When the Rev. Alexander Veronis offered a benediction on Friday, he noted that this country doesn't resolve political differences with machetes, as in Kenya, or with assassinations, as in Pakistan.

The talk of unity resonated at the Eden Resort, where Republicans and Democrats shared breakfast, conversation — and prayer — hours before a new team of county officials was sworn into office.

But the "unity prayer breakfast," hosted by the Lancaster County Council of Churches and co-sponsored by the county Democratic and Republican committees, wasn't all about beating swords into plowshares.

Among Democrats, in particular, the breakfast generated as much heat as light, as much division as unity.

"It's caused a rift," said technology entrepreneur Charlie Crystle, a spokesman for Democrats concerned about the precedent being set by party involvement with a prayer meeting.

Both Christians and non-Christians are upset, he said.

The Democrats' participation seems to have been driven partly by a desire to help the party appeal to people of faith, Crystle said, and "that translates to me as catering or pandering for political gain."

County Democratic chairman Bruce Beardsley demurred.

"To celebrate our unity as Americans, we joined with an extremely well-respected community group in an interfaith expression of thanksgiving, as American politicians have done since the beginning of our republic," he said in a statement.

"One must admit, however, that as inclusive as we attempted to make this event, some faiths were inadvertently not represented, which demonstrates the logistical problems of conducting this type of event."

The Rev. Scott Fischer, executive director of the Council of Churches, said the consternation over the breakfast indicates that the issue already was brewing under the surface.

"I don't take offense," he said, "to anybody who got offended."

Coming together ...
After four years of controversy in county government, the breakfast was intended as a fresh start, a way to bring the parties together at the dawn of a new day in the courthouse.

About 175 people gathered at the Eden for a buffet bracketed by prayer.

Outgoing elected officials were recognized by the Rev. Peter Newport, a pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster.

New leaders were introduced by Rabbi Jack Paskoff of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, who recounted a story about the noted Jewish scholar Rabbi Akiva being asked to take a leadership position. When Akiva asked his family for advice, he was told, "If you take this position, they will curse you and despise you."

"In some cases," Paskoff said in acknowledging the sacrifices made by elected officials, "they have been exposed to venom, and yet they have been elected to serve.

"... Too often, for those of us who are not in the arena as elected officials, it becomes too easy to curse and despise."

Fischer picked up the theme, quoting Jesus' admonition about "taking the plank out of your own eye" before removing a speck from someone else's.

And Bishop Lloyd Hoover of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference prayed for God to "heal us of our bitterness toward one another."

Democrats at the breakfast included Beardsley, executive director Lois Herr, city chairman Greg Paulson, county Jury Commissioner Judy Saylor and her husband Bill, Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray, city Councilmen Nelson Polite Sr. and Jose Urdaneta, Millersville Councilman Phil Lastowski, West Hempfield Township Supervisor Tony Crocamo and congressional candidate Bruce Slater.

Andrew Heath, the GOP's executive director, said Republican headquarters took about 100 reservations, while the Democrats took 15.

Among the Republican guests was state Attorney General Tom Corbett, considered one of the leading candidates for governor in 2010.

... drifting apart
Friday's breakfast was proposed by Heath. But the party didn't want it to be partisan, so the Council of Churches was asked to host.

Fischer said he agreed. "I've been thinking about doing something like this that would bring us together," he said.

While the council is Christian in membership, it works with other faiths, including Jewish congregations, in community ministries.

Fischer said he understands the concerns expressed by Democrats.

"This is new," he said, and the quick turnaround time — just three weeks — meant that the idea wasn't discussed thoroughly.

Beardsley said the party may take up the matter in its issues committee.

About 20 party members contacted him to express support for the event, he said, while 10 others disagreed.

Crystle, a leader in the progressive wing of the party, was among the 10. He said his concern was one of church-state separation.

While the Republican Party has appealed to conservative Christians, Crystle said Democrats include people of many faiths and no faith.

It's fine to communicate openness to Christians, he said, "but I think there's a right approach to get that idea across."

A party-sponsored prayer breakfast, when parties are an extension of the state, isn't the right message, he said.

"It says to everybody else that you're not welcome ... that there is a test, a religious test. It's not American to me."

And, he said, "I look at prayer as something that's personal," rather than political.

Beardsley said he also understands the concerns. The party's motivation, he said, was "to pause a moment at the beginning of what will be a contentious year and thank both Democrats and Republicans who have served in public office and those who have been newly elected to serve.

"And to re-emphasize those greater things that unite us as Americans — love of freedom, love of country, love of family, willingness to serve, spiritual tolerance — prior to the beginning of this year, when both parties will be strongly emphasizing our multitude of political differences."

Craig Lehman, the new Democratic county commissioner, said Beardsley asked him for his opinion.

"I thought that it was good for the Democratic Party," Lehman said, in particular as an indication of "respect for Democrats who share these beliefs."

The program was inclusive, Lehman pointed out.

"I have no problem letting people know I'm a Democrat who has faith," he added.

Fischer said the council will start work on making the breakfast an annual event.

"Obviously we're not starting a new political party," Heath said. "We're still Republicans, and we're still Democrats."

But they're learning to work together for the good of the community.

In his benediction, the Rev. Veronis, of Annunciation Orthodox Church, said the breakfast "brings together different political and religious traditions who agree on one thing ... to support the democratic process."

And all the people said, "Amen."

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Helen Colwell Adams is a Sunday News staff writer. E-mail her at hcolwell@lnpnews.com, or phone 291-4962.