Outside in the afternoon sunshine Tuesday, 13 members of the clergy gathered on the steps of Edgewood Congregational Church to make their feelings about Jessica Ahlquist known.

All 13 members spoke in defense of the teen, condemning those that have threatened and verbally scalded the Cranston West student for her outspokenness against the prayer banner at her school.

Reverend Dr. Donald Anderson, executive minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, organized Tuesday’s press conference to attempt to put an end to the heated debates that have occurred in the aftermath of Judge Lagueux’s decision to remove the banner.

“We must put an end to the name-calling and insults,” he said. “I think most people want a civil conversation.”

Anderson released a statement last week that said he agreed with Judge Lagueux’s decision.

“An official school prayer, no matter how well-intentioned, is inconsistent with the spirit of Rhode Island and the United States Constitution,” said Anderson in a statement. “Any prayer adopted by a government agency crosses the line to state-sponsored religion.”

Anderson was a student at Cranston West when it was a combined middle and high school in the early ’60s. Yesterday, he proudly waved his high school yearbook.

“I was there when all of this went up,” he said. “The school was new, so we had to decide on things like a school mascot, and in those days schools in Cranston had school prayers.”

Anderson said the prayer was written for Cranston West with the intention of being “more inclusive.”

“It wasn’t a Roman Catholic prayer,” he explained.

Now, he said, no prayer can be inclusive enough.

“I’m supportive of the ACLU’s suit and supportive of the judge’s ruling,” he said.

Rabbi Amy Levin, vice president of the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis, said she has spoken with former Cranston West students who felt uncomfortable with the banner when it was put up in their school nearly 50 years ago. She said the families and individuals she talked with were afraid to make their stance known during an era of such religious fortitude.

“Jessica, 50 years later, managed to give voice to their discomfort,” said Levin.

The Humanists of Rhode Island organized a gathering of more than 100 people in support of Ahlquist and Judge Lagueux at the Cranston School Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening. Members of the group plan to address the committee and reinforce their support of Ahlquist and the principles that she represents, though a potential appeal was not on the agenda.

Although the members of the clergy may not exactly agree with Ahquist’s belief system, they all urged the community to love and support her, actions their various faiths support.

“I urge all Rhode Islanders to speak and act in a positive and respectful manner,” said Rabbi Peter Stein of Temple Sinai in Cranston. “It’s about how we treat one another.”

Some clergy present drove home the point that Rhode Island was founded on the basis of freedom of religion and that the country as a whole was never a Christian nation.

“America is a land of freedom of religion,” said Rev. Betsy Garland, president of the RI State Council of Churches. “And dare I say freedom from religion?”

Rev. Matthew Kai was quick to point out that the church does not dictate the rules of the state.

“We are not the masters nor the servants of the state,” he said. “We are the conscience of the state.”

Anderson said people have been approaching him with the argument that America was founded on the basis of Christianity.

“It never has been a Christian nation, and I pray to God it never will be,” said Anderson, who is grateful that this country supports and encourages multiple types of faith.

Anderson said people have been surprised to learn he is in support of Ahlquist’s case and the verdict.

“I think that people are surprised because they assume since it’s something religious any religious people would be in favor [of keeping the banner],” he said in an interview last week.

Despite the shock of some, Anderson said reactions to his public statements of support have been mostly positive. However, he has received some negative backlash, including a demand that he retract his statement.

Ron L’Heureux, a North Providence man and devout Christian, sent Anderson a letter “respectfully requesting” he withdraw his statement.

“You cannot find the separation of church and state in any statutory law,” L’Heureux said. “The government was never supposed to sponsor one form of Christianity over another. They weren’t supposed to sponsor any religion. It was never meant to be a doctrine of the court.”

For Anderson, the heart of the issue is eliminating a school-endorsed prayer from a public institution.

“This is not the time to be defending a prayer on the walls of the Cranston West auditorium. This is the time to work together to enhance Rhode Island’s rich tradition of religious diversity and a climate where all religious traditions are welcome,” he said in a statement.

L’Heureux, who said he is a religious leader at New Life Worship Center in Smithfield, said he wrote to Anderson because he was upset with Anderson’s stance. L’Heureux said he doesn’t understand how a man of God can support a decision that’s “basically perpetrating fraud against the whole country.”

Anderson said he would not retract his statement and issued another public statement in response to L’Heureux’s request.

“In good conscience, I cannot possibly withdraw my statement,” said Anderson in a response. “I am very concerned about the turn this debate has taken.”

Anderson understands that religion is a very important part of American life and doesn’t wish to diminish that through his support of the suit. He believes that the reason the Ahlquist case has gotten so much attention is due to a larger principle it represents. He said he isn’t surprised that it has garnered so much attention.

“I’m more disappointed than surprised,” he said. “This situation has become representative of a much broader sense of change. It’s become a rallying point.”

He said the Ahlquist case was a way people could debate changing views on religion in society and the role organized religion plays in the country as a whole.

Whatever the reason for the public outcry, faith leaders are making a public attempt to put a stop to the threats and name-calling.

“Differences of opinion should be settled by conversation, not coercion,” said Rev. Leigh McCaffrey, pastor at Edgewood Congregational Church. “Young people should be able to think for themselves and not be coerced into silence.”

Garland closed her speech by giving a haunting reminder not to fear Ahlquist’s beliefs and actions. She quoted Isaiah 11:6.

“Remember that a little child shall lead them,” she said.