Editor,

After reading last weeks letter to the editor by Harry D. Best all an Adventist can say in response is a very tired, “sorry.” Mr. Best was wrong in perceptions of history, and he was wrong in his understanding of decency, and he is wrong in his understandings of Adventist teachings.

He should be especially ashamed of use of the term “heathen non-Adventist commissioners” — this terminology was reprehensible and disgusting.

Let me tell you why I am in agreement with Commissioner (Debbie) Baker on the beer by the drink issue. Collegedale’s city budget is about $6,000,000 a year. Wal-Mart, which sells beer, brings in $82,000 in property taxes, and $75,000 a month in city sales tax revenue, or $982,000 a year.

To make that same amount of income in property taxes would take an additional 2,000 houses, with 5,000 people and 4,200 cars. We need the sales tax revenue to keep our city the nice place it is today. We need beer by the drink to get restaurants, which will pay in even more in revenue, which will keep our property taxes low, our services high, and our town “small.”

I am an Adventist and I am for beer by the drink.

David Barto,

Collegedale

Editor,

I read your piece on the front of the Weekly (Local debate aims sights on gun bill — July 22 edition). I so agree with Katie Lamb. There are too many substance abusers. Guns are too risky.

Bonnie Mattheus,

Collegedale

Editor,

It seems inappropriate to me for Mr. Best to refer to non-Adventists as “heathen.” I do not consider my Christian neighbors of other faiths to be heathen.

I also disagree with Ms. Baker about “my Christian values” and business. It seems to me that Christian values should be taken into all the decisions of life.

Clara Belle Jenson

Collegedale

Editor,

(Response to Aug. 5 Letter to the Editor: Best Against Alcohol Sales)

As president of the university around which Collegedale was founded, I’d like to take a moment to express how much the contributions of everyone in our hometown mean to me and to the university. I appreciate the diversity that allows all of us in this community to grow and learn from each other. I appreciate the local businesses that provide part-time work opportunities for our students. And I appreciate the acceptance so readily shown by neighbors coming from different backgrounds. One thing I find particularly endearing about Collegedale is the feeling of community every time we come together for events such as the Fourth of July celebration and Christmas parade. It’s rare in today’s world to find such community.

Our university does not advocate for the use of alcohol and has greatly appreciated the city of Collegedale’s sensitivity to the sale of alcohol up to this point. For many reasons, Southern’s administration would prefer for our community to be one that does not provide for the purchase of alcohol.

While Collegedale was founded primarily by Seventh-day Adventists, the purpose of incorporating this town was to promote religious freedom — not to create a religious government. Would it be right to create a sanctuary from religious-based laws only to then impose religious-based views on others? I think not. The separation of church and state should be supported.

Our diverse group of city commissioners have done a wonderful job of balancing the needs of our growing community. Their work, which I know is fraught with difficult decisions, is truly appreciated.

To all who have joined this community, regardless of your background, I hope you will find Collegedale to be a warm and friendly town and that you will experience the same from Southern Adventist University. Know that you are valued by our campus and may you find a sanctuary from your burdens as was desired by those who voted to incorporate our city in 1968, a sanctuary intended for all, as was made clear by one of the first actions: the selection of a person who was not of the Seventh-day Adventist faith to serve as Collegedale’s first city manager.

Gordon Bietz,

President, Southern Adventist University

Editor,

The freedom of speech (which includes the freedom to disagree) is a blessing. I want my neighbors in Collegedale and Ooltewah to know that I disagree with many of the views expressed by Mr. Best (Aug. 5 edition of Ooltewah-Collegedale Weekly).

After reading his letter, I looked up several verses in the Bible to see if I had forgotten how God wants me to treat my neighbor.

My memory has not failed me. The verses that say “love thy neighbor” are still there. They do not say to love only the neighbors who are members of the Seventh-day Adventist church that I attend.

While it may be comfortable to be surrounded by those with similar beliefs, Jesus’ example was to “mingle with men as one who desired their good.” Salt is rather unpalatable all by itself.

Regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages, I choose not to buy or drink any. The fact that many accidents, crimes and damaged relationships are the result of drinking alcohol, does give me the desire to encourage others to avoid those dangers.

While I believe that God’s government in heaven is the only perfect one (human legislators would do well to pray for wisdom to frame wise laws) the Bible reveals that God does make a separation by saying, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Christine Payne,

Ooltewah

Editor,

I feel compelled to respond to the letter by Harry Best published in your Aug. 5 edition. While he does indeed have a right to his opinion and to express it, the manner in which he does so is ill-informed and offensive. Collegedale is not, nor is any other city, an “Adventist town.” The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a very long and public record of strongly supporting the constitutional concept of the separation of church and state. Our founding fathers rightly recognized that endorsement and support of one particular church above others was dangerous and detrimental to society. They also knew that a government controlled by any religious faction was equally dangerous. As Christians we certainly have the right and responsibility to educate and even to try to persuade elected officials to make upright and moral decisions in the overall best interest of our community, but we do not have the right to control society.

