1200 Participants Gather For Prayer Vigil, Asbury Park

Around 1,200 people gathered for a prayer vigil organised by local church leaders in Asbury Park, NJ last weekend. The vigil was concerned with the social issues facing the city, including its recent decision to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple which drew hundreds of marchers.

Organising ministers however, said the need to deal with drug use, poverty, inadequate housing, gangs, violence and problems with city schools was why so many people showed up. "The granting of a marriage license to a gay couple was the final issue that made local area churches decide to unite in prayer for the good of the community," said the Rev. Porter S. Brown of Faith Baptist Tabernacle.

The marriage of two gay men, Louis Navarrete, 42 and Ric Best, 44, also took place on a March 8th ceremony after officials granted the two men a marriage license.

During the prayer vigil, some prayed aloud, others bowed their heads in silence, and many held Bibles. People sang, applauded and waved flags representing different countries as some passing drivers honked their horns and waved. Signs quoting biblical passages and spiritual sayings were presented in English and Spanish.

The Prayer vigil lasted about 30 minutes, and was followed by a news conference. Same-sex marriage was the topic that dominated the conversation during the conference. Besides this,they also called for quick action to combat drug abuse, poverty, inadequate housing and gang-related violence.

"We believe the word of God is to be taken as it is, and we are not going to compromise," the Rev. Porter S. Brown told the Asbury Park Press of Neptune. Brown accused city council members of paying attention to just one segment of the city's population and said the Bible defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

"The Government really is there to protect us from intrusion," Navarette said, adding that he also is a Christian. "The church really has no place to legislate people's lives."

Charles Harris, a 52-year-old former city resident who attended the vigil, agreed.

"There is more than just a gay community in this town," said Harris, who now lives in Neptune. "City Hall needs to be concerned about the feelings of the Christian community."

The city halted the licensing process for same sex marriages after state Attorney General Peter Harvey threatened them with criminal prosecution, and the City Council and a national conservative group have since filed separate lawsuits that seek to determine whether the city's actions were legal.