I meant Christian. Hatz, they also have a Christian Pledge they say it to.

At St Therese in Southgate it is in the Sanctuary next to the Altar .

At St Therese in Southgate it is in the Sanctuary next to the Altar .

Same thing at St. Thomas.

Thread parallel---Yesterday during the Homily my elem. school son was sitting quietly in his own distracted world. When we all stood I nudged him to stand up and then he quickly put his hand over his heart and started the Pledge of Allegience.

Thread parallel---Yesterday during the Homily my elem. school son was sitting quietly in his own distracted world. When we all stood I nudged him to stand up and then he quickly put his hand over his heart and started the Pledge of Allegience.

 

That's funny. He's on auto pilot.

I honestly have no idea. I would think that if they did, I'd have noticed it though. I don't have anything against it...but I'm not sure it should be a given.

It was a situation where my church had a business meeting and one group came that often doesn't come to the business meetings. One guy made a motion to have the American and the Christian flags on permanent display within the sanctuary walls. The motion was amended to say that the flags should be on the stage. The motion passed. The amendment failed. Some don't like it that weren't at the business meeting. I kind of like it because they ended up putting the flags on either side of a table that is off to the side. When I was young we would pledge to the flag, the christian flag, and the Bible.

I wasn't sure how things were in other churches.

Not to split hairs, but do you mean the sanctuary specifically as in "the area immediately surrounding the altar" or the sanctuary as in "within the physical body of the church"? I'd agree that it shouldn't be up around the altar, but I don't see why there is any reason it can't be inside of the church.

 

I don't like them within the worship area (sanctuary). I have no problem with them displayed in a vestibule, social hall or education area.

 

Hope that cleared up my thoughts.

It was a situation where my church had a business meeting and one group came that often doesn't come to the business meetings. One guy made a motion to have the American and the Christian flags on permanent display within the sanctuary walls. The motion was amended to say that the flags should be on the stage. The motion passed. The amendment failed. Some don't like it that weren't at the business meeting. I kind of like it because they ended up putting the flags on either side of a table that is off to the side. When I was young we would pledge to the flag, the christian flag, and the Bible.

I wasn't sure how things were in other churches.

 

The only time we do "pledges" are during Vacation Bible School (VBS).

Thread parallel---Yesterday during the Homily my elem. school son was sitting quietly in his own distracted world. When we all stood I nudged him to stand up and then he quickly put his hand over his heart and started the Pledge of Allegience.

 

Great Story.

Just a personal opinion, I think it is great to fly it outside the church on a flagpole, symbolic of the freedom by which the church can worship. I do not think it is appropriate inside the sanctuary, where we gather to worship God, not symbols, idols or nations. Idolatry can exist in a flag. I know I may get shot for that. Incidentally, I also dislike the so-called "Christian flag" and the "Christian pledge," which I consider to be efforts to call attention to the cross in juxtaposition to the American flag.

Displaying a flag to the side of the sanctuary should not be seen as a form of idolatry. Neither the flag, nor the nation it represents is worshipped. It's purpose is not worship, but rather, reverential respect.

 

Here is a Catholic perspective on the issue, from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

 

Surprisingly to many, there are no regulations of any kind governing the display of flags in Roman Catholic Churches. Neither the Code of Canon law, nor the liturgical books of the Roman rite comment on this practice. As a result, the question of whether and how to display the American flag in a Catholic Church is left up to the judgment of the diocesan bishop, who in turn often delegates this to the discretion of the pastor.

 

The origin of the display of the American flag in many parishes in the United States appears have its origins in the offering of prayers for those who served during the Second World War (1941-1945). At that time, many bishops and pastors provided a book of remembrance near the American flag, requesting prayers for loved ones – especially those serving their country in the armed forces – as a way of keeping before the attention of the faithful the needs of military families. This practice has since been confirmed in many places during the Korean, Viet Nam and Iraqi conflicts.

 

The Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy has in the past encouraged pastors not to place the flag within the sanctuary itself, in order to reserve that space for the altar, the ambo, the presidential chair and the tabernacle. Instead, the suggestion has been made that the American flag be placed outside the sanctuary, or in the vestibule of the Church together with a book of prayer requests. It remains, however, for the diocesan bishop to determine regulations in this matter.

Edited October 25, 201114 yr by Birdsfan

Just a personal opinion, I think it is great to fly it outside the church on a flagpole, symbolic of the freedom by which the church can worship. I do not think it is appropriate inside the sanctuary, where we gather to worship God, not symbols, idols or nations. Idolatry can exist in a flag. I know I may get shot for that. Incidentally, I also dislike the so-called "Christian flag" and the "Christian pledge," which I consider to be efforts to call attention to the cross in juxtaposition to the American flag.

 

I'm not particularly fond of the "Christian Pledge", either. The way I see it, it's a redundancy of the prayers and professions of faith already contained within the act of church worship, and it comes off (to me) as almost a snide lampoon of the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

As for having the US Flag and/or any of the respective Christian flags in churches, I don't see why it's a problem to have them located in the church nave, transept or vestibules. The altar and sanctuary are places to focus on our worship of God and Christ, and I don't see them as a place to put symbols of anything other than God and Christ. However, seeing as we (in the Catholic Church, at least - I can't speak for other Christian denominations) pray weekly in our petitions for both church and civic leaders, I don't see any problem having flags present in church to symbolize the church and governments being led by those leaders...

Its a close call. I like the Bishops' suggestion that the flag be displayed in the outer vestibule. A lot of church's have Memorial Day presentations, July 4th presentations, etc. I even attended a Baptist Church in Harrodsburg that once a year had its "Football Sunday," and the pastor led a stirring worship about the merits of teamwork and struggle and battle as good for the Christian spirit of young men. Awesome sermon, but I think there's only a very small jump that need be made between an American flag displayed in a service and, say, the UK flag being displayed. Somewhere it just doesn't quite fit for me right there in the sanctuary.

I don't see any problem displaying it. While I know there is a fair share of a "worship America mentality" I personally don't feel that way. America is the country in which I live, and I believe the nation has been blessed by God & that it has been a blessing to me. Displaying the nation's flag, for me personally, isn't worshipful...more about gratitude.

 

Having said that, if it weren't on display I would not be upset or disappointed.