[Vision2020] Keeping church and state of mind separate in Moscow

Tue May 19 20:32:01 PDT 2015

I just fundamentally dislike the idea of judging someone based on one sole
attribute of theirs, in this case their religious affiliation.  There's
more to the job of being a board member for the Co-op than just this one
issue.  Just as there is more to each of these board members than just what
church they go to.

As far as I'm aware, Doug Wilson is not a board member.  Doug can certainly
talk some shit, but I don't see his nefarious plans of wanting to transform
Moscow into his ideal town as being anything to worry about.  Everyone
wants to transform Moscow into their ideal town.

Also, at least as far as the bakery owners go, I don't see their refusal to
bake a cake for a gay wedding as being something worthy of the term
"hate".  They disagree with the idea of weddings of two members of the same
sex for strong religious reasons.  They had no wish to play any part in
that.  Have they actually said anything to indiacate that they hate the
people for whom they refused to bake a cake?  I don't agree with them, but
I can understand them.  There's a far cry between refusing to bake a cake
for a ceremony they have religious issues with and not wanting to serve
gays generally.  I think people are too quick to jump on the idea that
anyone who has religious issues with gay weddings must hate gays in general.

As for Doug, I'm not a member of his religion but I think his rant about
kicking out gay customers goes against the grain of what he preaches.  Hate
the sin, love the sinner.  If anything, he should welcome gays into his
restaurant, since they would be high on his list of people that need
fellowship.  But, as I say, I'm not a religious scholar.

Paul

On Tue, May 19, 2015 at 4:47 PM, Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Hopefully getting this topic back on track...
>
> Paul writes:
> <Why don't we wait and chastise those Christ Church-affiliated board
> members *after* they propose doing whatever evil things you think they are
> going to propose?  That way, we're judging them based on their actions, and
> not their religious affiliation and our own fears and prejudices.>
>
> That's fine Paul.  Why don't we start with Doug crowing about how much of
> a privilege it was for him on Sunday night in Cd'A to be rubbing elbows
> with the likes of Aaron and Melissa Klein - the owners of the Oregon bakery
> who refused to make /sell products to a lesbian couple that would otherwise
> sell to heterosexual couples.  Is that enough action for you to render a
> verdict on Doug and the bakery owners?  If not, then feel free to bow out
> of the conversation if you can't make a call one way or the other.
>
> It's blatantly obvious that Doug supports refusing service to gay
> couples.  He's even written so right here on this forum that if he owned a
> restaurant, he wouldn't serve gay couples and would kick them off the
> premises.  If you want a link that post, let me know and I'll provide it.
>
> From there, how hard is it to connect the dots?  Doug preaches his brand
> of hate and instructs his gullible flock not serve 'homo couples' equally
> as married couples.  Apparently there are 3 of 7 Moscow Food Co-op board
> members with close ties to Doug.  MFC's policy presently is to treat
> 'same-sex couples as equals.'  The board was polled regarding this policy
> and one member's response was 'based on his personal beliefs and the Bible
> he studies, he does not believe equality extends to same-sex marriage and
> it is not something he would personally endorse.'
>
> Personally, I think it unwise to take a 'wait and see' attitude as Doug's
> minions continue to stack the deck.  MFC's policy should be cemented now so
> that no matter how much of Doug's influence infiltrates the board that
> same-sex couples will continue to be treated as equals by the MFC ad
> infinitum.
>
> -Scott
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:04:19 -0700
> From: paul.rumelhart at gmail.com
> To: moscowcares at moscow.com
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Keeping church and state of mind separate in
> Moscow
>
>
> I have an idea.  Why don't we wait and chastise those Christ
> Church-affiliated board members *after* they propose doing whatever evil
> things you think they are going to propose?  That way, we're judging them
> based on their actions, and not their religious affiliation and our own
> fears and prejudices.
>
> Just a thought.
>
> Paul
>
> On Tue, May 19, 2015 at 4:40 AM, Moscow Cares <moscowcares at moscow.com>
> wrote:
>
> *Bill London's Debate With Christ Church's Doug Wilson *(January 27, 2004)
> http://www.moscowcares.com/Bill_London/London_Wilson_Debate_KUOI_012704.htm
>
> Courtesy of today's (May 19, 2015) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>
> --------------------------------------
> Our View: Keeping church and state of mind separate in Moscow
>
> *By Lee Rozen , for the Editorial Board*
>
> By embracing the vibe of peace, love, funky stuff and local, natural foods
> whenever possible, the Moscow Food Co-op has become a local institution
> that helps define the zeitgeist of the city.
>
> Much more than do the city's 17 fast-food joints, the co-op helps define
> Moscow for many of its residents - as do the old brick 1912 Center and City
> Hall, Tye-Dye Everything, bicycle shops, the University of Idaho, the
> Farmers Market, One World Cafe and East City Park's festivals.
>
> The co-op's stature as one of the defining organizations downtown has led
> to some angst recently that it might change - or be changed. Being a co-op,
> it is owned and run by its members, most of whom note who is running in the
> elections for its board each year and then don't bother to vote.
>
> So far, that's worked. But this year, two of the three new board members
> are affiliated with Christ Church. Another member of the board is, also.
>
> So what, you might ask? Is it a problem if there are a bunch of Methodists
> or Wiccans on the board? The Christ Church members didn't reveal their
> church affiliation during the election, but then neither did any other
> member or candidate for the board.
>
> The concern has to do with the nature of Christ Church, led by the
> gay-baiting Pastor Doug Wilson. The co-op's personnel policies have always
> been rather inclusive of nearly any lifestyle choice. Christ Church not so
> much. There's concern that a fourth member on the seven-member board from
> Christ Church might want to change those personnel policies, among other
> things.
>
> It's almost like Monsanto, that company of caustic chemicals and
> genetically modified seeds for corporate farms, suddenly had three
> affiliates on the co-op board. And they just hadn't thought it important to
> mention that connection.
>
> Wilson in the past has made statements - whether hyperbolic or not - about
> Moscow being the right size town because it was both capable of and worth
> being taken over in the course of 35 years or so. People remember.
>
> New Saint Andrews, Logos, Bucer's, Nuart and Anselm House are all also
> associated with the Christ Church organization. Hardly overwhelming.
>
> There are many who don't want the co-op to be next. We're among them.
> --------------------------------------
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares"
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
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