tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post7465063908320247327..comments2023-05-04T04:44:40.136-05:00Comments on GRANTaMUSEd: Breaking News from America's HeartlandGRANTaMUSEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10749071986457296253noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-75714429791663964112013-05-23T12:10:24.130-05:002013-05-23T12:10:24.130-05:00Grant, you've summarized well the half-century...Grant, you've summarized well the half-century+ prelude to the USA National Conference of Community of Christ last April. That the local news media did not report the result very extensively suggests to me that the church could perhaps do well to nurture its ties with the larger culture, including the journalistic interests.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09618308555960791014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-47003004373940999072013-05-10T09:49:27.329-05:002013-05-10T09:49:27.329-05:00I would give Grant first prize for this excellent ...I would give Grant first prize for this excellent essay if the same competition were to be held today.Rick Sarrehttp://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/Homepage.asp?Name=Rick.Sarrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-89983840659535088492013-05-07T16:22:34.138-05:002013-05-07T16:22:34.138-05:00And The Examiner noted last week that fifty years ...And The Examiner noted last week that fifty years ago three high school boys won awards for participating in an essay contest---Third Place was given to Grant McMurray!!Gail Mengelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-12017431237302425932013-05-05T19:21:51.327-05:002013-05-05T19:21:51.327-05:00Anonymous, regarding relationship & priesthood...Anonymous, regarding relationship & priesthood...<br />In Australia the recommendation is: We support the ordination of individuals who are called by God through the processes established by Community of Christ, who are in long-term, committed, homosexual relationships, i.e. de facto relationships (this is a legally recognized relationship status in Australia for same-sex and opposite-sex couples), and recommend that the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles proceed to prepare and implement policy allowing these calls to be considered, and, if approved, for ordinations to proceed within the Australia Mission Centre. <br />In Canada the recommendation is: There be a change in policy to allow the sacrament of ordination for individuals in same-gender marriages in Canada. <br />In the USA the recommendation is: •The 2013 USA National Conference recommends allowing a priesthood call to be processed according to established procedures regardless of sexual orientation, including a person in a monogamous, committed, same-sex/gender relationship (e.g., legal marriage, civil partnership, covenant relationship) in the USA. Thus, the 2013 USA National Conference recommends a change to the current policy on ordination for the USA.<br />And looking at the recommendation to be voted on in the British Isles in October: A priesthood call for a person in a monogamous, committed same sex/gender relationship (legal marriage, civil partnership) may be processed according to established procedures<br />From these three recommendations and one proposed recommendation it appears the expectation will be marriage, where legal, and where not some other form of long term monogamous relationship status, as marriage for heterosexuals is legal in all three nations that have made recommendations for change, I would guess the answer the answer to your last question is no. But until we see the policies, it is hard to say with 100% certainty... Canada and Australia should be out soon (I once heard March, but as it is now May...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-7253992282177416252013-05-04T15:30:48.456-05:002013-05-04T15:30:48.456-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.JeannieRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306079832134145656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-78651407806061614542013-05-04T15:29:25.979-05:002013-05-04T15:29:25.979-05:00Thank you for your thoughtful perspective, Grant....Thank you for your thoughtful perspective, Grant. To those who despair of growing our church, I want you to know we are growing in San Jose, CA, and our recent vote has only encouraged new members. I would suggest embracing the future of the church with enthusiasm and it will encourage others to do so.JeannieRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306079832134145656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-90562469875141125932013-05-04T13:36:05.777-05:002013-05-04T13:36:05.777-05:00I guess my question is.... Since the church has in...I guess my question is.... Since the church has in the past removed persons from priesthood who lived together without being married, are these homosexuals expected to be married, at least in the eyes of the church, in order to be ordained? If not, is the church going to allow non-homosexuals in the priesthood to live together without marriage?<br />Hope you are doing well, old friend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-17545180185012870622013-05-04T07:34:56.655-05:002013-05-04T07:34:56.655-05:00Sustainability is becoming the biggest issue in sh...Sustainability is becoming the biggest issue in shrinking congregations, with several congregations closing in my local area. Why are the congregations closing? The members are aging, and there is a lack of interest among younger people raised in the church. So, the typical mission center has 2-3 vibrant, functional congregatins, and several marginally functional ones, and 2-3 that are on life support and would close without outside help. So, changes are being made to try and increase the sustainability of the local congregations, as changing demographics put pressure on congregations that are nearing the end of their lifecycle. National and world conference addressed some of these issues, and for some, there is new energy and vitality being felt. But for others, it is just another indication, or realization, that the church is becoming less sustainable, and will continue to diminish in size and importance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-31325380792996749642013-05-03T22:46:32.464-05:002013-05-03T22:46:32.464-05:00Well shared, Grant. The National Conference was a ...Well shared, Grant. The National Conference was a powerful experience.