http://www.hrc.org/issues/religion/13450.htm It's not even Thanksgiving and the Salvation Army is starting their Red Kettle Campaign. I don't think I have to remind anyone that this is a very homophobic organization. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, the Salvation Army's position statement on homosexuality has not changed one iota. Most of their scriptures stated in their position statement had been misinterpreted. The 1611 King James version of the Bible and the interlinear Greek English translation and Tanakh commonly known as the Jewish Bible or Torah believe that by our Jewish brethren to be the most accurate translation of the Bible does not contain the word homosexuality in any shape manner or form. Nowhere in the new testament is homosexuality mentioned. Most of the Old Testament talks about man's inhumanity to man in this story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Romans 1:26-27 actually talks about prostitution and not homosexuality or homosexual acts.
Some of the places that the red kettle campaign is located is the Bayshore Mall, Pick & Save (Bay Shore Mall management office telephone number is 332-8136, Chris Jaeter is the general Manager) and Stein's gardens and gifts. Needless to say if you are so moved it is my recommendation that we file complaints with these businesses demanding that they remove these red kettles from their premises. In the meantime stay tuned because there will be more to follow on this blog.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Some thoughts concerning Milwaukee MCC
Here some thoughts concerning Milwaukee MCC
Last Sunday because of my curiosity concerning the ministerial committees I wanted to see if anything changed. The two committees I was interested in were the Technology Committee and the Pastoral Committee. Needless to say I was vastly disappointed with the Technology committee for the following reasons.
The person or persons controlling the websites for the church insist upon using a web authoring tool that is extremely complicated and expensive. I believe this is to ensure that they will be the only ones capable of creating and updating the church's websites.
They have ownership of and control of the domains also assuring that no one will be able to access the websites.
There were several hearing-impaired individuals who are interested in making sermons accessible. Ideas concerning videos were summarily rejected.
In order for people to come back to the website time and time again (weekly) it needs to be changed and updated on a regular basis if that does not happen that is very unlikely that they will ever come back after the very first time. Nothing has changed on either one of the websites and some things should be completely eliminated or deleted from these websites in order for the church to move forwards.
I was also upset by the ministerial committee choosing music for weekly services. A good homilist chooses music appropriate to the homily or sermon. They do not allow anyone else to do this. This caused me to wonder how far in advance the minister prepares the sermons?
Concerning the communion I have several concerns. I understand that you may want to contemporize communion however some people believe that it has been watered down and lost its magic. The magic of communion is this trans-substantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The act of consuming these two items represents a forgiveness of sins, nothing more and nothing less. Now if new people to the church are not familiar with this, then I think it should be part of the membership class. Although different churches do not use the traditional wafers the bread should always be the same. Authenticity is good but Hawaiian bread just doesn't cut it.
Unfortunately the Milwaukee Metropolitan community Church will never grow if things don't change. I realize that you have your own style of effecting change, however that has not happened given the amount of time you have been minister of this church. I think that you need to take a stronger leadership position and insist the stagnant leaders step down and allow fresh blood to replace and revitalize these committees. You must accept the fact that some people will be extremely upset when this happens and some may quit the church entirely. Sometimes change is not always pleasant but necessary. In some circles we call it getting rid of deadwood.
There are times when I take the Devils Advocate position to force people to think and do things they otherwise would not do. I hope that people get mad then perhaps good things will happen. And although I am not a member nor do I intend to rejoin, for some reason I care about the church. I have had many pleasant memories with the church.
There is a method to my madness and always a reason for what I do.
Last Sunday because of my curiosity concerning the ministerial committees I wanted to see if anything changed. The two committees I was interested in were the Technology Committee and the Pastoral Committee. Needless to say I was vastly disappointed with the Technology committee for the following reasons.
The person or persons controlling the websites for the church insist upon using a web authoring tool that is extremely complicated and expensive. I believe this is to ensure that they will be the only ones capable of creating and updating the church's websites.
They have ownership of and control of the domains also assuring that no one will be able to access the websites.
There were several hearing-impaired individuals who are interested in making sermons accessible. Ideas concerning videos were summarily rejected.
In order for people to come back to the website time and time again (weekly) it needs to be changed and updated on a regular basis if that does not happen that is very unlikely that they will ever come back after the very first time. Nothing has changed on either one of the websites and some things should be completely eliminated or deleted from these websites in order for the church to move forwards.
I was also upset by the ministerial committee choosing music for weekly services. A good homilist chooses music appropriate to the homily or sermon. They do not allow anyone else to do this. This caused me to wonder how far in advance the minister prepares the sermons?
Concerning the communion I have several concerns. I understand that you may want to contemporize communion however some people believe that it has been watered down and lost its magic. The magic of communion is this trans-substantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The act of consuming these two items represents a forgiveness of sins, nothing more and nothing less. Now if new people to the church are not familiar with this, then I think it should be part of the membership class. Although different churches do not use the traditional wafers the bread should always be the same. Authenticity is good but Hawaiian bread just doesn't cut it.
Unfortunately the Milwaukee Metropolitan community Church will never grow if things don't change. I realize that you have your own style of effecting change, however that has not happened given the amount of time you have been minister of this church. I think that you need to take a stronger leadership position and insist the stagnant leaders step down and allow fresh blood to replace and revitalize these committees. You must accept the fact that some people will be extremely upset when this happens and some may quit the church entirely. Sometimes change is not always pleasant but necessary. In some circles we call it getting rid of deadwood.
There are times when I take the Devils Advocate position to force people to think and do things they otherwise would not do. I hope that people get mad then perhaps good things will happen. And although I am not a member nor do I intend to rejoin, for some reason I care about the church. I have had many pleasant memories with the church.
There is a method to my madness and always a reason for what I do.
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