Westboro protesters back in Mid-Missouri

Four local churches targeted; members urged to ignore pickets

Counter-protestors engage Rachel Hockenbarger, at left, in conversation on Aug. 19, 2014, during a protest staged in Jefferson City by Westboro Baptist Church.
Counter-protestors engage Rachel Hockenbarger, at left, in conversation on Aug. 19, 2014, during a protest staged in Jefferson City by Westboro Baptist Church.

For many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is a day to remember that day nearly 2,000 years ago when Jesus entered Jerusalem, cheered by palm-waving crowds.

This Palm Sunday, three Jefferson City churches will have members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, standing outside and waving protest signs outside their church doors.

A Westboro news release said the church members plan to "picket the Babel Buildings of Jefferson City."

Representatives of three of the local churches said they're asking people to ignore the protesters.

Westboro already has a national reputation for protesting at soldiers' funerals and for its "God Hates Fags" message.

The Mid-Missouri trip actually begins this afternoon with a stop from 2:40-3:10 p.m. at the Camdenton R-3 High School, "to warn the living, including your students, that have been dropped down into your rebellious twilight zone, where the Mad Hatter rules and the rules and laws mean NOTHING ..."

Camdenton School officials declined to comment.

The Westboro pickets plan to be outside Jefferson City's First Methodist Church from 5:30-6 p.m. Saturday because "this Methodist Whorehouse (is) where they speak smooth things unto the people because the people demand it" and because "they have a woman so-called "Rev' who they allow to subvert and "teach' the people."

The Westboro site also says it is "faux Christians ... who have allowed the sodomites to flourish in the land and who have caused same-sex marriage."

Daniel Hilty, First Methodist's senior pastor, told the News Tribune Friday: "The only statement we've made to our church is, of course, to be respectful of the picketers, but not to engage them.

"Our focus this weekend, like all weekends, is to grow in love with God and with our neighbors, and to share the love of Jesus Christ with more and more people in Jefferson City and beyond it."

Three Jefferson City churches are targeted for Sunday's protests.

• Concord Baptist Church, from 8:45-9:15 a.m., where, the Westboro website explained, "The "senior pastor' prefers not to speak about the wrath of God and admits having done one and only one sermon on God's wrath. ... their grand auditorium (is) full of idols."

In a Friday email, Senior Pastor Monte Shinkle told the News Tribune: "Truthfully, we are not really troubled by their coming. I have encouraged our people to be kind to or ignore them. ...

"Palm Sunday is one of the greatest days of the year. Our focus will be on Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for our sin and for us sinners. He died for Westboro folks, too, and they are sinners in need of forgiveness.

"I do not intend to be distracted from doing what God has called me to do."

• Next, the Westboro protesters plan to be at St. Peter Catholic Church from 9:30-10 a.m. Sunday, because "this Catholic Whorehouse (is) where they pay the priests to rape the children and idolatry rules the day."

Father Greg Meystrik, St. Peter's priest, said: "We are advising our parishioners to not engage in any dialogue with the protesters or any counter-protesters.

"We've also asked parents with young children to make them aware of the situation so that they are not surprised or frightened when they come to church."

• Sunday's final stop is First Assembly of God, from 10:30-11 a.m., where Westboro says the church teaches "false doctrines (in) order to flatter the people into filling the collection plate. ... Divorce and remarriage is adultery according to the Lord Jesus Christ.

"How many members in good standing at the First Assembly of God are living in adultery with their second or third spouse?"

First Assembly didn't respond to a request for a comment.

About a half-dozen Westboro members came to Jefferson City last August, proclaiming the civil unrest following Michael Brown's death after he was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson had occurred because Gov. Jay Nixon was "leading your state down an evil path."

About 50 people staged counter-demonstrations to their stops at the Capitol, Lincoln University and Jefferson City High School.