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Cross controversy over Monday, May 12, 2008 LaNIA COLEMAN THE SAGINAW NEWS The Frankenmuth cross controversy is finished as far as Lloyd C. Clarke is concerned. ''It is absolutely over,'' said Clarke, the Frankenmuth resident who led a month-long charge to remove crosses from public spaces and from the city's shield. ''After talking with family and friends, I have decided to discontinue my effort to remove the Luther cross from the Frankenmuth shield. It is causing too much turmoil in the lives of too many people. Although I think the city's en-dorsement of a religion is a violation of the separation of church and state, I regret that my actions have caused such an uproar.'' The hullabaloo started in early April, when Clarke contacted City Manager Charles B. Graham about the foot-tall crosses on the bridge that spans the Cass River on Main downtown. City officials removed the crosses at the recommendation of the city attorney. Clarke then protested the city's shield, which includes a shock of grain, an eagle, a white-blue Harlequin pattern reflective of the Bavarian coat-of-arms and a cross inset in a heart, the symbol at the center of the Luther Rose, the icon of Lutheranism. The city, which grew out of a Bavarian Lutheran mission colony established on the Cass River in 1845, has used the shield since elected officials approved it in 1963. Clarke said he didn't intend to cause a stir. ''It started with those little crosses that I thought were inappropriate, and they came down, and I thought, 'That was easy,' '' Clarke said. ''Then there was another infraction or violation that I thought I would try to remedy, so I started on that, and, boy, it just started to build. The community came together. ''They're good people, and I don't want to feel unwelcome. I want to be in this community, and the only way I can do that is to be able to interact with people. I didn't mean for it to be this disruptive. Going into this, I was just thinking there was something inappropriate that I'd like to see corrected.'' Clarke said he didn't anticipate the widespread emotional reaction he saw from residents of Frankenmuth and neighboring communities. ''These were unintended consequences,'' he said. The Rev. Mark Brandt was among those who demonstrated against Clarke's challenge to the cross. Brandt is a pastor at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church of Frankenmuth, which distributed nearly 1,000 3-foot wooded crosses for city residents to display on their lawns. Brandt and Graham were two of the people Clarke contacted Saturday to share the news of his decision to abandon his crusade. ''I tried to make peace with Pastor Brandt,'' Clarke said. ''He is a fine example of his faith.'' Brandt said he was glad to hear the news, which he shared with his congregation Sunday. ''They reacted the way we would have expected them to,'' he said. ''It has been a difficult issue for the citizens of the community, many of whom are members of St. Lorenz. We bear no animosity to Mr. Clarke or anyone else. We wish him God's blessings.'' Brandt said he didn't fear the outcome if Clarke had sued. ''You never know what the courts will do,'' he said. ''The historical significance of the cross on the city shield is without question. It sure seemed as if that would prevail, but you never know.'' Brandt said he isn't concerned that someone else could step up to oppose the cross. ''I don't know all of the ins and outs of it,'' he said. ''If it has to be a local resident to come forward, then I'm not concerned. If someone from outside the community can do it, well, I wouldn't be surprised if more efforts came up. |