Harvard-Epworth Church Management Angered by Unauthorized Protest Throughout “Individuals’s Graduation”
The management of Harvard-Epworth Church has expressed their anger and dismay after their venue was unexpectedly occupied by a large-scale protest throughout Harvard’s commencement ceremony, in line with an e-mail despatched to the church’s congregation.
Backdrop of the Protest
The protest, aptly named the “Individuals’s Graduation,” was organized by Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP) in solidarity with 13 undergraduate college students who have been barred from graduating as a consequence of their involvement in a 20-day encampment in Harvard Yard. As interim College President Alan M. Garber ’76 started conferring levels on graduating college students, over 1,000 folks walked out of Harvard’s Graduation and headed to the Harvard-Epworth Church.
Unapproved Protest in a Sacred House
Mitch Hay and Barb Lemmel, the pastors of Harvard-Epworth Church, expressed their disappointment in a joint e-mail, stating that they have been unaware of Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine’s intention to host the protest. They emphasised that they’d rented out the venue to what they believed was a “small pupil group” aiming to honor the 13 barred college students, not realizing the occasion would flip right into a large-scale demonstration.
“The protest within the sanctuary was by no means accepted by Harvard-Epworth,” Hay and Lemmel wrote. “We’re dismayed that the church grew to become the locus of a big pupil protest. We’re angered that this overly political message passed off within the sanctuary. We’re troubled that we weren’t current to offer in-person management, as we’re at the moment in Italy on trip.”
The Difficulty of Miscommunication
Whereas Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine claimed that the church was “generously provided” as a venue, Pastor Lemmel contradicted this assertion. In an announcement to The Crimson, she defined that the church’s management was saved unaware of the forthcoming “Individuals’s Graduation,” in addition to HOOP’s involvement. Lemmel expressed her disappointment on the disrespectful utilization of the church’s sacred house, with banners held on the altar and flags of various nations displayed.
Church’s Perspective
Hay and Lemmel, of their e-mail to their congregation, highlighted Harvard-Epworth Church’s dedication to internet hosting tough conversations on controversial points encompassed by mutual respect and listening. Nonetheless, they firmly acknowledged that the “nationalistic tone” of the protest didn’t align with their values as a home of worship.
Gratitude Regardless of the Unapproved Protest
Regardless of the church’s outrage, HOOP expressed their gratitude towards the church’s workers and the religion group. Of their assertion, they highlighted the nice and cozy and supportive nature of the on-the-ground workers at Harvard-Epworth Church and their willingness to supply their house.
As of now, each side proceed to carry diverging views on the mishandling of the church’s house and the communication breakdown that led to the unauthorized protest.
Contact Data
For extra info on this matter, please attain out to:
Elyse C. Goncalves – Workers author at [email protected]
Observe Elyse C. Goncalves on Twitter
Matan H. Josephy – Workers author at [email protected]
Observe Matan H. Josephy on Twitter
