Recently, an article in the Vancouver SUN advised the United Church of Canada - my denomination - to "stick to matters of religion," rather than commenting on the virtues and vices of the Northern Gateway Pipeline, or the Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank. Perhaps the SUN journalists should be required to take a course or two in New Testament theology, where both human misery and care of the earth are considered matters of "justice," which is a decidedly Biblical concept, and word heard on Jesus' lips now and then, not to mention the words of the Hebrew prophets!
In The Sun Media Corporation is critical of United Church policies, perhaps that means that we are doing something right! Sun media, whose major radio mouthpiece is Chuck Adler, whose musings make Newt Gingrich sound like a liberal, is a beacon for the political and social right. It would seem that the theological right also comes under their purview!
I can imagine the thunderings that will emerge in tonight's or tomorrow's editions of Sun rags. The United Church has elected a new Moderator, an openly gay man from Vancouver, Rev. Gary Patterson. We my even see scripture misquoted in the SUN; certainly hellfire and brimstone should be evident.
Since 1988, the United Church has declared gay persons to be eligible for ˆfull membership" in the Church. We have gay ministers, and now, a gay moderator. The fact the Rev. Patterson is gay is not nearly so important as is the fact that he is one of the best pulpiteers in the Church, and a man of huge integrity and skill. Rev. Patterson's election signals to the world, as well as to the whole Christian community, that the United Church embraces all humankind, not just those of particular gender or sexual orientation. Many Churches proclaim that they are not anti-gay, but they are opposed to gay marriage. I wonder, will they find reason to decry the election to the Moderator's chair an inappropriate selection for an individual who is embraced as a person, rather than as a straight person?
Many times, the speaking of justice is a good deal easier than the doing of justice. In this case, the United Church has acted out of its commitment to the whole of humanity, has lived its understanding of justice. I wonder how Chuck Adler will respond to such an action?
In The Sun Media Corporation is critical of United Church policies, perhaps that means that we are doing something right! Sun media, whose major radio mouthpiece is Chuck Adler, whose musings make Newt Gingrich sound like a liberal, is a beacon for the political and social right. It would seem that the theological right also comes under their purview!
I can imagine the thunderings that will emerge in tonight's or tomorrow's editions of Sun rags. The United Church has elected a new Moderator, an openly gay man from Vancouver, Rev. Gary Patterson. We my even see scripture misquoted in the SUN; certainly hellfire and brimstone should be evident.
Since 1988, the United Church has declared gay persons to be eligible for ˆfull membership" in the Church. We have gay ministers, and now, a gay moderator. The fact the Rev. Patterson is gay is not nearly so important as is the fact that he is one of the best pulpiteers in the Church, and a man of huge integrity and skill. Rev. Patterson's election signals to the world, as well as to the whole Christian community, that the United Church embraces all humankind, not just those of particular gender or sexual orientation. Many Churches proclaim that they are not anti-gay, but they are opposed to gay marriage. I wonder, will they find reason to decry the election to the Moderator's chair an inappropriate selection for an individual who is embraced as a person, rather than as a straight person?
Many times, the speaking of justice is a good deal easier than the doing of justice. In this case, the United Church has acted out of its commitment to the whole of humanity, has lived its understanding of justice. I wonder how Chuck Adler will respond to such an action?
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