DURHAM — Four selectmen at Tuesday night’s board meeting took exception to a Bible verse read at the opening of the annual town meeting Saturday, a longtime tradition. One called it “antisemetic.”
Stanley Allen, pastor of Shiloh Chapel, read from the Book of Matthew Chapter 6, verse 5: “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward …”
Selectperson Joshua Klein-Golden said “disappointment” is an understatement for what happened. He said he felt it was anti-Semitic and inappropriate.
“I was and continue to be extremely upset with what was said, and I continue to read that verse and try to find any relevance to the town meeting or anything that was going on and I can’t find any,” he said.
“I don’t need an explanation for why it was read, why it was chosen,” he said, “but I will tell you that I believe there was intent behind it, that it was anti-Semitic, inappropriate in any place, but especially at a town meeting held in a school.”
Selectpersons Joe Tomm, Joe Roy and Heather Roy agreed, saying the verse was inappropriate.
The board took no action after the discussion.
Joe Roy said “I think this is something we’re going to need to think about over the next year leading up to the next town meeting because I think the last thing any of us wants is for folks to feel uncomfortable right at the beginning of a meeting.”
Neither Allen nor a spokesperson for Shiloh Chapel was immediately available for comment Wednesday.
In other business, Joe Roy and Klein-Golden were elected board chairman and vice chairman, respectively.
The board welcomed Selectman Deborah Oliver in her first municipal office. She was elected in an uncontested race Friday. A Durham resident since 2002, she has worked Bath Iron Works for the past 35 years.
The board also announced there will be a recount for the Regional School Unit 5 board of directors race. Write-in candidate Stacey Howarth defeated Michael Ozga, 189-181. The recount will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Town Office at 630 Hallowell Road.
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