SUVs at altar, Detroit church prays for a bailout

BanningZ · 12-08-2008, 12:23 PM

WTF???

Quote:

DETROIT, Dec 7 (Reuters) - With sport-utility vehicles at the altar and auto workers in the pews, one of Detroit's largest churches on Sunday offered up prayers for Congress to bail out the struggling auto industry.

"We have never seen as midnight an hour as we face this week," the Rev. Charles Ellis told several thousand congregants at a rousing service at Detroit's Greater Grace Temple. "This week, lives are hanging above an abyss of uncertainty as both houses of Congress decide whether to extend a helping hand."

Local car dealerships donated three hybrid SUVs to be displayed during the service, one from each of the Big Three. A Ford Escape, Chevy Tahoe from GM and a Chrysler Aspen were parked just in front of the choir and behind the pulpit.

Ellis said he and other Detroit ministers would pray and fast until Congress voted on a bailout for Detroit's embattled automakers. He urged his congregation to do the same.

Other Detroit-area religious leaders -- including Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders convened by Cardinal Adam Maida -- have urged Congress to approve an auto aid package.

But the service dedicated to saving Motown's signature industry at Greater Grace Temple was the highest profile effort to mobilize support yet.

"Everybody can't live on Wall Street. Everybody can't live on Main Street. But all of us have lived on the side street, the working class," Ellis said. "I call it the working class because everything tells me there is no more middle class."

Key Democratic lawmakers and the Bush administration were locked in negotiations over the weekend aimed at offering at least $15 billion in short-term loans to keep General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Chrysler LLC from immediate bankruptcy.

Automakers and their political allies contend a collapse by the industry would cost up to 3 million jobs as suppliers, dealers and companies in related industries were hit in turn.

Representing the 150,000 unionized workers at GM, Chrysler and Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), UAW Vice President General Holiefield said the industry had made its case for emergency funding as strongly as it could.

"We have done all we can do in this union, so I'm going to turn it over to the Lord," Holiefield told the congregation.

Ellis said he started to organize the service last week after hearing from auto workers, retirees and their widows who were all fearful of even harder times.

At one point, Ellis summoned up hundreds of auto workers and retirees in the congregation to come forward toward the vehicles on the altar to be anointed with oil.

"It's all about hope. You can't dictate how people will think, how they will respond, how they will vote," Ellis said after the service. "But you can look to God. We believe he can change the minds and hearts of men and women in power, and that's what we tried to do today."

Michelle McDade, 50, who attended the service, said her late father had worked at GM for 30 years and her mother was now living on his pension.

"I pray in good times and in bad times, but I pray these days because it's something that directly affects our lives. "Politicians forgot autoworkers for ages. You can't just forget them. We're also part of the country."

Founded in 1927 when Detroit was an automotive boomtown, Greater Grace Temple is one the city's largest and most influential black churches.

The church was the site of the 2005 funeral for civil rights figure Rosa Parks.

CrownR426 · 12-08-2008, 12:25 PM

That is a retarded thing to do...
LMFAO
Thought it was a photoshop actually.
The world is so sad...

sbsmoov · 12-13-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanningZ

WTF???

LOL!! Ridiculous. Praying over metal, plastic, glass and rubber--the church is in a sad state of affairs these days. Satan has definately taken his seat and is the head of the congregation.

Slidefox · 12-13-2008, 01:26 PM

I guess they really need to try everything!! I read that the US Government is planing on tapping into to a $700 Billion Aid Fund that they have for Wall Street to help the "Big 3"

ctzn · 12-13-2008, 03:22 PM

Hilarious

Let's hope god cares about all those workers welfare, maybe, along with the christians, if we get a group asking shiva for help, another asking krishna for help, and another asking vāhigurū for help we will be covered from all fronts and have better the odds.

shumby · 12-13-2008, 03:23 PM

just wrong

nogoodname · 12-13-2008, 03:26 PM

what the............. thats just sooo wrong on soo many levels

shumby · 12-13-2008, 03:27 PM

wait I just said that

nogoodname · 12-13-2008, 03:28 PM

^^ i added the "so many levels" thing

shumby · 12-13-2008, 03:34 PM

no you have to point out the levels

nogoodname · 12-13-2008, 03:40 PM

the question is who drove the SUV's in there

shumby · 12-13-2008, 03:41 PM

GOD duh dumb question

nogoodname · 12-13-2008, 03:46 PM

God knows better than to drive GM car...lol

dad · 12-13-2008, 04:09 PM

There is no such thing as god!

shumby · 12-13-2008, 04:11 PM

you have not met me then i guess

12-08-2008, 12:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
CrownR426 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Korea Posts: 4,676 Drives: Manual Rep Power: 848	That is a retarded thing to do... LMFAO Thought it was a photoshop actually. The world is so sad... __________________ Love + Hardwork + Passion RIP SVTRacer

12-13-2008, 01:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Slidefox Previous Moderator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,534 Drives: A Pony Rep Power: 214	I guess they really need to try everything!! I read that the US Government is planing on tapping into to a $700 Billion Aid Fund that they have for Wall Street to help the "Big 3" __________________ Forum Rules: Click Here Before Posting Click Here to Become a Premium Member Go Turbo or Go Home!!//Cowboys 2012 Superbowl Champs// Suns 2012 NBA Champions

12-13-2008, 03:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 44 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	just wrong __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

12-13-2008, 03:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 44 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	wait I just said that __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

12-13-2008, 03:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 44 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	no you have to point out the levels __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

12-13-2008, 03:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
ctzn inquisitive Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Back in Midwest, StL Posts: 384 Drives: G35 Rep Power: 17	Hilarious Let's hope god cares about all those workers welfare, maybe, along with the christians, if we get a group asking shiva for help, another asking krishna for help, and another asking vāhigurū for help we will be covered from all fronts and have better the odds.

12-13-2008, 03:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	what the............. thats just sooo wrong on soo many levels

12-13-2008, 03:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	^^ i added the "so many levels" thing

12-13-2008, 03:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	the question is who drove the SUV's in there

12-13-2008, 03:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 44 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	GOD duh dumb question __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

12-13-2008, 03:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	God knows better than to drive GM car...lol

12-13-2008, 04:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
dad Grand Prix of Endurance Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,476 Drives: Mulsanne Straight Rep Power: 26	There is no such thing as god! __________________ We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

12-13-2008, 04:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 44 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	you have not met me then i guess __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

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