Florida Christian Ministry Says It Won't Host Nativity at Capitol Building This Christmas

A Christian ministry in Florida has recently announced its plans to not host a Nativity scene at the Tallahassee Capitol building this holiday season.

In years past, the Florida Prayer Network has set up a Christian Nativity in the rotunda of the Florida Capitol building. The Nativity frequently accompanies other non-Christian displays, such as an atheist-hosted Festivus pole. 

Pam Olsen, president of the Florida Prayer Network, recently said in a statement posted to Facebook that her ministry decided not to erect the Christian Nativity to avoid the annual debate at the Tallahassee Capitol building.

"I truly want the message of Christ, the Son of God, born in a manger so long ago in Bethlehem, to be heard very clearly at this difficult time, instead of the dissension in the Capitol rotunda. This is not the year for that kind of debate in our rotunda," Olsen wrote on Facebook.

"We pray that Christ's message of hope and peace will be communicated in a much stronger way this year from Florida's capitol, by us NOT placing the Nativity in the rotunda," she added.

Olsen added in a statement to the Miami Herald that her "hope is that the Christ in Christmas is louder than a wood display and some figurines." 

"I have been pondering this for a while," Olsen continued. "The racial tensions and mass murders, the shootings at the Planned Parenthood and in California – something is very wrong in our country. We need to step back and say we need to stop. Let the sound of the Christ Child bring hope, joy and peace instead of dissension."