June Event - Naming Our Fears and Concerns, Honoring Our Traditions

I will write an article for the June newsletter (due on Sunday) and want to move forward on an idea for a June event.

Our deepest concern for the past few RIC meetings has been to draw out the congregational fears, concerns and questions, particularly from those who may be hesitant to vote to become RIC.

This event would be planned so fears, concerns and questions can be brought to the table in a non-threatening way. Let's propose that what is brought up can either be an individual's fears, questions, concerns or they can talk about someone else's (take away someone having to "own" the concern). All concerns would be recorded. There would be no debate or challenge to any concern at this meeting.

The "Honoring our traditions" piece would be designed to move us towards understanding one another. We are in a different time and place now where a change appears necessary but this would be recognition that based on knowledge available in the past that the church proceeded down the path of concern and protection best understood at that time when the exclusion of GLBT was understood as God's will.

This would lead to the education in Bishop Dave's July Bible study, what the Bible does say about homosexuality & hospitality and why our ideas and approach are pushing a change to a tradition we may have followed in the past.

For those at the RIC training we might want to focus on baptism and have each person make a sign of the cross on another's forehead, recognizing them as a child of God.

Do you think that would attract those who are hesitant about the issue?

Feel free to add ideas about what would make this event a success or if you have any concerns we need to address around this event.

For a date would anyone have an issue with Sunday, June 22nd after worship? At the council meeting they liked our scheduled monthly RIC event after service a service.