A church in Dallastown, Pennsylvania posted a sign to greet Muslims on their celebration of Ramadan, drawing an angry response from a school board member who is also a Republican convention delegate.
The St. Paul's United Church of Christ put up a greeting on its marquee that reads, "Wishing a blessed Ramadan to our Muslim neighbors."
The angry phone message and Twitter post by the school board member over the sign upset Christopher Rodkey, the church pastor.
Rodkey said he received a call on June 11 from an unidentified man who castigated the church for "wishing people who subscribe to a faith that is not only godless but pagan."
"It's unbelievable that you would welcome them and wish them a blessed Ramadan. Are you sick? Is there something wrong with you?" the man said, according to York Daily Record. "This is despicable."
The pastor traced the caller's number and found that it belonged to Matthew Jansen, a member of the Spring Grove Area School District and an elected delegate to the Republican National Convention, ABC News reports.
Jansen posted the church's phone number along with the photo of the sign on Twitter. Rodkey said he received several hang-up calls that resulted in the church disconnecting its phone and answering machine.
The pastor explained that he posted the message because his church ""is interested in religious tolerance," noting that Muslims are often used as scapegoats by the religious right.
During last Sunday's service, Rodkey said, "The whole episode has unveiled the ugliness and the racism that lies just beneath the surface in our community."
"But I don't care. The gospel of love is love God, love your neighbour," he said.
According to Jansen, he has seen "disturbing things" on the church's marquee in the past, but the Ramadan greeting "was over the top as far as I was concerned."
He said he was angry when he called Rodkey's cell phone and forgot to leave his name and number. He later called again to do so.
"I don't see Islam — or the Muslim belief — I don't see it as legit," Jansen said,
Rodkey said he was disturbed that the angry phone call came from Jansen.
"I can't believe an elected official would believe the things that he does," he said.
