One of my first posts when I entered the blogland foray was a piece I wrote on my discomfort with the United Church of Canada and how far off the path of religion it had tread. It seemed to me that the underlying raison d'etre had evolved from a place of worship where lessons from the Bible were centre stage to a drop in centre for potlucks. Get togethers and chinwags on the issues of the day, and not on the lessons of Jesus Christ are the sign of the United Church times. Now, it seems to be perfectly clear that this organization, one that I was fully involved in as a young person has taken things much further than I can accept. Instead of a santuary for prayer and developing stronger faith, it is now a community centre for left leaning mouthpieces bent on using the church pulpit as a Speakers Corner for espousing their political opinions on various events happening in the world.
Last week, Leaders of the Toronto section of the United Church of Canada loudly jumped into the Middle East conflict by passing a motion calling for a one-sided boycott of companies and products from Israeli settlements on occupied land. The timing of the Toronto branch comes on the heels of a broader boycott against Israel by the Ontario wing of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. In a distortion of historical fact, CUPE officials likened Israel's treatment of Palestinians to South Africa's abuse of blacks under apartheid. This comes as Israel has left Gaza, is preparing to quit parts of the West Bank, and Israeli Arabs do vote and sit in Israel's parliament.
Although only the 300-church Toronto Conference, not the United Church as a whole, has urged this boycott, it has smeared the church's image with a black mark right across the country. With the annual General Council meeting next month the serious mark will grow if the national church even attempts to wade into a discussion on this issue.
Not only am I appalled at the actions of both groups, the church reps and the union reps, I am in total disagreement with them.
Maybe it's because of this upcoming meeting that nothing has been communicated from Head office..........there has been nothing written by the Moderator, Peter Short??? I have a great deal of respect for this Leader and believed that he was redirecting my church back to it's religious roots. Based on the sermons I have the opportunity to listen to and read about, Reverend Short is a person with deep faith, unafraid of sharing the lessons from the Bible; teaching his Canadian congregation the messages from Christ. He is an eloquent speaker and a beautiful writer. Why then is his pen silent? I have been waiting all week for some reassurance... that the Leader of a once predominant church in this country would take the reins and quash this strident group of political disturbers.
The silence is deafening. It tells me that the United Church of Canada is a sheep that has lost it's way. It has transformed into another left leaning political party who's mission statement includes the importance of learning how to make mushy casseroles for basement potlucks and how to be a mouthpiece for the Socialists in this country.
I once fit here. This was my church. It was my spiritual home. I was baptized in this church as a young child. I proudly chose to be a confirmed member as a teenager. I was married in the United Church. Now, I don't belong on many levels. Now, the United Church has fallen off the map of credibility.
Membership has it's privileges? Not to use your membership to jump into the political foray of the Middle East. Not to make protestations that don't pertain to the church as a whole. NO!
I think it's time I set mine aside and walk away. It makes me very sad indeed, but I can't live with that tripe. Yes, it's time for me to find a place of worship where it feels more spiritually in tune with who I am and who I want to be.
4 comments:
Churches are places of worship, of faith, of religion.
The state should stay out of all houses of worship and not try to change the agenda of them.
Social activists shouldn't hijack churches to use them to promote their pet projects.
If a church strays too far from its original raison d'etre, well, one can examine other churches. Reminds me of political parties: if the church leaves one, then one cannot be blamed if one leaves the church.
Just my opinion.
Besides, one of my brothers was married in the United Church, but neither he nor his wife are religious, as far as I can see, so I think I know what you're talking about... the UC seems to have gotten out of the business of real religion.
I agree. For a long time, I wasn't interested in attending church. I was completely turned off. Though, it had been a big part of my life when I was young.
I have always believed that my "journey" spiritually would be a long process.........that my beliefs would evolve and be more cemented as the journey took place. Consequently, I'm not in a huge hurry to pick an institution and stay with it, especially now that the UC seems to have changed their business plan. There isn't one place of worship that intrigues me enough right now. It'll happen when it happens.......
This year has been one of contemplation, reading and writing and a realization that I do want some formal religion in my life for the first time in years and years.
Right now, my writing (as I have written before in previous blogs) allows me moments when I feel connected to God in a stronger way than I have felt in a very long time. It feels good.......
Having stated that, the UC played a key part and I'm sad it's heading for extinction if they don't plug the leaks in the arc.
I'm not one for organized religion, Christian or otherwise. I have chosen (or it has chosen me) to take a personal path to get in touch with my creator. Agnostic? Absolutely, but that has nothing to do with my everyday belief, faith and reliance upon the God of my understanding. Although I have a number of reasons for this very individualistic spiritual path, primary among them is hypocrisy.
Preach on Sunday sin on Monday. And then sit in judgement of those they deem to be sinners. I'm sorry, but I do not need a conduit, a spokesman or an interpretor, I can speak for myself, thank you very much. When a church begins to try to influence political and social direction based on its view of "right and wrong," then it is time to draw the line.
There are, I am sure, a great many churches that stick to what they are supposed to do - guide their followers in the teachings of whatever their particular doctrines state. Not twist those words, not manipulate them or qualify them - just teach them and let them speak for themselves. Too many are assuming the morality for all and making decisions "in my best interest." Why? Because I too dumb to know what's good for me? I don't need to be saved and I refused to be coerced into salvation.
To do gooders everywhere - save yourself, I'll be fine... and maybe we'll meet on the other side.
Great post Muskie, sorry I haven't been around lately. I've been busy, busy, busy!
~mike
Hey Mike.
Good to read your comments. Not surprisingly, I agree with you with respect to the hypocrisy aspect. That alone was what turned me away to begin with.
Like you, I am not inclined to let anyone coerce me into thinking any way but the way that suits me. I've never been able to accept sweeping belief systems. I'm not even comfortable being in a church praying with a large crowd.....all on the same page...altogether. If I find myself in that situation, I tend to look around and wonder about the people sitting in the pews and not focusing on talking to God. :)
However, there have been moments when I did feel a sense of belonging and comfort in some places of worship. When it has happened, I am struck by the level of emotion I feel...safe, loved, connected, alert, aware, full of wonder......feeling a sense of Presence.
It's just like arriving in a town or village or city for the first time and feeling like you could live there. You visit lots of places, but some just seem to resonate.
Homes are like that too. You know that feeling when you walk into someone's home and you feel a sense of peace and comfort.....you relax right away. Then there are the homes that seem like they are so sterile and unfriendly.....like they have wrapped all the furniture in plastic wrap and you don't know if you should sit down?
My idea of a perfectly spiritual connection is usually far away from anything organized.... more meditative and at times when I allow myself be more aware of the sounds and silences around me.
Like anything important, it has to find you in it's own time......
Mike, I'm thrilled that you have been enjoying your "practicum." I have a feeling that your summer of learning and writing has allowed you to feel one giant step closer to your goal? :)
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