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I am almost at the point that I wish the EMU would
call our bluff and leave. I was at a Presbytery meeting on Saturday and was told
that the 'majority' of the Presbytery were opposed. Yet when I thought about the
conversations I had with individuals, the congregations on the New England
highway (with the exception of 1 who was making their first visit to a
Presbytery meeting in more than 2 years. Clouds and silver linings come to mind)
basically couldn't care less about Resolution 84. I suspect that the majority of
the congregations from those who are almost uncontrollably angry would probably
not leave, even those who don't like the decision. All the big (50+)
congregations just want to get on with being the church. Now I have to waste
another day going to a meeting, where the angries will dominate, because only
they have the emotional commitment to this issue. The UCA is about more than
sexuality. We are into acceptance of women, aborigines and migrants. We
like variety of worship styles. We are committed to community issue like
famine relief and ANZAC Day services. We accept people even if they vote for the
'wrong' way. We like our lay people involved in leading the church (which is
what happened at Assembly: male ministers with more than 1 degree were in the
minority). We are the only church that has all of this under one banner. I am
almost at the point where I wish that the EMU laid their cards on the table
so we can all see who actually has the aces.
David
Rev Dr DJ Neilson
112 Rusden St Armidale NSW 2350 Australia [EMAIL PROTECTED] ph: 61-2-6772 7437 mobile/HP: 0402 40 6905 Lichtenberg: "He swallowed a lot of knowledge, but
it seems as if most of it went down the wrong
way." |
