Chaplain Wins Case, but Still Seeks Loan

A former Navy chaplain whose persistence led to a significant ruling this year by the Small Business Administration--a rule change making religion-related businesses eligible for SBA loans--hasn’t got his loan yet. But his new ministry will start anyway Sunday.

The Rev. Ron Ritter, 58, of Fallbrook will be commissioned as the first chaplain for “grief support ministry” in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Pacific Southwest District in a ceremony at 4 p.m. in Zion Lutheran Church in Fallbrook.

Ritter’s initial expenses will be covered by the Irvine-based district and a fund at the church-related Concordia University at Irvine, he said.

But Ritter has hoped to make ministry self-supporting through “Apples ‘N Roses,” a small company he owns that weaves dried grape vines from nearby vineyards into heart-shaped wreaths, stars and crosses decorated with wooden apples and silk roses. “Apples ‘N Roses has yet to show a profit,” Ritter said this week.

In early 1994, he applied for an SBA loan of $100,000 but was denied under an “opinion molders” rule at the federal agency, which prevented the government from guaranteeing loans to newspapers, broadcasting stations, bookstores, church-run businesses and greeting card companies, among others.

The SBA dropped the rule in July 1994, but retained a ban against religion-related businesses.

After Ritter’s application was denied, he turned for help to the Rutherford Institute, a Charlottesville, Va., organization specializing in religious rights cases. The institute lobbied the SBA for a change, arguing that the government was discriminating against Ritter because of his beliefs, said Brad Dacus of the Rutherford Institute.

In a little-publicized policy decision, SBA officials changed the rule again in March to make faith-related firms eligible to apply. The change “is going to be very, very significant” for many small businesses, Dacus said.

“All I looked for was an equal chance, a level playing field,” said Ritter, who decided to begin a grief support ministry after the death of his 16-year-old son in a 1987 car accident.

Ritter said his latest loan application at a Fallbrook bank was turned down “for business reasons.” In hindsight, Ritter acknowledged, he believes his application was turned down because he submitted it without any expert advice. He has hired a former banker to help him with the next application--and in his business.

ETHICS

Five panelists will discuss “The Ethics of War and Peace: Religious and Secular Perspectives” in a two-hour symposium at 3 p.m. Thursday in UCLA’s Faculty Center. The event also will include entertainment: classical flamenco performances by L.A. Ole.

The symposium celebrates the publishing of a book of the same title by Princeton University Press in conjunction with the Ethikon Institute, based in Redondo Beach. Terry Nardin, the book’s editor, will moderate the session. Panelists will include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Miles of the Claremont Graduate Center for the Humanities, feminist Carole Pateman of UCLA’s political science department, Rector Jeremiah McCarthy of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo and Dr. Eba Hathout of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

The UCLA Center for the Study of Religion and the Skirball Institute on American Values are co-sponsors with Ethikon. Admission free; parking $5. Reservations: (310) 376-5541.

CONGREGATIONS

Few so-called mega-churches are more than 50 years old. But the Lake Avenue Congregational Church in Pasadena has defied the odds, drawing nearly 5,000 people a week to its services and ministries, and is now celebrating its centennial with a series of autumn events.

The evangelical church, whose imposing, 7-year-old worship center is visible from the Foothill Freeway, will hear Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, as guest preacher at services 6 p.m. today and at 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Charles Swindoll, president of Dallas Theological Seminary, will speak the first weekend in November.

Musical events include a pop-oriented “Night of a Thousand Stars ‘96” at 8:30 p.m. today and a tribute to American composers at 8 p.m., preceded by a dinner. For tickets ($10) and information: (818) 795-7221.

* The fledgling Congregation Am Hayam, the only Conservative Jewish congregation between Thousand Oaks and San Luis Obispo, will dedicate its first permanent meeting place Oct. 5 at 351-A Irving Drive in Oxnard.

Cantor Gerald Hanig, who was with Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge for more than 20 years, will serve as rabbi of the new synagogue, said lay spokesman Morton H. Resnick.

Hanig will conduct the 6:30 p.m. dedication ceremony, to be followed by Simchat Torah eve services. Nonmembers are asked to call in advance: (805) 984-4009 or (805) 984-7986.

MUSIC

Paul Salamunovich, one of seven Catholics honored this month by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony for contributions to church life, will conduct a 60-voice chorale in a benefit concert 8 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 311 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Salamunovich, music director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and choir director since 1949 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood, was given the annual Cardinal’s Award on Sept. 9. Tickets are $25 and $10. (818) 792-4183.

* The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra will perform in a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 hosted by West Angeles Church of God in Christ, 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., and co-sponsored by Los Angeles’ African American Unity Center. William Eddins, assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will be the guest conductor and pianist. Other performers will include the Cambridge Singers. Tickets are $10, $25 and $50. (213) 789-7300.

DATES

Although many old-line Protestant denominations appear to be polarized on tough social issues, theology professor Jack B. Rogers says that 75% of the church members are moderate in outlook. Author of “Claiming the Center: Churches and Conflicting Worldviews,” Rogers will lead a two-day workshop, starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena. Rogers is vice president of San Francisco Theological Seminary/Southern California. A $7 fee includes lunch. (818) 794-7141.

* Scott Anderson, the executive director of the Sacramento-based California Council of Churches, will lead a program on state ballot issues, starting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 5 at Christ Lutheran Church, 6500 Stearns St., Long Beach, sponsored by the South Coast Ecumenical Council. (310) 595-0268.

* Launching a three-part program comparing Jewish and Japanese communities in Southern California, the Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church in Boyle Heights and Stephen Sass, president of the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California, will make multimedia presentations 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. 1st St., Los Angeles. Reservations required: (213) 852-7730.

FINALLY

An interfaith event devoted to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) will be observed Sunday at a small Hindu temple in Chatsworth, starting with a 3 p.m. showing of the movie “Gandhi.”

Dinesh Lakhanpal, president of the host Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, 21213 Devonshire St., will conduct yoga meditation in Gandhi style at 6:30 p.m. as part of the program, which is open to the public.

Representatives of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council and the co-sponsoring Society of India America, will conclude the event with tributes to Gandhi’s simplicity, spirituality and dedication to nonviolent change.

Notices may be mailed to Southern California File, c/o John Dart, L.A. Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311, or faxed to Religion desk (818) 772-3385. Items should arrive about three weeks before the event, except for spot news, and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.

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MEDIA

The Oscar-winning “Dead Man Walking,” CBS’ “Touched by an Angel,” Columbia Pictures’ “Fly Away Home” and actor Carroll O’Connor will receive awards from Catholics in Media Associates on Oct. 27 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will present the awards at the group’s annual brunch, which will begin with a 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by the Los Angeles prelate.

Actress Shelley Fabares of the TV series “Coach” will be host of the event. Founded five years ago by the writer/director team of Patt and Jack Shea, the group honors projects and people who have “made clearer the word of God and affirmed the highest ethical standards of the Judeo-Christian tradition.”

* The Los Angeles-based Center for Media Literacy, founded by Sister Elizabeth Thoman as an outgrowth of its Media & Values magazine, will open a four-day conference at UCLA on Thursday intended to promote critical thinking about mass media. The National Media Literary Conference, co-sponsored by the UCLA Center for Communications Policy, is expected to attract more than 500 teachers, activists, screenwriters and scholars. (213) 931-4177.