These questions take on even greater meaning, when we consider the alternative. Rising from the vacuum of prophetic witness, is the ultra-right wing politics of intimidation and hate. A movement calling itself "Patriot Pastors" is now mobilizing (mostly rural Christians) to gather thousands of " Ohio for Jesus" pastors and tens of thousands of lay people calling themselves "Christian Minutemen."

Called the Ohio Restoration Project, this group intends to take over the Republican Party in Ohio . Once they have done this through electoral primaries, they will also run all Democrats off the state map.

Their plan is to run good people out of office if they are pro-choice or supportive of equal rights for gays. In their website, these so-called Patriot Pastors will "shoot down" any politicians or candidates who they deem "vague or noncommittal on issues of abortion and gay rights."

They have transportation set up for the elderly and child care for the young to attend their "God Rallies." Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church in Canal Winchester is their leader. In his book Silent No More, Parsley outlines which issues will either drive people from office or put them in office. Republicans who were once considered right-wing radicals in Ohio , like Sen. Jim Jordan of Champaign County , are moving into key leadership positions in our statehouse five blocks west of First Church . These "Patriot Pastors" are a scary lot. Issue #1, which they say restored "Biblical marriage" to Ohio , was step one in their politics of fear and (so-called) "Family values." Issue #2 says Parsley is to take back the state.

With Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Jesus I know and love, I will take my stand with Jews, Muslims and Christians who focus on another kind of restoration project. I stand with those who believe in diversity, plurality and who seek justice for the poor. With the limited resources we have in city, county, and state budgets these days, I believe that we as citizens need deepen our care for the poor and the marginalized through just housing, equitable health care, adequately funded public education for all the children of Columbus and Ohio, transportation which gets people to jobs, and jobs which bring enough money into households so that mothers and fathers are not working two and three jobs to make ends meet. I want to see neighborhoods and schools where children and youth aren't shot to death and all people feel safe. I want to work with elected officials to guarantee our senior citizens have effective and well-funded services which bring them hope.

Working with BREAD is working for justice. I will never be a so-called "Patriot Pastor" in Rod Parsley's army. But, I hope and pray that I will always be a patriotic pastor. I hope and pray that I will never be vague and noncommittal when it comes to living out the Bible's call to justice for the poor, the marginalized, the orphan, the widow, the forgotten and forsaken.