|
|
November 10, 2000/12 Heshvan 5761, Vol. 53, No.7
Dunham trades controversy for controversy
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
Mayor Cynthia Dunham at last will be able to proclaim Bible Week in the town of Gilbert. But after resolving this year-long controversy with Gilbert residents and the Arizona Civil Liberties Union, she has started another controversy with the Gilbert Interfaith Summit.
Dunham will be allowed to proclaim Bible Week, but only under certain conditions: There can be no introductory remarks, such as prayers; if she receives letters of support and opposition and chooses to read the former, she must read the latter.
"We are operating in good faith and fully expect she will follow every element of the agreement," said Eleanor Eisenberg, executive director of the AzCLU. The last time Dunham proclaimed Bible Week, she solicited letters from clergy and read them at the town council, she added.
"I am extremely happy to be finally done with the litigation," said Dunham. "The agreement reached is a good one."
She said the resolution clarifies the nature of proclamations as "mayoral speech," not law, and thus not required to be passed by the town council; also, proclamations make no requirements on citizens.
Dunham added that she uses a two-fold criteria for any proclamation: it needs to be requested by a Gilbert resident, and "by my determination, it needs to be of value to Gilbert."
The proclamation states, in part, "the Bible is important to many residents in Gilbert and serves as one of their guides to be better citizens of the community."
The mayor will make the proclamation for Bible Week on Nov. 14; it will take place the week of Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 23.
"We still do not like it," said Eisenberg and added she would prefer Dunham not to make any Bible Week proclamation.
The new controversy concerns Dunham's Gilbert Interfaith Summit, in association with the Gilbert Action Interfaith Network, a one-day event scheduled for Nov. 17.
Dunham initially invited citizens and leaders from nearly 60 religious institutions from Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler and Higley to attend. She sent invitations to representatives of Christian denominations, except for one to the Bahai Faith and another to the Jodo Shu Dharma Center.
Dunham said she will use the summit not only to inform the participants but to solicit their support for three programs: Community with Character, Dialogue Circles and Kids at Hope.
The goal of Community with Character is to promote citizenship in Gilbert to create a safe, caring and compassionate community.
Dialogue Circles are currently being used by the town's Diversity Task Force to receive feedback from the people. These circles allow 10-15 people with facilitators to tackle the issue of diversity, Dunham said.
Kids at Hope is a program based on the premise, "all children are capable of success, with no exception," said Dunham. Its goal is to provide positive reinforcement for children, she added.
Dunham said the original mailing list was incomplete. Subsequently, both Rabbi Bonnie Koppell of Temple Beth Sholom of Chandler and Rabbi Andrew Straus of Temple Emanuel of Tempe received invitations.
"It's amazing how she is able to find Jewish delegates after people start asking questions," said Mike Evans, Gilbert city councilman.
Evans said he is also skeptical about the timing of the summit, three days after Bible Week is proclaimed and during the first week when campaigning can begin for the March elections in Gilbert.
He said he believes Dunham has "some ulterior motives" and is attempting to rally support from the religious community for her reelection.
Koppell said she is giving Dunham the benefit of the doubt and will attend the summit.
Even though Temple Beth Sholom is in Chandler, some of its congregants live in Gilbert and are effected by Dunham's policies, Koppell added.
She intends to inform Dunham about the needs and issues of the Jewish community.
"She has demonstrated in the past insensitivity to the Jewish perspective," said Koppell.
Eisenberg said as long as the agenda and content are not religious, it is probably appropriate for government to say it wants to have input from every element of the community involved to discuss matters that effect it.
"If (the summit) has religious content or purpose, then we'll have a difficulty," she added. "It is inappropriate for government to entangle itself with religion."
|
