06:07 AM Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Piece Be With You: Detroit Pastors Carry Guns
Date: Friday, October 02, 2009, 4:46 am
By: Corey Williams, Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — The Rev. Lawrence Adams teaches his flock at the Westside Bible Church to turn the other cheek. Just in case, though, the 54-year-old retired police lieutenant also wears a handgun under his robe.
Adams is one of several Detroit clergymen who have taken to packing heat in the pulpit. They have committed their lives to a man who preached nonviolence and told followers to love their enemies. But they also say it's up to them to protect their parishioners in church.
"As a pastor, I'm referred to as a shepherd," Adams said. "Shepherds have the responsibility of watching over their flock. Do I want to hurt somebody? Absolutely not!"
Responding to a break-in at his church Sunday evening, Adams surprised a burglar carrying out a bag of loot and shot the man in the abdomen after the man swung the bag at him.
The burglar survived — for which Adams is grateful — but the reverend said he could have been hurt or killed if he had not been armed.
Detroit had the nation's highest homicide rate last year among cities of at least 500,000 residents. The city has been losing manufacturing jobs for decades, and these days about one in four working-age residents is without a job.
The northwest Detroit neighborhood surrounding Adams' church isn't one of the city's most dangerous. But there have been many recent reports of crimes in the area, including four burglaries, three auto thefts, one armed robbery and four assaults, including one with intent to murder.
"It's getting worse because of the economy," Adams said. "People are out of work and feel they have to provide for their families."
Prior to 2000, anyone who wanted to carry a concealed weapon in Michigan had to show a need to do so. Now, gun owners simply have to pass a stringent background check and complete eight hours of handgun training.
"I get people from all walks of life, including pastors," said Rick Ector, owner of Rick's Firearm Academy in Detroit. "But it's not anything specific to pastors. Detroit is not a very safe place."
Michigan allows pastors to decide if someone registered to carry a handgun can do so for protection inside churches.
The clergy in Detroit who arm themselves say they do so because of the high overall crime rate. But churchgoers elsewhere have been the target of violent attacks several times in recent years:
— Last year in a New Jersey church, a man fatally shot his estranged wife and a man who intervened in the attack.
— A pastor was found stabbed to death in August in an Oklahoma church.
— A Maryville, Ill., preacher was gunned down during his Sunday sermon in March.
— In December 2007, a gunman killed two people at a Christian youth mission center near Denver and two others at a megachurch in Colorado Springs.
— Near Detroit, a man was shot to death in 2003 while worshipping in a Catholic church. And an attacker fatally shot a woman and wounded a child inside another Detroit church three years ago because of a domestic dispute.
"I don't know what kind of issues people are bringing with them. You could be running from estranged husband, boyfriend," said Bishop Charles Ellis III, pastor of the 6,500-member Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.
Ellis said he sometimes carries a gun, but never in the pulpit. His church has a "ministry of defense" for Sunday services made up of about 18 armed congregants who are off-duty law enforcement officers.
Clergy are adjusting to society, said the Rev. Kenneth J. Flowers, pastor of Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Detroit.
"In addition to their faith, they are carrying weapons," said .....
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They are only men.
by
MikeCockrell9
October 4, 2009, 2:04 pm
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Too bad Black preachers wasn't strapped during the civil rights movement.
by
Chris40
October 4, 2009, 8:30 am
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Wish I could attend service with this congregation, particularly this Pastor. He sounds like a fulfilled Brother, Gentleman, Scholar, Captain because of choices he's made, he's accomplished in many disciplines. Which leads him to other accomplishments, and the ability to****ist others to find their way, and accomplish also. Write on Pastor Adams, pray and lead the way.
by
Writertracy
October 4, 2009, 12:56 am
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Raefree, what s WWJD reaction? Reaction here is what I like, legal citizens arming themselves...same money and get entire church registered, register gun toting legal citizens like never before, register voters w/guns. Like the wave, get a registered gun. Safely place it away, or not...carry it if you choose to. Cases for cell phones, guitars & guns.
by
Writertracy
October 4, 2009, 12:49 am
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Jesus knew His Father in Heaven had His back. He also had Divine Insight that Peter didn't have. Peter's reaction was what mine would've been. "Back off soldiers!!!" Jesus never said anything about Peter's weapon until Peter used it wrongly(aggressively) Another thing. Peter had Jesus' back, or so he thought, but Peter didn't really know Jesus. Later on Peter let Jesus know that he knew exactly who Jesus was. Jesus was so proud of Peter because he finally got. A WWJD reaction is needed in every case.... packin or not.
by
Raefree
October 3, 2009, 9:52 pm
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Rev. Lawrence Adams, who wears a handgun under his robe, is shown outside his Westside Bible Church in Detroit. (AP)
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