Hi all A quick note (yes Darren, it will be quick), with an observation from a recent ministry exchange into Cape Town.
I was dumbfounded over there about the huge emphasis on membership. Confirmation in the congregation I was at involves a 12 month preparation course. They are contemplating make it 2 years. I had to deal with a request for a transfer as a matter of urgency, as the person had moved to an Anglican church and wanted to have communion, but couldnt if they werent a member. There had to be a discussion at one time among councillors because I was asked to do a funeral of a husband of a member, but the husband was not a member of the congregation I was at. Was this OK? And at the same time, the people in the congregation could stand in their streets and point to each of the houses, letting me know who was a member of which church. It seemed to me to be evidence (& there was much of it) of a society where the role and place of the church bears little if any similarity to the role and place of the church in Oz. I know, I know, that the current list discussion on membership isnt suggesting anything of those specifics. But even that little time in South Africa has opened my ears to warning bells. Gordon Ramsay ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------
