Re: Boo hoo! Taboo! -- Mamusz' Restoration Forum

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Date Posted: 19:01:30 12/02/11 Fri
Author: George
Subject: Re: Boo hoo! Taboo!
In reply to: Lois 's message, "Re: Boo hoo! Taboo!" on 10:28:30 12/02/11 Fri

>>
>> >>href="http://www.cofchrist.org/wc2010/counsel/QA3.asp"
>>
>>http://www.cofchrist.org/wc2010/counsel/QA3.asp
>>
>>"As an example, homosexuality is a conflicted topic.
>>It is difficult for some church members to discuss it.
>>The topic is �taboo� and is not talked about. Several
>>national church leaders have stated that if family and
>>members back home knew they were talking about
>>homosexuality, serious harm would result. They cannot
>>take written material home that suggests acceptance of
>>homosexuality. Likely ramifications include painful
>>family conflicts and >>leaving the church.
>>
>>Government and religious officials in some nations
>>look at our website and official material to
>>determine our church�s beliefs and positions on moral
>>issues. If they find positions that are not acceptable
>>according to national laws or cultural norms, our
>>church�s presence or ability to function effectively
>>in those countries could be jeopardized."
>>-------
>>
>>I'll put it out there for them.
>>
>>Submitted by Lois
>>
>> >>href="http://www.cofchrist.org/usaconf/journey.asp">ht
>t
>>p://www.cofchrist.org/usaconf/journey.asp
>>
>>At a USA gathering during the 2010 World Conference,
>>1,100 individuals and 400 groups responded to a
>>survey, �Help Shape USA National Conference.� Only
>>5 percent listed pressing topics as something other
>>than same-gender issues.
>
>Ooops. Part of the quote got cut off.
>"and members and congregations leaving the
>church."
>
> >href="http://www.cofchrist.org/wc2010/counsel/QA3.asp">
>http://www.cofchrist.org/wc2010/counsel/QA3.asp
>
>"As an example, homosexuality is a conflicted topic.
>It is difficult for some church members to discuss it.
>The topic is �taboo� and is not talked about. Several
>national church leaders have stated that if family and
>members back home knew they were talking about
>homosexuality, serious harm would result. They cannot
>take written material home that suggests acceptance of
>homosexuality. Likely ramifications include painful
>family conflicts and members and congregations
>leaving the church.
>
>Government and religious officials in some nations
>look at our website and official material to determine
>our church�s beliefs and positions on moral issues. If
>they find positions that are not acceptable according
>to national laws or cultural norms, our church�s
>presence or ability to function effectively in those
>countries could be jeopardized."

Lois, congregations don't leave the CofC. They get thrown out. When the Restoration Branch congregations went into the meeting houses that they had sacrificed to pay for and build, swept them clean, and locked the doors, it was not because they voluntarily left. It was because they were told to "get out," and the institutional church showed up the next day with deputies to change the locks. A congregation of devout RLDS is about as welcome in the Community of Christ as a synagogue is in Mecca.

In 2002 I voluntarily left as an individual, because I knew that if I spoke the truth, I'd be thrown out. Richard Price was. The collapse of my former congregation suggests that a lot of other folks have left as individuals also, since the CofC tries to maintain the cosmetic facade that the congregation still exists because it merged with another congregation that was failing.

Congregations that will not honor the church rules for women's ordination get thrown out of the entire church, but congregations that refuse to honor the church rules against ordination of unrepentant homosexuals get an open endorsement from the First Presidency, full participation from the First Presidency in the illegal ordinations, and are allowed to remain in good standing. That is unjust.

It's time that the CofC lived up to its mindless ly chanted mantra: "If you want peace, work for justice."

George

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