Life as a Christian Woman

Along comes little Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Frankenmuth, a beautiful community of 4,800 eighty miles north of Detroit, has long prided itself on it’s Bavarian heritage, and the fact that it was founded by Lutheran missionaries who vowed to honor the “old ways.”

Frankenmuth has one of the largest concentrations of Lutherans in the midwest, and the seal of the city features a Luther rose, which is a symbol for Lutherans.

The small town, a stop for tourists, features homes and businesses with alpine architecture. German is spoken at one church service each month.

You get the picture.

Then along comes Lloyd Clarke.

Clarke, age 66, is an atheist. He moved from Bay City, Mich., to Frankenmuth about four years ago to be closer to family. But a few months ago he noticed crosses on a downtown bridge. He didn’t like it. He felt like it was discriminatory against those who weren’t Christian.

So he complained, and the city removed the “offensive” crosses.

Game over, right? He got what he wanted. Not so fast, said Clarke.

He decided to take on the city seal, Luther rose, crosses and all. And this time, the people of Frankenmuth didn’t like it… not one bit.

Churches got involved. One of the Lutheran churches in town handed out 1,500 three foot crosses. The began appearing in yards all over town. One resident said that even Billy Graham wouldn’t have been as successful at getting crosses displayed all over town as Clarke and his controversy have been.

The city seal also contains symbols for the U.S. and Bavaria, as well as a wheat sheaf to honor Frankenmuth’s agrarian roots.

Which leads to my favorite quote of all. Joe Kraft, who has lived all of his 81 years in Frankenmuth said, “I don’t think the cross compels anyone to be a Christian any more than the sheath of wheat compels someone to be a farmer.”

Clarke has backed off, removed himself from the situation. But he is hoping that the Washington D.C.-based Americans United for the Separation of Church and State will take up the cause. I wrote about that organization the other day, and it’s fight with South Carolina over the “I Believe” plate.

I know there are issues of separation of church and state here. I understand. And I’m sure this will all be fought out in the courts (the town has retained the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor to defend the crosses and seal).

Personally, I think the crosses should stay. As a Christian, I cheer for it and for the town. But the part that amazes me the most, that tickles me pink, is the reaction of the townspeople. They are fighting for their beliefs, for the beliefs of those that founded the town.

Next week my family is going to Michigan for vacation. We are going to make a special trip to Frankenmuth, a little “show of support” for the town.

Oh, and don’t be angry with Mr. Clarke. If not for him, this little revival might never have occurred!