Graduation

[red_rose]

My sister's (public) high school graduation was held in a Baptist church.

Okay. I can handle that.

Before the ceremony began, they made an announcement asking all men to remove their hats while inside the church. We were referred to as "the congregation."

Okay, we are congregating... I can handle that.

We were asked to stand as the graduates walked in... Once they took their places, we were asked to bow our heads in prayer.

Huh?


Their valedictorian's speech... was the layman's version of Ecclesiastes. She ended by telling the students that the only way they could live good lives is to FEAR GOD.

We ended the ceremony/service... with a benediction. A prayer.

I'm just... a little out of sorts with all of this.

Just... spilling. Comment away.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

Seems awfully ignorant and misguided of the school, a public one at that, to have the ceremonies at a church if the church says they must have a part in the ceremony(as it appears to have had). I don't mind the valedictorian's speach and ender as much because she can say almost anything in her speach but the 'forced' praying is wrong.

 

[red_rose]

The church wasn't involved in the least... it was just being held in the church because they needed a building of that size to hold the ceremony.

(This, by the way, was one of those large made-for-TV-looking churches... with two drop down screens and a large stage...)

The whole situation made me queasey.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

The church wasn't involved in the least...

Holy shit, thats even worse then. Wouldn't have felt all that comfortable myself with that situation, just seems so... wrong.

 

[red_rose]

Holy shit, thats even worse then. Wouldn't have felt all that comfortable myself with that situation, just seems so... wrong.

Gotta love small town graduations...

I just wonder if anyone involved felt as queasey as I did and just didn't speak up...

 

[Nitsuj]

That seems like an awfully wierd situation. I'm sure you weren't the only one who felt odd about the whole thing...


I was just at my mothers College Graduation. She's now going to Law School, I'm proud of her...