<br /><br />I think the fact that press gave the story of what happened fairly minor play is partly because the process of the conference had a more intimate structure to it. I think it also reflects how much the attitudes of the country have changed on the subject in the last few years.John Arthur Hornerhttp://hornerblog.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-10990455466007152612013-05-03T21:43:59.410-05:002013-05-03T21:43:59.410-05:00Thank you for your perspective. I love how you mi...Thank you for your perspective. I love how you mingle newspaper coverage, conference, and waffles. <br /><br />How I loved working for the church the short time I did with your presence and support, offered in a very personal and effective manner. leon d berghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15821274004526711583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-4549363790493183412013-05-03T16:14:07.333-05:002013-05-03T16:14:07.333-05:00I pray this vote trickles down to the congregation...I pray this vote trickles down to the congregations as well...in the form of tolerance and love. I lost my daughter to the church when she and her partner attended the congregation and were told by one of the older members that "they" were not wanted there. <br /><br />They visited the local UU church...I was with them that day....and they snuck in a hug in the kitchen...they quickly separated when someone walked in but she said...Don't stop that hug!!!...we love everyone here!!!" I knew we had lost them. They joined UU that day. Leigh Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13840853546051827376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-59108930611779657542013-05-03T12:50:59.584-05:002013-05-03T12:50:59.584-05:00Grant, I respect your viewpoint on the direction t...Grant, I respect your viewpoint on the direction the church has taken, even if I do not agree personally due to scriptural teachings. I would ask you to contact the World Church regarding our numbers. If the person I spoke with the other day is correct, we are now under 200,000 (197,000 plus or minus). I have also heard that many of our Haitian brethren are contemplating leaving the church due to the results of our National Conference (approximately 11,000 members).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24786508.post-14992658031611507562013-05-03T11:33:16.748-05:002013-05-03T11:33:16.748-05:00I am one of those starry eyed RLDS kids that has f...I am one of those starry eyed RLDS kids that has fully embraced life as Community Of Christ. I have always loved the church, and all of the things that go with it.. So many things we have walked though, so many ways we have grown. I have a soft spot in my heart for particular first president of the church, who took on the role of leadership, without the last name of Smith. It was a tremendous responsibility, and important for the church to become it's current identity. The church was really beginning to transform from a relational and mostly heritage based church, to a faith community that would begin to to try to define what Christ's ministry is, and how can we truly begin to encompass that call as a people. However the "RLDS" kid in me has noticed that many of our ties in the local community of Independence have lessened in significance. There are no longer many signs welcoming people or places that are offering promotions for the events in town that are church based, compared to the way things were in the 1990's. In a way as Community of Christ, it is oddly comforting for me. Rather than be treated as the city's chosen, it is in my mind, more important that people view our faith community as a part of the universal team, a woven in part of the community there. <br /><br />I have LDS family that are completely mystified that the Temple is open for all, and that our business sessions allow people to view in chambers from the balcony. The concept of openness is very strange to them. The entire idea of common consent can be just as much a wonder for many faiths that are used to direction from a board of Elders or a Single person. I think the part that bothers me most about the Examiner's lack of interest, is the topic of human rights that was just sort of blown over, but then again I am not sure that it was entirely bad either just in this case. I saw the protesters each day at the Auditorium. I worried as many tried to pass out tracts, some were very persistent.Some of our non English speaking delegates were overwhelmed with this kind of activity, because at home, this can mean danger for them. More attention in the papers, without understanding to the process we use to conduct ourselves might have made things worse. Most people outside of our faith have no idea what the recommendations process entails, and for the safety of people who have no idea that a national conference does not dictate international policy may have incited back lash for people around the world. So I guess it is like many things in our faith community, we may never know exactly why the Examiner never really dug deep, but at least in true history, the results of the conference will out last the paper and all of us. tahituguese@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05790359474095045066noreply@blogger.com