Letters to the Editor – April 28, 2010
Many shades grace our world
In light of recent global and national events involving racism, I was reminded of the “Steps toward Wholeness” Bible study that was prevalent in our churches several years ago.
Strawbridge UMC in New Windsor and St. Paul UMC, where I was a member, did this study at a time when a fire had forced Strawbridge members out of their building and the two congregations were sharing worship. Together, old wounds were explored and healed.
During this whole experience, I was particularly moved by the summary of our time together that was written by Dorothy Brown of Strawbridge UMC.
“Forget about the color of our skin,” she wrote. “The color of our skin is created by God. We are all God’s children. God shows no partiality. God looks at our heart. God will make a difference if we put him first in all things. ... Live a life of loving and forgiving. There is always hope for all situations.”
As it was pointed out to me by Janae; 6-year-old girl from Fairview UMC, there are many different shades of people who grace our world.
Laura Apostol
Mt. Zion UMC, Finksburg
Tea Party exercises rights
It was sad to see Jim Winkler, general secretary of the Board of Church and Society, resort to the tired old canard in his recent column that many Tea Party members demonstrate an “overtly racist message.” This is a standard go-to claim when someone has lost the argument.
Tea Party participants, such as me, are concerned about the inordinate spending occurring in Washington and the unimaginable debt we are leaving for future generations.
The video of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver walking up the stairs to the Capitol can be found on the Internet. The Washington Post Ombudsman said, “The video suggests he was unintentionally sprayed by the screaming protester … the distinction is significant because it fundamentally changes widespread media characterizations of what occurred.”
Many United Methodists will undoubtedly be saddened to see that the church leadership supported the massively expensive “reform” of the health care system. Health insurance is now a “right” we must purchase or pay a punitive tax. That’s an interesting right.
Tea Party participants choose to exercise our First Amendment right to peacefully assemble and protest the excessive spending occurring in Washington. At least for now, this is of our own free will and costs us nothing to do so.
Elizabeth Wright
Salem UMC, Brookeville
No winners in law suits
If I may quote the Rev. Gil Caldwell and Reinhold Niebuhr, “The worse evils in the world are not done by evil people, but by good people who do not know they are not doing good.”
Although I doubt attempting to remove a congregation from a denomination is high on anyone’s list of “evils,” certainly pulling the courts into this issue will bring out the worst in all parties involved.
In the ‘70s, I served as vice president of the General Board of Discipleship – dealing with the complete restructuring of the new United Methodist Church.
What I clearly remember is that there was very little agreement about anything whatsoever. I also remember a couple of hundred Christ-like board members spending hundreds of hours patiently and prayerfully working through each and every issue over a period of some five years. I also remember that whenever legalistic terms or procedures surfaced, all our effort was set back – big time.
So, may I humbly suggest that the lawsuit idea be dropped. There will be no winners.
Instead, the conference might identify a qualified pastor, pay him or her from the money set aside for the lawsuit, give no orders except to bring civil rights, civility, honor, and dignity into a congregation who now has none of the above. I sense there is enough fire in that little congregation to maybe become an Acts 2 congregation.
Rev. James F.W. Talley, retired
The UMConnection invites letters to the editor to be considered for publication. The paper is published every three weeks. Letters must be received two weeks before publication to be considered. Letters must be signed and should include the name of your local church and a daytime phone number for verification. Letters should be no longer than 200 words and are subject to editing for length and clarity. Send to Editor, UMConnection; 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite D, Columbia, MD 21046 or to The opinions expressed on the Viewpoints page do not necessarily reflect those of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
In light of recent global and national events involving racism, I was reminded of the “Steps toward Wholeness” Bible study that was prevalent in our churches several years ago.
Strawbridge UMC in New Windsor and St. Paul UMC, where I was a member, did this study at a time when a fire had forced Strawbridge members out of their building and the two congregations were sharing worship. Together, old wounds were explored and healed.
During this whole experience, I was particularly moved by the summary of our time together that was written by Dorothy Brown of Strawbridge UMC.
“Forget about the color of our skin,” she wrote. “The color of our skin is created by God. We are all God’s children. God shows no partiality. God looks at our heart. God will make a difference if we put him first in all things. ... Live a life of loving and forgiving. There is always hope for all situations.”
As it was pointed out to me by Janae; 6-year-old girl from Fairview UMC, there are many different shades of people who grace our world.
Laura Apostol
Mt. Zion UMC, Finksburg
Tea Party exercises rights
It was sad to see Jim Winkler, general secretary of the Board of Church and Society, resort to the tired old canard in his recent column that many Tea Party members demonstrate an “overtly racist message.” This is a standard go-to claim when someone has lost the argument.
Tea Party participants, such as me, are concerned about the inordinate spending occurring in Washington and the unimaginable debt we are leaving for future generations.
The video of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver walking up the stairs to the Capitol can be found on the Internet. The Washington Post Ombudsman said, “The video suggests he was unintentionally sprayed by the screaming protester … the distinction is significant because it fundamentally changes widespread media characterizations of what occurred.”
Many United Methodists will undoubtedly be saddened to see that the church leadership supported the massively expensive “reform” of the health care system. Health insurance is now a “right” we must purchase or pay a punitive tax. That’s an interesting right.
Tea Party participants choose to exercise our First Amendment right to peacefully assemble and protest the excessive spending occurring in Washington. At least for now, this is of our own free will and costs us nothing to do so.
Elizabeth Wright
Salem UMC, Brookeville
No winners in law suits
If I may quote the Rev. Gil Caldwell and Reinhold Niebuhr, “The worse evils in the world are not done by evil people, but by good people who do not know they are not doing good.”
Although I doubt attempting to remove a congregation from a denomination is high on anyone’s list of “evils,” certainly pulling the courts into this issue will bring out the worst in all parties involved.
In the ‘70s, I served as vice president of the General Board of Discipleship – dealing with the complete restructuring of the new United Methodist Church.
What I clearly remember is that there was very little agreement about anything whatsoever. I also remember a couple of hundred Christ-like board members spending hundreds of hours patiently and prayerfully working through each and every issue over a period of some five years. I also remember that whenever legalistic terms or procedures surfaced, all our effort was set back – big time.
So, may I humbly suggest that the lawsuit idea be dropped. There will be no winners.
Instead, the conference might identify a qualified pastor, pay him or her from the money set aside for the lawsuit, give no orders except to bring civil rights, civility, honor, and dignity into a congregation who now has none of the above. I sense there is enough fire in that little congregation to maybe become an Acts 2 congregation.
Rev. James F.W. Talley, retired
The UMConnection invites letters to the editor to be considered for publication. The paper is published every three weeks. Letters must be received two weeks before publication to be considered. Letters must be signed and should include the name of your local church and a daytime phone number for verification. Letters should be no longer than 200 words and are subject to editing for length and clarity. Send to Editor, UMConnection; 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite D, Columbia, MD 21046 or to The opinions expressed on the Viewpoints page do not necessarily reflect those of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
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