tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post3734420958126659316..comments2023-10-23T12:09:50.512-04:00Comments on Clergy Confidential: Why A Trump Presidency is the Best Thing to Ever Happen to the ChurchTim Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913584491460599491noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-59097475398347405652016-11-12T15:49:38.999-05:002016-11-12T15:49:38.999-05:00You have a valid point. I do not wish to diminish...You have a valid point. I do not wish to diminish it at all. "The church" is guilty of what you are saying. But the church is not a building or even a congregation or denomination. It is all of we broken, believers and non-believers bound together doing the best we can to honor each other with this life we have been given. There are many out there who take up that mantle or cross (whatever you want to call it) and carry hope, faith and love with them wherever they go in whatever they do.Pam Lovallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01258030534588503574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-260851330923376512016-11-11T22:03:50.290-05:002016-11-11T22:03:50.290-05:00Jesus' ministry was not primarily one of inclu...Jesus' ministry was not primarily one of inclusion but of self sacrifice for the other. There is a difference. Someone may never be included but they may require our sacrifice - on their behalf for the sake of the Lord. We need to get our priorities in order. If we are going to be imitators of Christ, we will have to live out our baptismal death in our lives. Being inclusive is simply too easy and cheap.Fr. carlton kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11620717820371721998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-16678356506585982922016-11-11T12:31:23.244-05:002016-11-11T12:31:23.244-05:00Our white comfortable church will express concern ...Our white comfortable church will express concern about the marginalized, form a study group that meets for a few weeks, read a book,buy stuff for the oppressed, have a simulation, and move on to the next issue. Here and there a few members might actually engage, but its pretty rare. The church will then congratulate itself. They did the marginalized. Walk into one of the those churches that has a sign, "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You." Does everyone there pretty much look like you?<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678942671059568343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-77849005637538798492016-11-11T11:50:09.075-05:002016-11-11T11:50:09.075-05:00This was addressed in this article. Please read it...This was addressed in this article. Please read it again.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08212470790458905412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-62415955344513599872016-11-11T09:28:20.896-05:002016-11-11T09:28:20.896-05:00"For white Christians, this means stepping as..."For white Christians, this means stepping aside and allowing our brothers and sisters to lead the fight and write the narrative. For the sake of authenticity, their experiences must inform our actions."<br /><br />This has been my conundrum - realizing there was nothing I had to say as another white, middle class, middle aged male. These times mandate action informed by those who live in the margins, not "serving" but being present and in relationship. Thanks for voicing this - my time as a "compassionate observer" is over. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11140856498597977076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-16192833695554866242016-11-11T07:21:59.174-05:002016-11-11T07:21:59.174-05:00Thank you, Carol, for your words and wisdom. The c...Thank you, Carol, for your words and wisdom. The challenge is wide and deep but I see great opportunity in this. It's all hard work and, I agree that unless/until the church takes a hard look in the mirror and engages in its own hard work of reconciliation, we'll just continue to release well-crafted but ultimately useless "statements" and convention resolutions. Please keep speaking up and working for change. This isn't someone else's problem, it's OURS.Tim Schenckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13913584491460599491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-56559977523508096232016-11-11T07:17:38.277-05:002016-11-11T07:17:38.277-05:00Thanks, Nancy. Ugh. Edited!Thanks, Nancy. Ugh. Edited!Tim Schenckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13913584491460599491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-70307135726245419612016-11-11T02:37:55.061-05:002016-11-11T02:37:55.061-05:00I just read the blog and applaud the passion. I wo...I just read the blog and applaud the passion. I would like to ask about how folks see this lived out by a church that is predominately white and struggling to keep it this way. In a church that resists change, is fearful of neighbors who are not white and speak different languages and whose clergy young and old are predominately white and middle class. In a church that has so much potential, a focus on a Gospel of love, words and prayers of inclusion and care for the earth and doors that are predominately closed in neighborhoods where the neighbor is not known. How shall we do this when at the national and dicesean levels budgets for neighborhood ministries to our non white brothers and sisters are nominal or non existent. In a church where taking youth to do mission in Haiti for a week is preferred to developing youth programs with neighbors who are refugees or are non documented where long time friendships can be developed and shared ministry can begin. In a church where spending millions building or buying camps in the mountains or close to a lake for members who can afford to go to have the mountaintop experience of Jesus is more important than providing the experience of Jesus for our neighbors who are marginalized, on an everyday basis. How do we do those wonderful things you dream of in a church that is living in the past, not investing very much in the future and seems to be in as much denial about the changing demographics of this nation as is our culture. Until we get real about how to live out the things you wrote so beautifully about they are inspirational words that fall to the wayside as the days unfold. I pray you are able to bring this about in your own church and that your voice will stir the hearts of others to bring about the kind of changes that need to happen in the Episcopal church so we can be a church for all people in reality not just in our dreams. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18248972396351306774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-40809637385806167462016-11-11T01:05:33.677-05:002016-11-11T01:05:33.677-05:00This is very helpful! Thank you! Note: +Barbara...This is very helpful! Thank you! Note: +Barbara Harris was the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion, not the first African American bishop.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06603532835513729934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-6160534951313208242016-11-10T23:58:20.586-05:002016-11-10T23:58:20.586-05:00That's nice that you're thrilled about a T...That's nice that you're thrilled about a Trump presidency. What about those of us who are disabled, poor, and minorities? Are you going to give a good G-D about them? 47of74https://www.blogger.com/profile/04774555303359294190noreply@blogger.com