However, in the wake of the event, another church leader decided to bring together the faiths in solidarity against violence and hatred.
Reverend David DeSmith, the rector of the St. David's Episcopal Church in Kinnelon, organized an interfaith vigil and prayer, which was joined by Rabbi Helaine Ettinger of the Jewish Congregation of Kinnelon, and Pastor Beverly Sullivant of the Reformed Church of Kinnelon.
The interfaith vigil was held on April 6 at St. David's Episcopal Church, which shares space with the Jewish Congregation of Kinnelon.
As the faith leaders passed out candles among the crowd of more than 40 attendees and sang songs of unity and faith in God, their message was clear: They wouldn't allow their faith to be dominated by those advocating violence in the name of God.
DeSmith said the vigil was a direct response to Pastor Jones' mock-trial on March 20, where Jones' church, the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., burned the Quran.
Jones' Quran burning went relatively unnoticed in the Western media until three imams in Afghanistan mentioned the burning to their followers on April 1 and urged them to protest to have Jones arrested. The subsequent rally in Afghanistan turned violent and resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people.
Jones previously threatened to burn a Quran on Sept, 11, 2010, the ninth anniversary of the Twin Towers and Pentagon attacks. He eventually backed off his threat after hearing pleas from President Obama, Admiral Michael Mullen, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
Jones' message of burning the Quran inspired Bloomingdale resident Derek Fenton to burn a Quran in New York City on Sept. 11, 2010. Fenton was videotaped ripping pages from the Quran and lighting them on fire, which eventually got him fired from his job at New Jersey Transit and started a controversy over whether Fenton's action should have cost him his employment.
DeSmith felt it was ironic that his gospel reading for Lent would focus on religious certainty and hatred at the same time when Jones had his mock-trial. This inspired him to organize the interfaith event.
"I feel the St. David's community must not be silent about this and publicly make a witness to religious freedom in our country and across the world," DeSmith said. "In America, we don't discriminate against people of any religion; In America, we will not be divided by faith; In America, everyone has a place; In America, we are better together."
Sullivant said that sometimes those who follow religion end up accidently hating God's message and their neighbors, by focusing on traits that they think God wouldn't approve of. Sullivant felt that this disconnection from God and neighbor is what inspires men like Jones.
Ettinger said that religious leaders must "speak out" against violence, and pray for mankind to be stronger.
"Unless you have humility, you cannot say you receive God," Ettinger said.
End item/ 149
