Re: all sorts

[aleggett]

Greetings Stephen and the group. I have to say that the "Is denominationalism dead?" article was a good read for me as it was saying the same sort of things I have been for the past 10 years or so.   "The UCC has been sensitive to new perceptions of God in a universe of billions of galaxies and has taken the lead in breaking down traditional social barriers like the gay/lesbian issue and many other justice issues, and I think that's great. Of the denominations that exist, the UCC is the one I most want to be a part of. But where I think we and other denominations have failed is in the need to reinterpret our perception of God as a father who is up there, looking down and sending his son to die for us. We must recognize that, in this tremendous cosmos, there is a spiritual undergirding that is interrelating, that is connecting all of us to one another and to the natural world and all of creation, a creative spirit that is continuing to create, which makes nonsense of the dogma that Jesus was the one and only final truth. For me, Jesus' life and teaching draw us closer to life's meaning and purpose than any other Western world experience, but it is not the only truth moment in history and there is much more to be revealed. What we need to learn is how we can identify with and relate to that creative spirit which calls people to relate to one another and to share across faith lines in meeting human needs and standing firm for justice. This is happening in a lot of local churches. I'm thinking of churches where the emphasis is on the creation of a loving community where the children's stories speak about the love of the spirit which calls us to be a part of a loving world and calls us to risk in working for justice and peace for everyone. Denominations have not discovered how to be responsive to the presence of this spirit today, which is the Jesus Spirit, rather than traditional denominational duties, including the preservation of dogmas from the past. " He probably just says it a bit better than I do. Allan   ----- Original Message ----- From: Stephen Webb To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 1:00 PM Subject: all sorts of newsy bits: http://nsw.uca.org.au/ like designer children fight for justice nuclear disarmament The Passion of the Christ Eight O'Clock Sharp Property Resources Unit Safe and welcome Is denominationalism dead? Karen Dammann trial Success for Earth Ministry New website for lesbian and gay studies in religion -- 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, editing, web consultation and development, desktop publishing and graphic design, public relations and advertising. For a consultation or free estimate on your project call the Communications Unit at (02) 8267 4307.