Hope, Homosexuality and Hospitality now online

The link for people who would like to listen to Dave's Bible study online is www.oregonsynod.org/bookoffaith/hhh

Good event - thanks!

I just wanted to thank everyone who helped to make the Bible study event last night a success. Special thanks for Toni for setting up and then putting the sanctuary banners back into place, to Janice for doing dishes afterwards, to Gary for set-up help and returning the sanctuary back to normal, and everyone else who put in time and energy in ways that I may not have seen.

We had 90 people present, mostly from other congregations, and the feedback that Dave and I have heard has been very positive. I think that, besides giving our own congregation the chance to explore the questions of the Bible and homosexuality, we encouraged a larger discussion in area churches - which is a good thing!

I'd be interested to know what you all have heard in response to the Bible study...

RIC Meeting Tomorrow, July 9th 7:00 PM

Hi,

It appears we are ready to meet tomorrow July 9th; the same agenda as before.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Peace,

Gary

Meeting this week?

Apparently Gary was the only one at our RIC meeting last Thursday night - oops!

Are there enough of us around this week that we can meet and continue planning for the summer? How about Thursday evening?

I promise to be mellow.

Agenda and Comments

Hello everyone!
As we were still in Norway for last nights meeting I am eager to hear how our discussion went. My views on the June 22nd meeting is that if we were able to get members of the congregation to express their views then it was a success. My understanding is that the meeting was not to convince people of an alternate point of view, it was simply to allow a forum for people to express themselves which appears to be exactly what happened. How many of the committee were able to meet to discuss the results? Would it be worth having another meeting when we can all be there before the scheduled Bible study?

Agenda for July 3rd Creator RIC team

Hello all,

Below is the proposed agenda for tomorrow's meeting. Let me know if there is anything to add.

Look forward to seeing those who can come.

Thanks,

Gary


Discussion of Last Adult Forum Feedback

Plans for July 23rd Bible study

Draft Affirmation Activity

Plans for August Activity

August newsletter article

Naming Our Fears and Concerns, Honoring Our Traditions

Kudos to Kelly for this discussion's success. People appeared comfortable to voice concerns. Here are the notes I made of the discussion. There were very interesting details about what happened that should make for a good discussion at our meeting next Thursday.

Concerns and Fears:

RIC team is pushing an agenda and is not concerned about those opposing RIC and giving them a voice.

There are those holding a secret (GLBT) that is affecting their self worth. Between feeling like wheat and chaff they are feeling like chaff.

After a year of discernment nothing will happen.

We need to reach agreement to remain in community and that may not happen in the end.

I am feeling prejudice to those that oppose becoming an RIC congregation.

Things that are said for and against will be misunderstood.

A year may not be long enough.

We are simply following Pastor Dayle’s agenda by pursuing RIC.

How will things actually change?

With RIC we will wave a rainbow flag. GLBT have always been welcome at Creator but this will bring in those with a political edge. This is drawing too much attention.

Explicit welcome for people engaging in extramarital sex will compromise the church’s traditional moral standards and condoned behaviors.

There needs to be a deeper discussion about choice. Given the spectrum of people's sexuality that some may have a choice and the church's position will sway them towards GLBT or away from it.

It is not our job to judge. We will judge rather than welcome.

Explicit welcomes will either be a laundry list to include all or will not include everyone.

RIC is draining resources and focus from deeper Creator needs. Mission to young families is being neglected.

I feel concerned that if those in Creator who disagree with one another over this issue are judging and we need to love those who don’t think like us.

Fear: Families may not want to worship here. Need to find voice for everyone. Anger: There are other more pressing concerns for Creator that our time should be invested in.

Financial concerns: Families may leave.

Creator is not doing a good job of welcoming some people now. We won’t be able to welcome GLBT even if we become an RIC congregation.

Concern people see this as following Pastor Dayle’s agenda. Creator knew her feelings on this coming in.

We need to intentionally do things differently to welcome. Fear is this will not be regarded as a challenge and status quo on welcome will remain.

We do not have enough personal responsibility for welcome. We do not follow what has been welcoming in the past. Not getting out of church without a hug from pastor.

When we welcome GLBT we are turning our back or ignoring scripture.

Concern about “dark side” GLBT (those who have no intention of living in monogamous relationships) coming to the church because of the explicit invitation.

We need to have a sense of community in order to be welcoming. How does Creator define itself as a community? We want to be a church with members that share common thoughts and values.