Last week, I enjoyed a pleasant conversation with one of Long Island’s most respected village mayors, who has served Suffolk County for over twenty years and likely a decade or more as a village trustee. Our chat eventually touched on the village’s decision-making process, which includes public participation. He mentioned self-appointed advocates who regularly appear at village board meetings. Recently, Mr. Mayor admitted he was curt with a regular attendee—a familiar face at meetings for over thirty years—urging him to close his notebook from which he famously reads a list of grievances.
This story reminded me of a gentleman named Walter Sterling, a frequent figure in Nassau County’s public meetings during the 1970s and 1980s. I recall he would attend nearly every legislative session. After the opening Pledge of Allegiance, he would punctuate the phrase “and liberty and justice for all” with a loud, “WE HOPE!” Walter would also tenaciously interrupt any dialogue concerning the Nassau Coliseum with a corrective “NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM!” as a reminder of its dedication to our revered military service members. No matter the subject, Walter would proudly say white if the board said black.
Every leader, whether serving on a Fortune 500 board or a local school board, is familiar with these regulars who eagerly voice their thoughts on or off the meeting agenda. They consider themselves advocates, yet policymakers often regard them less as constructive voices than provocations—or, more aptly, gadflies. “Gadfly” refers to a persistent, irritating critic, a nuisance. These provocateurs derive personal satisfaction from challenging officials, which can quickly become annoying.
Should you be driving along the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx after a public meeting, I would be cautious of a fellow driver who may have just left a meeting tormented by one of these gadflies. Road Rage may be a possibility! I mention the “Hutch” because that highway’s namesake could easily have been labeled after a gadfly: Anne Hutchinson.
Anne Hutchinson’s trial began before the Great and General Court of Massachusetts on November 7, 1637, in Cambridge. She was ultimately convicted of heresy and sedition and sentenced to banishment from the colony. Just days after her trial, a college was established in Cambridge—what we now know as Harvard University. Hutchinson’s crime? She was a central figure in what’s known as the Antinomian Controversy, a theological debate in the Puritan community.
Following church services, she held meetings in her home, sharing her interpretations of scripture and emphasizing the role of personal revelation and grace over strict moral law—criticism that unsettled the Puritan authorities. Sometimes, she criticized the pastors’ sermons, which was a no-no (sometimes I wish it was still so!). Eventually, she was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony and settled in Rhode Island. Some of her family later moved to what we know as the Bronx, giving the Hutchinson River and Parkway their name.
Today, religious tolerance is essential. We respect the beliefs of all, including our gadflies. And while we may not encourage criticism of sermons (unless warranted!), we welcome open dialogue and discussion about our faith in the Lord. Join us for worship this Sunday, November 10, at 9:30 AM.
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
Rev. Marc Herbst
Pastor
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
36 East John Street
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
