A Call To Prayer and Fasting
The following is copied from an email sent out by a student leader concerning the Vanderbilt "Town Hall" Meeting tomorrow (re: religious freedom). **see link at bottom of this email for more info**Over the past few days, the students have become very involved in this issue no campus. Please pray for them. Here is their email:
::::::EMAIL FROM STUDENT LEADERS SENT OUT TO ALL CHRISTIAN GROUPS ON CAMPUS:::::
As you know, the Vanderbilt administration will be holding a town hall meeting this Tuesday concerning the non-discrimination policy that is threatening our ability to practice our religious freedom. Here are ways you can get involved in the student response:
ATTEND — We'd like to encourage you to come to the event in numbers so that we can have a strong show of support. It will be held from 6:15 to 7:45 in Furman 114. This room holds 208 people, and we would love for every seat to be filled with people who are against this policy, so show up at 5:30!
WEAR WHITE — To show our solidarity, we ask you to wear a white shirt, but also something that shows your support for Vanderbilt. For example, wearing a white Vanderbilt shirt is appropriate, or a plain white shirt with a Vanderbilt hat, etc. This is to not only show our unity in opposition to this policy, but also to express the fact that we are a part of Vanderbilt, that we love Vanderbilt, and that we deserve a voice.
FAST — In order to prepare our hearts for the event and to ask God for His favor and for His will to be done, we'd like to invite you to join us in a fast on Tuesday. The Bible is filled with examples of God being moved to act because of fasting (such as in Esther and 2 Chronicles 2), and we have faith that He will indeed hear us. This is not meant to be a protest or a public demonstration, but rather a chance to privately humble ourselves and call on God.
PRAY & WORSHIP — Before the meeting join us in silent prayer. And once the meeting starts, we will be holding praise and worship outside of Furman. We anticipate there being an overflow of people due to the limited space in the meeting, and we want to encourage you to join us in this time of worship. We will be focused on God throughout this event and trust in his sovereignty in the matter.
SOCIAL MEDIA — Attached to this email are two picture files. One says '#wearevanderbilttoo' and the other is a white cross. Please change your Facebook profile picture to the white cross, and your Facebook cover photo to the '#wearevanderbilttoo'; this way we can start to build attention amongst our friends within and beyond the Vanderbilt community. In addition, on Tuesday start tweeting @VanderbiltU with the hashtag '#wearevanderbilttoo.' Here are a couple example tweets/status updates you can use...@VanderbiltU I believe in religious freedom. #wearevanderbilttoo or "A religious body's right to self-governance must include the ability to select, and to be selective about, those who will serve as the very 'embodiment of its message'" -Supreme Court Justice Alito. #wearevanderbilttoo
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Here is link which describes the issue form a student's perspective, an Op-Ed published today:
An Op-Ed written by a student: http://www.insidevandy.com/opinion/columns
Restore Religious Freedom at Vanderbilt is a project of Americans United for Freedom,
a 501(c)(4) (pending) social welfare organization which focuses on nonpartisan
civic education and advocacy regarding important national issues.