[Vision2020] Curiosity Question

[Joe Campbell]

What if we have further evidence that the pastor of a particular
church thinks that Mormons are blasphemers? Would that indicate a
reason for their absence from the list?

What if a school affiliated with another church openly challenges
secularists to "step into the alley" so they can be thrown "up against
a wall, lifting wallets and the occasional gift card"? Would that
indicate that, together with their absence from the list, indicate
anything?

On Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 10:14 AM, Darrell Keim <keim153 at gmail.com> wrote:
> So many churches are missing that I think assuming one is trying to send a
> message by its absence from the list is unwarranted.  Could be any number of
> reasons why a church isn't a member of a specific interfaith group.
>
> On Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 12:37 AM, keely emerinemix <kjajmix1 at msn.com> wrote:
>>
>> Well, my church, Rock Church, isn't listed.
>>
>> And yet I have no doubt that the spirit of offering thanksgiving to
>> Yahweh, the Allah of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- and genuinely loving every
>> person that God created, without exception -- is utterly consistent with my
>> church family's commitment to demonstrating and offering
>> Shalom/Salaam/Gospel Peace to our world.
>>
>> It's not that I feel the need to defend my church; it doesn't need my
>> defense.  But while I know there are a lot of good people of faith who
>> didn't, for whatever reason, attend the dinner, the current climate of what
>> passes for Christianity on the Palouse does raise questions about whether a
>> church group's non-attendance is innocuous, meant to send a message, or was
>> an intentional rejection of the event's purpose.  I think that our church --
>> a dozen very diverse people intentionally without a pastor, led by two women
>> and two men, all imperfect but committed to worshiping Christ together and
>> living out the Gospel in the homes, church, community, and world we're in --
>> very likely wasn't aware of the gathering.
>>
>> But maybe some were; I don't know.  I do know that at Rock, we tend to
>> equip, encourage, and expect  our sisters and brothers to do whatever it is
>> God has called them to do in the world, and do so as individuals; we don't
>> "do ministry" as a church  as much as we "do equipping" so that our people
>> use their gifts, influence, and passion to serve their neighbors.  As I
>> imagine is the case with all of the faithful, we want to focus on being and
>> not simply on doing.  Our people collect Christmas presents for kids
>> overseas, sponsor other children, practice and preach gender equality, work
>> at the Food Bank at St. Mary's, minister at Good Sam, develop genuine
>> friendships with people who feel unloved or outcast, volunteer with the
>> disabled, pray consistently and fervently for peace, march in the LGBT Pride
>> Parade, and seek out ways to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with
>> our God.  We assume that other Christians do the same, and so do
>> non-Christian faith-living people, and so do those who reject religious
>> belief but give to their community.
>>
>> As I said, my point isn't to defend my church, although I'm always happy
>> to introduce to others these people I love so dearly, and who, amazingly,
>> love, respect, and support me -- that's not something I've ever had before
>> in church.  And I think Tom raises in his question some important issues,
>> given the bigotry permeating the Palouse in the name of Christ.  So I've
>> answered his question, speaking only about my church as a part of it and not
>> officially representing Rock here or anywhere else.  As always, i appreciate
>> Tom's profound and demonstrated concern for injustice, intolerance, and
>> incivility -- in Moscow and elsewhere.  I'm interested in what other
>> Visionaires think.
>>
>> Keely
>> www.keely-prevailingwinds.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:44:06 -0800
>> > From: thansen at moscow.com
>> > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>> > Subject: [Vision2020] Curiosity Question
>> >
>> > Hi, V-peeps -
>> >
>> > I know that there are lots and lots of churches located here in
>> > Vandalville.
>> >
>> > Just out of curiosity, can anybody "in the know" identify any local
>> > churches NOT listed at . . .
>> >
>> >
>> > http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/interfaiththanksgiving/InterfaithThanksgivingProgram_111810_04.jpg
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Tom Hansen
>> > Moscow, Idaho
>> >
>> > "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to
>> > change
>> > and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>> >
>> > - Unknown
>> >
>> >
>> > =======================================================
>> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
>> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>> > http://www.fsr.net
>> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>> > =======================================================
>>
>> =======================================================
>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>               http://www.fsr.net
>>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>> =======================================================
>
>
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>               http://www.fsr.net
>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
>