A Touch of Faith

Monday night, in the courtroom of the Bridgewater Township Municipal Complex, the annual re-organization of the Township Council; the selection of the new Council President; the swearing-in of a Councilman; and the appointments of personnel to various boards, commissions, councils, and committees were the order of business.

The evening culminated with delivery of the 2013 State of the Township Address by Mayor Dan Hayes.

But, in this brief blog post, I would like to put a different twist and emphasis on another aspect

of Monday’s meeting – that is, the opening invocation and the closing benediction which were given by The Reverend Jennifer Lovallo of Bridgewater United Methodist Church, and Rabbi Ron Isaacs of Temple Sholom for the invocation; and a priest from Sri Venkateswara Temple for the benediction.

With so much pushback in other U. S. communities against similar ceremonies by those who don’t seem to have better things to do with their time, it was refreshing to observe that the Township governance still has respect not only for the diversity of faith traditions in Bridgewater, but for the value and meaning of their essence, without favor towards any single one.

The presence of a touch of faith within the local American public square is a thread of strength in the fabric of this community.