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Pastor's Message - July/August 2009
Community Decision MakingSometimes it can be fun to rewrite quotations from our bible. Here are a few I have heard:
- For God so loved the world that he didn’t send a committee.
- Where two or three are gathered, there will three of four opinions about how church should be run.
The
thing about many jokes is that there is often a hint of truth in
them. These two misquotes are joking about the issue of community
decision making. We can look at the humor in these misquotes and
be sad that community decision making can be a frustrating
experience. However, I would look at this and point out that
community decision making is an inherent part of being community even
if it is painful or frustrating.
At this time many
communities around us are dealing with issues. For example - the
Brodhagen Community Centre are working toward completing the playground
and landscaping – I offer my blessings and prayers. Then there
are the very serious issues of health concerns about the proposed wind
turbine generators that communities in Huron East and West Perth are
dealing with. I offer my prayers and blessings to the people
elevating wind turbine health concerns and I encourage them to stay the
course in making their voices heard. This issue of wind turbines
certainly is dividing our local communities and I also pray for paths
of restoration and healing within our communities.
But I turn to
our own church communities and issues that might cause division.
At a national level there are groups threatening to leave the
ELCIC. There are several underlying issues. One is about the same
sex blessing option that the Eastern Synod voted to allow in 2006. This
was never implemented since the National Church ruled that the Eastern
Synod did not have the authority to make that decision (which, in
effect, would have gone against a decision at the 2005 National
Conference). The Eastern Synod decided to follow that national
church ruling in order to keep good relations with the other
synods. I saw that as an act of community restoration. The
congregations who are voicing thoughts to leave the ELCIC are also
concerned about the question of the ELCIC joining with the Anglican
Church of Canada as one church. I do not know if these issues will
reach the debate floor at convention in June 2009, but I pray that the
Holy Spirit will guide the whole assembly in doing what God would have
us do.
Finally, I pray for our own congregation and the
deliberations over issues that we will be dealing with during the
coming year. One of those issues is the possible change of
removing or altering pews. This came up at our annual meeting in
Feb 2009 when a proposal was voted on to remove the back pew on the
east (pulpit) side of the church. The intent of that proposal was
to create space for gathering and ‘visiting’ with each other.
Many churches have a larger narthex than we have in our church. A
larger space allows for people to meet and ‘visit’ before or after
worship. Our narthex, (that hallway/atrium area just outside the
main worship space) is narrow and does not promote ‘visiting’.
The other intent of removing the last pew was also to facilitate
worshipers in wheel chairs. We have been blessed by the
installation of an elevator – and it truly is a blessing and a very
useful tool for ministry – this is a gift we have to offer. The
elevator speaks to the world a message that “all are welcome in this
place” (Hymn 641). In my conversations with people in three years
I have been here, that sentiment of being ‘welcomed’ is a key factor in
why people drive out to Brodhagen to worship here … they feel that they
too can sing that song of welcome – this is also a gift we have to
offer. One other gift we offer is the incredibly beautiful and
holy worship space. When I take people on a tour of our church,
the guests come in through the double doors and stop just under the
clock on the balcony and all say the same thing; “Wow – this is a
beautiful place”.
A group has been formed to investigate
seriously our message of welcome to those in our community that need to
use a wheelchair. Three of my questions are: Do those in
wheelchairs feel welcomed and included in worship? Are we
utilizing our ministry gifts to the fullest? Can we make changes and
keep the beauty and holiness of our worship space? Please
join me in praying for our community as we deliberate, voice our
opinions, discuss, disagree, find common ground, etc. in the process of
make a very important community decision.
If you wish to express
your opinion, please talk with of one the members of the wheel chair
inclusivity group: Harvey Ahrens, Barry Dietz, Debbie Elligsen, Rev.
Steve Johnston, Laurie Mogk, Rose Robinson, Murray Rose, Sherri Siemon
(council chairperson).
Let me offer two final misquotes, but ones that are filled with truth:
- Where two or three, or eight, are gathered, we can work for the good of the whole community.
- For God so loved the world that he is sending us, with our all our gifts for ministry.
Grace and peace to you Pastor Steve
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