 168 print, audiovisual, or online sources as of December 2017.
The Preserving the Community Values of Our Public Library petition to Sioux County Residents was written by Terry C. Chi and is in the category Religion at GoPetition.