With all the talk about leaving the church over Res 84, over conflict and other things I thought about what would make me leave... (In a bizarre way this is connected to Tom Stuart's question about (How/Why) do we follow Jesus?)
My first (slightly glib - because I am not really thinking of leaving, so I don't need any pastoral or disciplinary letters yet thankyou) thoughts about why I would leave
1: The Synod meeting - not because of Res 84 but because I was bored and
we moved nowhere fast! I could get bored out of the church (this goes for many worship services - but there are enough good ones out there that the generalisation is not helpful)
2: Property issues - I get most irritated with congregations who can not or will not see property as something to serve the mission of the church. How can we follow Jesus when we love the buildings more than the people?
3: Structures of the church: It is so confusing to work in a church which is neither centralised (like say the catholics) nor distributed (like the baptists). When I come to a church meeting I want to know clearly and quickly
a) is this our decision to make
b) what are the options open to us
c) how does this represent an act of following Jesus
d) how does it connect with God's continuing mission
despite sitting through polity class and too many church meetings I still find the 'inter-conciliar' idea 'nice in theory but often fails
in practice'. Our penchant for forming committees is also highly problemmatic!
Anyway - probably a bunch of hooee (a call to please not take this too seriously)
Niall
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: new guff here Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:40:59 +1100 From: Stephen Webb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Pastors tell why they walk away More than one in four departing United States clergy cited conflict with denominational officials or the belief that church headquarters was not supportive as a motive. READ ON <http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/03468.htm> And it's costly to start. READ ON <http://www.ucc.org/ucnews/nov03/answering.htm>
Church leaders concerned over Middle East conflict British and Irish Church leaders have written to the heads of churches in Jerusalem assuring them of the prayers for continued international support for a sustainable political resolution. READ ON <http://www.methodist.org.uk/news/0198.htm> And there is a new website <http://www.eappi.org/> for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel.
Cardinal, Rabbi to debate success of dialogue An evening's conversation, to be held on November 26 at Darlinghurst's Sydney Jewish Museum will be broadcast on ABC Radio National's Religion Report program. READ ON <http://nsw.uca.org.au/news/2003/cardinal-rabbi-dialogue_11-11-03.htm>
--
Stephen Webb
Media Officer
Communications Unit
NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia
Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Phone: +61 2 8267 4308; Mobile: 0423 259 945; Fax: 9267 4716; Web: nsw.uca.org.au/cu/ &
insights.uca.org.au/
------------------
The Communications Unit publishes the monthly magazine Insights,
conducts public relations for the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, and
provides a variety of communications services. These include writing,
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-- Niall McKay Bathurst City Uniting Church 140 William Street Bathurst NSW 2795 Office Phone: 02 63321197
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Prophetic words
"we are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you. And, whenever you've got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up"
Michael Moore
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