It is morally repugnant to designate people of a faith different than one’s own as heathen. There are a number of people very dear to me who are deeply devoted Christians, yet who are not Seventh-day Adventists.  I am offended and even incensed that anyone would denigrate their faith and call them heathens.  By the way, I also am a Theology graduate of Southern Adventist University (1976) and have served as a pastor for the past 33 years, the last 21 of which have been right here in the Ooltewah/Collegedale community.

Lest anyone should think that I am one of the referenced “California liberals” I am concerned about the issue of alcohol served by the drink in local restaurants. My concern, however, is not based on my church’s stance against drinking alcohol, which I agree with. The real issue is one of safety. Has the city commission done any study on the effect of liquor by the drink on the traffic accident or traffic fatality rate? I don’t know the answer to that, but I hope someone does.  The sad truth is that if someone wants to consume alcohol and drive, they can and will, whether they buy it in a restaurant or at Wal-Mart. Driving while impaired by alcohol is a serious danger to our community. Bigotry and critical, condemning attitudes are equally unsafe to our society.

Michael E. Pettengill,

Ooltewah

Editor,

As a professor of church history at Southern Adventist University, I would like to disagree with a letter in your Aug. 5 issue. Seventh-day Adventists have a long history of promoting both religious liberty and separation of church and state. History has shown that the only way to have true religious freedom is to have that divide between religion and government. All the persecution that took place during the Middle Ages and the Reformation took place because of a close relationship between church and state.

Because Seventh-day Adventists, who do not work on Saturdays, have experienced hardships caused by religiously based Sunday laws, our denomination has been a strong advocate for separation between church and state.

Adventists, of all people, know what religiously based laws can do. Our regional forefathers worked in chain gains and were thrown in jail for working on Sunday. Adventist-owned businesses have suffered when laws have forced them to close their businesses down on Sundays. The Golden Rule demands that we should no more force our religious beliefs on others than we would want others to force their beliefs on us.

Dennis Pettibone,

Collegedale

Editor,

The letter from Harry D. Best (Aug. 5, 2009 issue) is so outlandish as to defy imagination!

First, Collegedale is not “supposed to be an Adventist town.” It is an incorporated public city made up of various church denominations. Collegedale does not have an Adventist airport, nor an Adventist government, nor an Adventist City Commission, etc.

Adventists personally refrain from alcohol and tobacco for health reasons. They make no such claim for dictating to their friends and neighbors to observe the Adventist lifestyle.

Mr. Best mistakenly assumes that Commissioner Baker is a “7th Day Adventist.” She is not. She is a dedicated Christian of the Baptist faith with high standards, political fairness, and total courtesy and respect for all citizens. She has visited in our home, eaten at our table, and we count her as a great personal friend.

“Separation of church and state” simply means equal rights, protections, and privileges for all churches and no special treatment for any church! This seems contrary to what Mr. Best thinks it means.

To paraphrase Mr. Best himself, “I hope Mr. Best wises up and wakes up to the facts before…doing irreparable damage to the church,” which his tactless letter has already caused.

Finally, 99 percent of the Adventists that I know do not engage in the hostile, accusatory language hurled at Mrs. Baker by Mr. Best. I have personally apologized to Mrs. Baker for Mr. Best’s conduct.

Our Collegedale City government is in safe, capable hands with elected officials like Debbie Baker.

Jack L. Parnell

Ruth C. Parnell,

Collegedale

Editor,

I am a Seventh-day Adventist, a firm believer in Mrs. (Ellen) White, and a U.S. Army veteran. Therefore Mr. Best’s letter in last week’s (Aug. 5) Ooltewah Collegedale Weekly was distressing to me.

1. Collegedale is not an Adventist city. It is an American city, governed under the Constitution that many of its citizens like me have sworn to defend. The First Amendment forbids the “establishment of religion” under law. Thus Mr. Best’s claim threatens the very first right guaranteed to the people of Collegedale.

2. At no time did Mrs. White advocate the imposition of religious laws on this or any other country. In fact, she maintained that such laws are Satanic in origin. As an Adventist, then, I have an extra reason to honor the First Amendment.

If a majority of Collegedale residents are ever persuaded by their ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, etc., to vote against allowing the sale of liquor in this city, they will be acting as Americans, and their collective decision must be enforced. Until that happens, if it ever does, members of the Commission will surely welcome the prayers of all faiths for their wisdom on the issue.

And meantime, voices like Mr. Best’s must be allowed to speak, protected by the same First Amendment which his letter has attacked.

Jan Haluska,

Collegedale