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

J Ford privatejf32 at hotmail.com
Sat Aug 5 14:27:44 PDT 2006 

Why is it, I have to wonder, that this girl has been allowed to other 
functions and other church-involved gatherings but is nae allowed to this 
one?  Were children nae at those when she was?  Did she pose a threat then?

If she poses a "threat" or a "problem" why now?  What has changed about her 
or her ability to be around the wee ones?  Yes, she is 48 - physically.  
Mentally, she is nae but a wee one herself.  If the Aunt or others watch her 
as much as they normally would a child, what is the big deal?

That is all I am asking.

To be fair, it was the Director of the Children's Ministry that made this 
decision - the pastor just agreed.  Nae innocent is he, as he should be the 
leader of this church.  Howbeit, the Director is the one that should be 
answering these queries.

What I HOPE is nae happening is that since the VBS is open to the public in 
general and will include children from outside the church's circle, the 
church is seeing this child as a possible embarassment or cause for a weary 
look from those outside the chruch nae used to her or her way of being.  
PLEASE, donna let that be what is happening.

J  :]





>From: "Dick Sherwin" <rvrcowboy at clearwire.net>
>To: "Vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] Fw:  Letter to the Editor: Church is noninclusive
>Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2006 10:31:45 -0700
>
>
>----- 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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> > > >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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> > > >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>--
> > ----
> >
> >
> > > =======================================================
> > >  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
>=======================================================

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