MARCO ISLAND — Concern over a potentially exclusive Marco Island religious organization for businesses has developed into a protracted debate on the definition of "Christian," and created further distance between island sects.
While the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a Christian as "one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ," communication broke down among Jesus' followers at the Monday launch of the Southwest Christian Chamber of Commerce's new Marco branch over the extent of its mission.
Jeanne Sweeney, the group's Fort Myers-based executive director, last week said the organization is for business people who believe in Jesus Christ and the Bible. The local organizer, Alan Sandlin of ReMax Realty, added that the purpose of the chapter is to promote businesses whose owners have Christian ethics and adhere to the golden rule.
But at least one island minister said she was horrified by the evangelical nature and potential divisiveness of the chapter.
"I told (Sweeney she's) talking about economic deprivation of other people," said Rev. Joy Baumgartner of the United Church of Marco. "She told me anyone can join, but that's laughable."
Anyone can join if they accept Jesus as their personal savior, Baumgartner said.
Betty Honeycomb, a retired Westport, Conn., teacher and 12-year Marco Island resident, said she attended the meeting to register her displeasure with the group's formation.
"I am extremely sensitive to relationships between Christians — or should I say so-called Christians — with Jews and Muslims," said Honeycomb, a United Church of Marco congregant. "We have worked so hard for the (Marco Island) Clergy Association, for all of our relationships with all the other churches and synagogues to be great.
"So when I heard about this, it made me very nervous (to hear) people use 'Christian' in that way," she said. "They use 'Christian' to mean upstanding and moral, and (someone who) will run a business correctly. 'Christian' means you believe in Jesus Christ as your lord."
The implication that only the businesses included on the Christian Chamber list are to be trusted is too negative to consider, Honeycomb said.
Baumgartner said she told Sweeney she wouldn't be affiliated with the new chamber.
"I said this is not Christianity, and I would not hurt my Jewish friends this way," Baumgartner said. "(Sweeney) then told me I'm not even a Christian."
Sweeney on Tuesday denied making such comments to Baumgartner.
"I would never say anything like that," Sweeney said.
Marco Island Civic Association President Jim Arnold, who was visiting New York on Tuesday, said he was told of the group's purpose by several locals.
"When I heard about it, I thought it was outrageous. I couldn't believe individuals would propose such an organization (that excludes anyone) who does not share their beliefs," Arnold said. "I just find that offensive."
Immediate past MICA president Lynn Bradeen said he is "ashamed" of the Christian Chamber's proposed mission.
"Freedom of worship and the right of peaceable assembly are sacrosanct in our democracy," Bradeen said. "Exclusionary groups and extremism only divides our community and introduces an ugliness that serves no useful purpose. This borders on cultism."
While Jewish Center of Marco Island president Stephen Ostrow said he was hesitant to discuss the subject, the center issued a written statement on the matter following an executive board meeting Monday night.
"We, of the Jewish Center of Marco Island, are dismayed that a group is being considered that will cause divisiveness in the Marco Island community, trading on economic gain in the name of religion," the statement read. "We are confident that the Christian community will appropriately address this matter."
The Rev. Thomas McCulley, pastor of the New Life Community Church on Marco, said he feels the new group has a pretty good chance of succeeding after attending its Monday meeting. McCulley said he would like to see a more open dialogue between the two sides of the issue of the definition of Christian.
McCulley also alluded to previously wrangling with Baumgartner, and Monday's blowout had as much to do with their past disagreements as the proposed chamber.
Baumgartner said she has repeatedly asked McCulley and other conservative ministers to use "God," instead of "Jesus Christ" at mixed-faith events to no avail.
And a May 11 memo he sent inviting priests and ministers to meet for breakfast offended Baumgartner, he said.
He sent out a second letter Monday, explaining why he didn't invite Rabbi Howard Greenstein from the Jewish Center.
"It has been my intention to promote the unity of the Body of Christ in this community in keeping with Jesus' prayer as recorded in the 17th chapter of John's Gospel," McCulley wrote. "This, by its very verbiage, is admittedly exclusive in nature. . . Someone from a different faith would not desire to attend or support such an event as the recent meeting. That is why I did not invite Rabbi Greenstein."
At her Monday night board of governors meeting, Baumgartner asked the 18 members of the group if they will stand with her and support the Jewish congregation's concerns.
"They said 'absolutely,'" Baumgartner said.
The four-year-old Christian Chamber has 300 members in Fort Myers, Naples and LaBelle, Sweeney said.
Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Keefer said she doesn't communicate with the Christian Chamber in her area, but she's heard about it.
"They probably only do one or two meetings a year," Keefer said. "Most of us in the chamber industries regularly communicate, to make sure we're not duplicating programs or dates. I've personally never been approached by them, and I've never approached them. Quite honestly, we have no involvement with them whatsoever."