Hudsonville, Michigan, which bills itself as “Michigan’s salad bowl” is under fire because its “Mission Statement” mentions God. The town (population 7,160) is located near Grand Rapids.

The Mission Statement reads:
“The City Commission and Administration of the City of Hudsonville strive to serve God through the strengthening of family and community life and are committed to excellence in providing quality municipal services.
We Pledge to protect the lives and property of our citizens, provide for responsible and orderly growth, and to promote the beliefs and convictions, economic opportunities, and quality of life for all residents.”

Michigan city keeping ‘strive to serve God’ in mission statement
By The Associated Press
HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – The words “strive to serve God” will remain in the city of Hudsonville’s mission statement.

A Wisconsin-based group that advocates for the separation of church and state recently asked Mayor Don Van Doeselaar for its removal.

He tells Grand Rapids TV station WZZM that officials in the southwestern Michigan city have decided to turn down the request.

City commissioners approved the mission statement in 1995. It’s posted on Hudsonville’s Web site.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison, Wis., said Monday she is disappointed by the decision and by the lack of an open debate.

She’s uncertain whether her group will take further action.

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On the Net:

City of Hudsonville’s mission statement: http://www.hudsonville.org/citygov.html

Freedom From Religion Foundation: http://www.ffrf.org/

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 10:52 am and is filed under Religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.