[Vision2020] Fw: Letter to the Editor: Church is noninclusive

Sat Aug 5 10:31:45 PDT 2006

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Sherwin" <rvrcowboy at clearwire.net>
To: "J Ford" <privatejf32 at hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Letter to the Editor: Church is noninclusive


> I also agree with your sentiments, on the surface.  However, I hesitate to
> jump to irrational conclusions not knowing the reasoning behind the denial
> of Ginger's acceptance into VBS at this particular church.  Let us not
> forget that Ginger is 48 years old, physically, and there may be some
> problems arising from that fact.
>
> I would prefer to know the actual facts behind the reasoning of the church
> in this denial before judging the decision of the pastor and the board.  I
> am not suggesting they were not wrong in this decision but that it would
> serve my conscience better to base my judgment on those facts than on all
> the emotional clap-trap I have read to this point.
>
> Remember, there are always two sides to every story and no one has
presented
> the other side here in the forum.  To date, we do not even know what
church
> is involved.  Therefore, to jump to emotional conclusions would be only
> adding fuel to a fire that may not even exist.
>
> I suggest we need more evidence before taking the leap of ignorant
agreement
> with either side in this issue.
>
> God bless,
>
> Dick S.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "J Ford" <privatejf32 at hotmail.com>
> To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 10:01 AM
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Letter to the Editor: Church is noninclusive
>
>
> > Not only that, but what does that tell the children who will be
attending
> > that VBS?  That even though Jesus healed and was around special people,
> they
> > shouldn't be?  That there is something to fear about this girl?  That
even
> > though they may see her and be around her in church and other functions,
> VBS
> > is a "handicapped free zone"?
> >
> > I have a Downs Syndrome person in my family.  I have been around groups
of
> > them a lot over the last 30 years and have even worked with them.  Only
> > twice in that time have I felt that I could not handle one of them and
> that
> > more based on size of the person than their actions.  Whomever is pastor
> of
> > this church has no idea what he is forcing those children to miss out
on.
> > Downs Syndrome people are some of the most huggy, friendly, forgiving,
> > honest, helpful folks I have ever met.
> >
> > Being "different" does not mean "being shunned is acceptable."
> >
> > Shame on that pastor and shame on the people that follow his lead in
this
> > particular line of action.
> >
> >
> >
> > J  :]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "keely emerinemix" <kjajmix1 at msn.com>
> > >To: sslund at adelphia.net, vision2020 at moscow.com
> > >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Letter to the Editor: Church is noninclusive
> > >Date: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 06:34:13 -0700
> > >
> > >I can't imagine how the aims of Vacation Bible Church were met by
> excluding
> > >a supervised woman with a disability in its program, and I hope this
> > >prompts the church to rethink more than just its VBS outreach.
> > >
> > >Thanks, Saundra.
> > >
> > >keely
> > >
> > >
> > >From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at adelphia.net>
> > >To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > >Subject: [Vision2020] Letter to the Editor:  Church is noninclusive
> > >Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 23:04:35 -0700
> > >
> > >Dear Visionaries:
> > >
> > >It's not often I'm moved to heartbroken tears by a letter to the
editor,
> > >but
> > >it happened today.  For those who don't subscribe to the Moscow-Pullman
> > >Daily News, I'm pasting the letter below my signature.  I've been
around
> > >long enough to know that there are always at least two sides to every
> > >story,
> > >and this letter tells only one side.
> > >
> > >I hope everyone takes the 45 seconds or so it will take to read the
> letter,
> > >but I'm hoping for more than that:  my fervent prayer is that each of
you
> > >who reads this will find out what your place of worship would do in
this
> > >situation.  Let your feelings be known, and demand that inclusive
> policies
> > >be more than policies -- insist that inclusiveness be practiced.
> > >
> > >And, if any of you happen to know the family in question, please pass
> along
> > >my heartfelt prayers for them and for Ginger . . . and for their
church.
> > >
> > >Please don't forget to scroll down to read the letter!
> > >
> > >
> > >Wiping Away Tears of Sorrow,
> > >Saundra Lund
> > >Moscow, ID
> > >
> > >The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to
do
> > >nothing.
> > >- Edmund Burke
> > >
> > >Published: 08-04-2006
> > >Church is noninclusive
> > >
> > >I am writing so I can stand up for a disabled person who has no voice
to
> > >challenge the policy of a big church.  Ginger has Down syndrome.  Since
> the
> > >death of her mother six years ago, her sister in Florida has been
taking
> > >care of her.  Now it's my wife's turn to take care of her.  She just
came
> > >here to live with us.  My wife is doing her best to do what's good for
> > >Ginger.  We take her out to numerous places so that she is
> "mainstreamed."
> > >
> > >We have lived in different parts of the United States, and this is the
> > >first
> > >time we have had any issues with organizations who provide services.
We
> > >attended this particular church that we thought had great youth
programs.
> > >So, when Ginger came to live with us, we placed her in a first-grade
> Sunday
> > >school class.  The teacher was more than welcoming and accepting to
her,
> as
> > >well as the other students in her classroom.
> > >
> > >Although she is 48 years old physiologically, her mental age is about
> that
> > >of a first grader.  She is well mannered, loves to color, write letters
> to
> > >her sisters, reads at first-grade level, etc.
> > >
> > >This church was having a vacation Bible school from July 17-21.  We had
> > >hoped to place her in the first-grade class, however, we were told the
> > >director of children's ministries had made a decision along with the
head
> > >pastor to exclude Ginger from the program.
> > >
> > >I don't understand.  An institution like a church promoting
> "inclusiveness"
> > >didn't let Ginger participate.  My wife was going to be one of the
> helpers
> > >at the vacation Bible school, so that she could keep an eye on Ginger
if
> > >something happened.
> > >
> > >I didn't know where to turn so I am writing this letter.
> > >
> > >
> > >Yoshi Smith, Pullman
> > >
> > >
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>
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