Pastor Van Noy: You mocked the people who were wearing the North Idaho Rejects Hate T-shirts at the Fourth of July parade, stating those who wore them failed to think with any clarity about the statement. Let me clarify for you the hate we are rejecting. We reject: anger, prejudice, arrogance, unkindness, ignorance and pridefulness to name a few. We also reject the White Nationalism that is trying to take over our lovely town (of which I am a native for 50+ years).

You called the pro-choice group marching in the parade: murder hungry and vicious. You have every right to hate abortion, but as a man of God instead of name calling how about leaning into this group, finding out why they feel the way they do about a woman’s right to choose, and peacefully engage with them to see how women and children could be better supported.

As Christians, you and I both know the greatest commandment listed in the gospels is to love your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and the second greatest commandment from Jesus is to love one’s neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-34 paraphrase). You do not need to agree with everything your neighbor is doing, but Christ always moved toward people with love so they could know HIM better.

I encourage you to stop grandstanding about what you HATE, and to move toward your neighbor in love. If you ever want to chat, I’m happy to sit down and have a coffee with you (neighbor).

KELLY HICKS

Worley