Monday, January 31, 2000
Creationists ready for zoning fight
Answers in Genesis has museum goal
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE — Supporters of Answers in Genesis have little doubt the Christian fundamentalists will raise the $10 million they need to build their creation museum.
Backers point to how a little-known ministry that arrived in Northern Kentucky nearly six years ago has achieved national prominence as a go-to group for Christians, churches and even the news media on the debate over creation vs. evolution.
Outreach expanding
Organizers say Answers in Genesis is now a ministry with a 60,000-member mailing list and an outreach that exposes 100,000 people nationwide to its message through seminars every year.
Last week, a crew from CNN toured the group's office and warehouse on Industrial Road in Florence. The warehouse is stuffed with dinosaur replicas, DNA exhibits, minerals and fossils.
The Rev. Charles Wagner, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Covington and a supporter, welcomed that growth. Answers in Genesis helps church members espouse the message they already believe.
“It gives us confidence in the totality of the word of God, the Bible,” he said. “I have never seen an organization that has grown with such rapidity as they have grown. It's amazing.”
Beginnings
Organizers hope to have the beginnings of the 95,000-square-foot museum on the property in Boone County within two years.
First, they must overcome local opposition. Critics will restate their case on Friday at a zoning appeal before a Boone County circuit judge.
Opponents want to reverse the fiscal court's 3-1 approval of a zoning change from “suburban residential” to “public facility” for the 47 acres on which Answers in Genesis hopes to build.
Critics fault the May 1999zoning decision on two grounds:
• Boone's comprehensive plan says infrastructure — such as public utilities — should be in place before a project is approved. There are no public utilities on the site.
• Commissioner Robert Hay should have recused himself from the zoning vote because he met with representatives of Answers in Genesis and discussed strategies that would help the organization win approval.
“We ultimately hope the vote of the fiscal court will be overturned,” said Jay Fossett, an attorney for the opponents.
Jennifer Warner, a critic involved in the case, said Answers in Genesis misunderstands their lawsuit.
“He (the executive director) has so misconstrued the lawsuit,” she said. “He has claimed it is about religious discrimination. It is not about religious discrimination.”
Walk-through history
The museum would present a walk-through history of the world from a biblical perspective, presenting what Answers in Genesis says is scientific evidence to demonstrate its view about mankind's beginnings.
Although the group is not involved in litigation or legislation to replace the teaching of evolution in public schools, it does provide books, tapes and speaking programs for people to use in their own efforts.
Ken Ham, founder and executive director, said the creation--vs.-evolution debate is more than a disagreement about the age of the world.
“It really comes down to a Christian world view vs. a secular world view,” he said. “It's about who you are, where you come from and how you view your fellow man.”
The group's statement of faith says the biblical record provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the origin and history of life, mankind, the Earth and the rest of the universe.
After the appeals process, the next hurdle will be raising money for the museum.
“Once the lawsuit is behind us, we might have a fund-raising banquet in Northern Kentucky,” said Mark Looy, the group's spokesman.
Mr. Ham added: “When we have so many supporters, do I really think we'll be able to raise it? No doubt. When people are committed to something, the funds come in. If the Lord is in it, the funds will come in.”
The organization said its operating budget for 1999 was $5.5 million.
Members say they have raised $526,064 for the museum and $89,955 for legal expenses. Two of the three attorneys working for the ministry are charging nothing and donations have covered the legal expenses thus far.
Along with all of the book of Genesis displayed — creation, Noah's flood, the tower of Babel — the museum will include the message of Jesus and of a new heaven and new earth, Mr. Ham said.
Visitors will go through side rooms to view exhibits from such fields as physics, paleontology or mineralogy.
The organization embraces a literal interpretation of creation and it says Genesis is a simple, factual presentation of actual events.
The Flood
For instance, members say the flood described in Genesis was an historic event that God initiated and that killed every living creature on Earth except those in Noah's ark.
The group also is pushing to reach a larger Hispanic audience through Spanish publications.
“We want to stir up Christians in this nation and be much more vocal than ever before,” Mr. Ham said. “We want to tell people we're not going away.”
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