[Vision2020] Curiosity Question

[Darrell Keim]

So many churches are missing that I think assuming one is trying to send a
message by its absence from the list is unwarranted.  Could be any number of
reasons why a church isn't a member of a specific interfaith group.

On Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 12:37 AM, keely emerinemix <kjajmix1 at msn.com> wrote:

>  Well, my church, Rock Church, isn't listed.
>
> And yet I have no doubt that the spirit of offering thanksgiving to Yahweh,
> the Allah of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- and genuinely loving every person
> that God created, without exception -- is utterly consistent with my church
> family's commitment to demonstrating and offering Shalom/Salaam/Gospel Peace
> to our world.
>
> It's not that I feel the need to defend my church; it doesn't need my
> defense.  But while I know there are a lot of good people of faith who
> didn't, for whatever reason, attend the dinner, the current climate of what
> passes for Christianity on the Palouse does raise questions about whether a
> church group's non-attendance is innocuous, meant to send a message, or was
> an intentional rejection of the event's purpose.  I think that our church --
> a dozen very diverse people intentionally without a pastor, led by two women
> and two men, all imperfect but committed to worshiping Christ together and
> living out the Gospel in the homes, church, community, and world we're in --
> very likely wasn't aware of the gathering.
>
> But maybe some were; I don't know.  I do know that at Rock, we tend to
> equip, encourage, and expect  our sisters and brothers to do whatever it is
> God has called them to do in the world, and do so as individuals; we don't
> "do ministry" *as a church*  as much as we "do equipping" so that our
> people use their gifts, influence, and passion to serve their neighbors.  As
> I imagine is the case with all of the faithful, we want to focus on *being
> *and not simply on *doing.  *Our people collect Christmas presents for
> kids overseas, sponsor other children, practice and preach gender equality,
> work at the Food Bank at St. Mary's, minister at Good Sam, develop genuine
> friendships with people who feel unloved or outcast, volunteer with the
> disabled, pray consistently and fervently for peace, march in the LGBT Pride
> Parade, and seek out ways to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with
> our God.  We assume that other Christians do the same, and so do
> non-Christian faith-living people, and so do those who reject religious
> belief but give to their community.
>
> As I said, my point isn't to defend my church, although I'm always happy to
> introduce to others these people I love so dearly, and who, amazingly, love,
> respect, and support me -- that's not something I've ever had before in
> church.  And I think Tom raises in his question some important issues, given
> the bigotry permeating the Palouse in the name of Christ.  So I've answered
> his question, speaking only about my church as a part of it and not
> officially representing Rock here or anywhere else.  As always, i appreciate
> Tom's profound and demonstrated concern for injustice, intolerance, and
> incivility -- in Moscow and elsewhere.  I'm interested in what other
> Visionaires think.
>
> Keely
> www.keely-prevailingwinds.com
>
>
>
>
> > Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:44:06 -0800
> > From: thansen at moscow.com
> > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Subject: [Vision2020] Curiosity Question
> >
> > Hi, V-peeps -
> >
> > I know that there are lots and lots of churches located here in
> Vandalville.
> >
> > Just out of curiosity, can anybody "in the know" identify any local
> > churches NOT listed at . . .
> >
> >
> http://www.tomandrodna.com/MoscowCares/interfaiththanksgiving/InterfaithThanksgivingProgram_111810_04.jpg
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Tom Hansen
> > Moscow, Idaho
> >
> > "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to
> change
> > and the Realist adjusts his sails."
> >
> > - Unknown
> >
> >
> > =======================================================
> > 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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