Pastor Mark D. Boykin, Senior Pastor of Church of All Nations in Boca Raton, will lead a procession of church members and city residents from Church of All Nations to the Boca Raton City Hall, to make a formal request that a Christmas “crèche” be displayed publicly alongside the “menorah” in accordance with federal statutes requiring religious equality. Hundreds of crèches are expected to be delivered to city hall. The event will take place on Church of All Nations beginning Tuesday, December 13th at 11:00AM.
“Just when you think the City of Boca Raton officials would join in the Christmas spirit, they have engaged in an act of insanity,” said Pastor Mark D. Boykin. “Since 2009, we have asked the City of Boca Raton to include a crèche along side the Menorah and other holiday decorations in city buildings; this time around, however, they decided to ban Christmas altogether,” continued Pastor Mark D. Boykin.
According to Assistant City Manager Mike Woika, the city is banning all holiday displays in city owned buildings during Christmas. In the past city hall and the library, as well as all city owned facilities have displayed a Christmas tree, decorations, and a Menorah. Pastor Mark D. Boykin and members of the community have been asking that a nativity scene be included in their holiday decorations. Every poll and survey that has been taken overwhelmingly supports the inclusion of a crèche alongside the menorah, and other holiday displays in city facilities.
“City Manager Leif Ahnell should be fired,” added Pastor Mark D. Boykin. “The City of Boca Raton officials have become intransigent and insensitive by ignoring this Christmas season,” continued Pastor Boykin. “Time and time again, the elected officials and administrators at the City of Boca Raton continue to discriminate against Christians, and now they are discriminating against Jews as well,” added Pastor Mark D. Boykin.
“The March of the Crèche” will begin at Church of All Nations at 11:00 AM and head to the Boca Raton City Hall. They will be singing Christmas songs and will leave many of the crèches at city hall.
Pastor Mark D. Boykin is scheduled to present a resolution at the regularly scheduled city council meeting on Tuesday, December 13 at 6:00 PM. The proposed resolution directs the city manager to either purchase or receive donations for the Holiday/Christmas displays in all city buildings, that will include menorahs, crèches, and any other holiday/Christmas decoration to be displayed along side one another. This resolution will allow any organization and/or individual to donate holiday decorations and therefore eliminate any taxpayer’s cost.