Interesting article. I have a lot of respect for Robinson. He almost made me want to go to his church... but then there's my whole lack of faith thing. ;)
For someone who claims to agnostic, I spend a lot of time thinking about religions and faith. Perhaps it's because I feel compelled to explain and defend myself a lot.
I'm really not a believer in most stuff. I believe in myself, and I believe in nature, life, death, good and bad. I believe that human beings should be nice to one another and help each other out. Don't know if there's a god, don't care. God is irrelevant to me. If there is a good, s/he will understand how I have come to my resolution of faith. God, who I'm not saying doesn't exist, might be pleased that I didn't buy any story hook, line and sinker but followed my own truth, one of kindness and service.
I do not believe that if there is a god, he or she suffers from a near pyschotic need to be worshiped. In other words, god would have no ego problem. I do not believe in a god that acts like a spoiled childs and throws temper tantrums about those who don't believe or follow according to any prescribed plan (like faith is those little footprint charts where you learn the foxtrot). I do not believe in Jesus as Terminator, as described in those "Left Behind" books. That's just sick.
But that's not to say that I don't have tremendous respect for someone's personal faith. My co-worker Ron is a deeply faithful person, and one of the most decent human beings I can think of. I have a lot of respect for him. For people like my Mom. Faith is a gift in their life, and they don't use it subjugate. It's just personally, I don't feel it. Nor do I feel a need for it. What will be will be. I can't change fate, just accept it.
All that for atupid little article!
~m
Church of the Redeemer getting back on its feet
By Associated Press, 7/29/2004 13:18
ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) Less than a month after much of the congregation left an Episcopal church over the election of the first openly gay bishop to head a diocese, members are getting the church back on its feet again.
''Were really looking at this opportunity as a church startup. Its a new day for a new church. A new life,'' said the Rev. Canon Tim Rich of the Diocese of New Hampshire.
Church of the Redeemer members met this week with the bishop, V. Gene Robinson, to discuss its future.
''We drove away from that meeting so very, very hopeful and very, very pleased. There is a great sense of trust between the members of this congregation and the bishop,'' Rich said.
The church, first organized in 1902, has been in the unofficial process of rebuilding since the congregation voted 36-3 last month to leave after Robinson refused to grant complete pastoral oversight to a more conservative bishop. The majority of the parishioners left because they didn't agree with Robinsons offer to retain minimal leadership over the church, as required by canon law.
Since then, the three remaining parishioners and a larger group of new and returning members which now numbers about 23 have continued to attend weekly services.
Members of a newly created ''administrative team'' will have oversight over one or two ministry areas, Rich said.
The church has been reclassified from a parish to a mission. The team requested that Robinson make the change because it will allow the Diocese of New Hampshire to provide the church more specific and frequent support than an up-and-running parish.
Priests from three area clergies will conduct weekly Sunday services through Labor Day. From there, an interim priest-in-charge will be selected to preach for three months. The position could become permanent.
Information from: Foster's Daily Democrat, http://www.fosters.com
