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A UMNS Report
By Aaron Cross*
2:00 P.M. EDT July 22, 2011
Quincy Community United Methodist Church in Quincy, Mass.,
is transformed into Hogwarts during a Harry Potter-themed
party at the church. Photo courtesy of Julie McKeon.
In June of 1997, the world — and the Christian faith — was introduced
to a piece of work that would spark controversy and discussion: Harry
Potter. In the subsequent 14 years, the book series has reached its
conclusion, and, as of July 15, the movie adaptations have as well.
Many Christians denounced the series as promoting witchcraft and
recruiting children into the occult, but others embraced author J.K.
Rowling’s take on the classic good vs. evil fairytale. Some even found
spiritual depth and biblical parallels in the books and have used the
boy wizard to enlighten, to examine Christianity and to entertain
children and adults alike.
Debra Dean Murphy,
assistant professor of religion and Christian education at West
Virginia Wesleyan College, believes the Potter books are excellent
Christian teaching tools because they’re ultimately a story of
“inexhaustible, unmitigated, constant, courageous love.”
“Just as Christians believe that the universe exists and coheres by
divine love, Harry Potter and his friends (and enemies) come to know of
the transformative power of love,” Murphy said. “What we learn from
these marvelous books and films – just as we do from the story of our
Christian faith – is that love wins.”
Around Halloween each year in Quincy, Mass., Quincy Community United Methodist Church mysteriously transforms into Hogwarts School,
complete with locations from the books such as Gringott’s, Diagon Alley
and the Great Hall. Many staff members play favorite characters,
including Hagrid, Mad-Eye Moody and Professors Trelawney and Snape.
Festivities mimic events from the books, including the Sorting
Ceremony, a Defense Against the Dark Arts class and a Horcrux scavenger
hunt.
Quincy’s pastor, the Rev. Susan F. Jarek-Glidden (who also plays
Professor McGonagall every year), said the idea started simply in 2004
and grew into a far-reaching project.
Children play a game of Quidditch at the “Disciples or Muggles” camp created by the Dakotas Annual (regional) Conference.
A UMNS photo courtesy of Bridgett Perry.
View in Photo Gallery
“It was my first year in this appointment and I thought it'd be a great way of telling the community, ‘Hey, we're here!’”
Because Quincy is a large city, it's also a way for kids in the community to have a safe, happy and truly magical Halloween.
“And believe me, it is magical,” Jarek-Glidden said. “Not only the
kids, but the adults really get into it. For a few hours, everybody's
everyday worries and problems go away, and everyone is immersed in a
magical realm where anything is possible.”
The Dakotas Annual (regional) Conference also celebrates the Potter
series, but in the summer. For the past seven years, the conference’s
camping and retreat ministry has set up an entire camp experience —
“Disciples or Muggles?” — around the books.
Themes from the stories are used as devotions, and the lake cabins
are converted into the four Hogwarts “houses.” A mischievous prankster —
Peeves the Poltergeist, perhaps? — runs around the grounds causing
mayhem. Children even play Quidditch using swimming pool noodles and
hula hoops.
“Campers are given the opportunity to become a disciple of Christ
either for the first time or to renew their commitment to him. The books
and movies tie in so perfectly with Christian themes, and, in reading
the campers’ evaluations after camp, it is very apparent they ‘get it’
and make the connection,” said the Rev. Teri Johnson, who wrote the camp
curriculum.
‘Read before condemning’
Unfortunately, churches trying to share the positive messages of Harry Potter sometimes court controversy.
When the third book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban," was released, Elk Grove (Calif.) United Methodist Church
partnered with the Sacramento Cokesbury store for a midnight book sale.
The Rev. Susan F. Jarek-Glidden plays Professor McGonagall at Quincy
(Mass.) Community United Methodist Church. At right is her husband, the
Rev. Tony “Mad-Eye Moody” Jarek-Glidden. Photo courtesy of Julie McKeon.
View in Photo Gallery
Leading up to the sale, the church put together a Harry Potter Fair,
with trivia and costume contests, movies, crafts, food and classes for
both children and adults on finding God in Harry Potter.
“It was great fun, and lots of people who had never been to our
church came,” said the Rev. Kathy La Point-Collup, Elk Grove’s pastor.
But not everyone in the community was pleased to see a church embrace
wizards and witches and, like the meanest bullies from the House of
Slytherin, they set out to spoil everything.
“Some of the fundamentalist churches in town condemned us for even
reading Harry Potter, much less having an event centered on it,” La
Point-Collup said. “One church even sent people to cause havoc in our
classes – which did not work.”
The plan backfired. La Point-Collup said the protests actually helped the church.
“The condemnation by these churches created a great interest in our
church on the part of many who had written the Christian church off as
judgmental and not relevant. We became known as a church where all were
welcome and thinking, exploring and discussing were valued. We are the quadrilateral in action,” she said.
“What was amazing is the majority of these detractors had never even
picked up a Harry Potter book. When I told them that the Harry Potter
books were very similar to the Narnia books, they were shocked. I
encouraged them to read before condemning.”
*Cross is a freelance writer in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Joey Butler, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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