This is probably in one of the top 10 hymns I truly love and brings tears to my eyes.
But O my friend,my friend indeed,who at my need,His life did spend.
My Song is Love Unknown
I see that you have a photo of "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" sign on your web site. Don't you feel that that is just a little bit fraudulent since special terms and conditions do apply and some are surly more welcome than others? Until every child of God is welcome in every Episcopal church then we are not really welcome in any of them. I hope you will speak to your vestry about putting up a sign which more accurately reflects the truth.
Yours sincerely,
Linda Diane McMillan
Posted by: Linda Diane McMillan | October 07, 2007 at 04:48 PM
Dear Linda Diane McMillan,
I imagine you would be very welcome at Cathy's church, since she is the soul of hospitality. It sounds like you've had a scarring experience, and I'm sorry to hear that. In my part of the world (New England), the Episcopal churches are very welcoming, and I say that as an equally welcoming UCC pastor. I hope you will be able to find an expression of God's community that welcomes you, wherever you are.
Yours Sincerely,
Songbird
Posted by: Songbird | October 07, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Deara Linda Diane McMillian,
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You is a sign of our hope, what we hope to be. We hope to be a Welcoming Church to everyone. Sadly our churches are made up of broken people who are not always able to be as welcoming as we'd like.
You are correct. This sometimes plays out as everyone but this person or that person. It's tragic. And yet we would find that for every church that said not this person there would be another that would say "Yes, you are exactly who we have been praying for."
The sign is an invitation to people in this world to come and walk with us, all of us, in our broken imperfect selves, that we might learn and grow together. The sign does not say "The Episcopal Church is perfect and perfect people are welcome."
I'm sad for what ever it is that has broken you. I'm sad for whatever it is that breaks me and others I know. I hope that my work in the Church can make a difference. That's my hope for all of us, that we bring our hurts and sorrows to the table so that we can learn, over and over, what it means to welcome all.
Posted by: mompriest | October 07, 2007 at 08:58 PM
All of you women answered that so wonderfully!
Posted by: Mindy | October 08, 2007 at 02:12 PM