Des Moines, IA: Friends and relatives of Chester Glowbridge are becoming increasingly concerned at his apparent lack of concern in the upcoming election. Neighbors also started wondering when he failed to join them in decorating his yard with various posters and signs.

When asked about his stances on the current issues of the day he only commented "Well, I don't know that I really have any. I just read my Bible, and meet needs in the community as I see them. I don't know that I can quite make the connection between Christianity and Politics."

When interviewed about his statement his cousin Charlie, 59, offered these words: "Chester has always been different in that regard. The thing that bothers us as a family though is that when it comes to really taking a stand for things like abortion, gay marriage, the war... etc., we feel that it is our obligation to be heard. We've invited him to many of the Christian Coalition rallies, Planned Parenthood pickets, and anti-gay rights demonstrations put on by Focus on the Family, but he just never seems interested. We can't even have a family reunion without him not saying a word in our political discussions. I guess that just kind of bothers me. I mean, how can one really call themselves a Christian and not be politically minded?"

Chester has been a long time attendee of the 1st Amendment Baptist Church where Pastor Jim Chaipan offered us these words: "Chester has been somewhat of a quagmire to me. He is active on our board of elders, taught Sunday School for the last 15 years, and has played an active role in our Good Samaritan Ministries. He's a very thoughtful, intelligent and persuasive guy. I just wish that he would use those God given abilities, at least in getting involved in the School Board to get rid of all that gay/evolution stuff that they are teaching in the schools. After all, this is a free country, and as such you have to take a stand on something!"

The talk among his church, family, and neighbors is that if Glowbridge doesn't repent of his silence then they are just going to move somewhere else. "We just can't live with this kind of ambiguity," commented his mail carrier.

By Chris Whitehead
Online Extra, November 2004