http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-comm ... ratio.htmlRandy Sparkman says he is a School Board administrator in North Alabama.
I imagine the consensus of Samford faculty, Dean Brad Creed in particular, and I hope President Westmoreland, would have dissenting view from Sparkman and would have some reservation about his use of a Samford icon to make his case both in the online picture and print issue of Sunday's Bham News.
I think most of the Samford faculty would be more of thinking of UMC Bishop Willimon and FBC Auburn pastor Jim Evans and the several essays at
http://www.ethicsdaily.com But now would be the time for them to speak to it.
There is a ralley in Ft. Payne, Alabama August 27 about a block from the FBaptist and FUMC churches. The Ft. Payne Catholic Church is the main, maybe sole sponsor of the "Prayer for Christian and Human Values" gathering; Hometown park with statues of the country mega group Alabama. Also the park where Mary Anne Cole and Albert Lee Smith's widow Eunie Smith hold their tea party rallies.
Smith's Eagle Forum is leading the Gov Bentley Forces in St. legistlature. See video from below from Crossville, Alabama. Eunie Smith is key figure in Tea Party ralleys held in Ft. Payne.
Whether Samford will speak with something of a unified voice on the immigration bill; or the good folks of and the Most Influential protestant churches in the 2nd most densely Hispanic populated county in the state, remains to be seen.
Casual, ad hoc on the fly conversations with folks in those congregations suggest to me at least the Tea Party ideology is strong, maybe bullying in several influential congregations.
Bishop Willimon has his work cut out for him. Will be interesting to see what local educational avenues obtain on the matter, are possible.
www.secondcooler.com and Parham's documentary are grand educational tools for the Influentials in the region. I imagine Bishop Willimon is ready when they are.
For starters would be good if Sunday School classes at these two leading churches would consider Colin Harris recent ethicsdaily.com post on Bama's Immigration bill, the Tea Party and days of George Wallace.