More fun with my local ministerial association.

[Critters2]

Just learned that the president of the ministerial association has asked an attorney who is part of her congregation to come to the next meeting to explain to us clergy the "threat" of Illinois passing a same-sex marriage bill, and what it could mean to churches. When I e-mailed and asked her if this was really appropriate, considering all churches in town don't agree on this issue, she wrote back "You shouldn't come if you don't think it's a good use of your time". :grr:

I think I'll be busy that day.

[dcsmart]

1. LOL...maybe you should get an attonery

and have your own meeting about why it isn't a threat...LOL...dualing meetings....:toast:

[Critters2]

2. I have three attorneys and a paralegal in my congregation,

and even the most conservative of them--a former Republican prosecutor--don't have a problem with gay marriage. Maybe they should do a panel discussion.

[dcsmart]

3. that would be interesting

how many people in your congregation? if you do not mind me asking, where did you go to seminary?

[Critters2]

4. OUr church membership is 210 people, so small.

Being the only really progressive church in a smallish conservative town doesn't lend itself to church growth.

I went to Andover Newton Theological School, just outside Boston.

[RevCheesehead]

5. So what's her point?

Why does she think this issue needs to be addressed to this group?
Does she honestly think she's going to change minds about the issue? Does she want a divided association and hard feelings? Or is she just so centered on her hatred of homosexuals that the issue simply must be addressed, and it's better if you don't show up at all, after all, you UCC's are going to hell anyways. :shrug:

:banghead: I HATE church people. Seriously.

[Critters2]

6. She explained this to me...she believes churches can be "forced"

to do gay weddings of the bill passes. I pointed out that no one is forced to do a wedding they don't want to do now, and that won't change. She assured me that teh gays will try to force their will on people like her. This lawyer is going to tell us how to prevent that, apparently. It seems the gays keep bringing up ordination and marriage, and you know, human rights, at her denomination's national conference, and just won't stop until they get their way (though their way was voted down yet again this summer). They're like that, ya know.

As to a divided association, I'm the only one who will disagree with her point of view. I'm the crazy liberal.

[RevCheesehead]

7. Clearly...

you are destined for a very, very hot "retirement." You'll be in my prayers. :evilgrin:

Don't let the bastids get ya down. :hug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. Yes, that's really a red herring

I recall my father (a Lutheran pastor) refusing to marry couples because he thought they were too young or because he thought one member of the couple was dangerously unbalanced.