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COLUMBIA, Md. - A rift is growing over a proposed five-metre cross in a town that was designed to build community - including interfaith centres in place of individual churches.

Some Columbia residents object to plans by the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center to erect the cross on the exterior of a new building.

With 100,000 residents, Columbia was built four decades ago by visionary developer James Rouse as village centres surrounded by shops and community buildings. The Rouse Co. made land available at a fraction of its market value to groups of two denominations or more that agreed to work together.

The Wilde Lake centre is home to St. John United Church and St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. The new building, for the St. John United congregation, will provide much-needed space. Rev. R. Whitfield Bass, pastor of St. John United, which combines Methodist and Presbyterian traditions, called the cross a "symbol of freedom."

The congregation originally planned to erect an eight-metre cross with backlighting.

But that plan was dropped and the size was reduced after some residents objected.

"It represents a whole philosophical change," said Barbara Kellner, director of Columbia Archives.

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http://www.columbia-md.com/