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Email
from ONA Program Coordinator, Rev. Ann B. Day
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Peace to you all this day in the name of
Jesus, the Christ.
As many of you know, there is much
conversation occurring throughout the UCC
about the nature and witness of our
denomination, especially in light of the
General Synod's recent decision on equal
marriage. One grouping of meetings is
occurring regionally and is organized by the
Faithful and Welcoming Churches (FWC).
According to the FWC site (http://www.faithfulandwelcoming.org/,
they disagree with this recent General Synod
decision and other actions of our national
settings. Intending FWC to be an alternative
to the Open and Affirming witness, they wish
to "revive the original vision and beliefs
of the UCC." The group's president, The Rev.
Bob Thompson, notes particular concern about
churches that are leaving the UCC because of
the Synod action (and others) and says, "We
aim to give churches a reason to stay."
We in The Coalition have long been invested
in the nature, witness, and future of the
UCC and so have reason to be present in
these current FWC meetings - to listen and
understand the concerns and ideas of FWC
folks and, as appropriate, to raise
questions and respectfully share our own
experiences and views as faithful members of
the Body. I attended the FWC meeting in the
MA Conference. The Rev. Thompson, who gave
the presentation, welcomed all in
attendance, whatever our points of view, and
there was opportunity for those viewpoints
to be shared.
Not all of us can or wish to be part of such
conversations. However, it is in keeping
with our polity that there be opportunity
for the sharing of experiences and ideas as
we try to live covenantally in the Spirit
with each other. So use your judgment and,
if you feel called to this ministry of
presence, go to:
to see the listing of meetings happening now
and in the next few days.
By joining in these meetings, we will know
(rather than know about), fellow members of
the UCC who are organizing around issues
that directly affect our lives. And they
will know us. Hopefully, this will enrich
the ongoing discernment and communication
throughout the UCC about what it means to be
the living embodiment of Jesus' prayer that
"all may be one."
Let us pray for all who are part of the UCC
that we may be open to and continually
transformed by God's overflowing grace,
Christ's transforming love, and the Spirit's
guiding presence.
As we go together on the Lenten path,
"Welcome one another, therefore, just as
Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of
God."
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