tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post7251379076237191453..comments2023-10-02T11:36:45.006-04:00Comments on A Passionate and Determined Quest for Adequacy: Guest Post: Why Can't We All Just Get Along?Ashley Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767912859236943934noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-72548329129466250252015-08-29T05:50:49.624-04:002015-08-29T05:50:49.624-04:00This amazing site will be interesting and as well ...This amazing site will be interesting and as well as heaped with important material. Have expressing and that I will forever assist this site. Get a wide range of <a href="https://www.khome.co.uk/linens-direct-tips-to-select-the-right-bed-linen/" rel="nofollow"> Linen Direct!</a> and enjoy a luxurious life.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368400454366409469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-30193306267775908282015-07-07T21:22:27.103-04:002015-07-07T21:22:27.103-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01694127121188774243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-89997144854074276632015-07-02T13:01:21.978-04:002015-07-02T13:01:21.978-04:00I apologize for misspelling your surname, Deborah ...I apologize for misspelling your surname, Deborah Suess! I had it right the first time, and should have left good enough alone.Bill Rushbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00579099372065932809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-8022919223202439092015-07-01T17:04:15.243-04:002015-07-01T17:04:15.243-04:00Deborah Seuss: Your message is very level-headed, ...Deborah Seuss: Your message is very level-headed, and shows an understanding of "the other side" which I have not seen heretofore among North Carolina FUM Friends. It appears to me that a division is inevitable. I hope that "cool heads" like yours restrain those on both sides who appear to want to do battle with each other.Bill Rushbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00579099372065932809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-6383740488196459992015-07-01T16:59:35.055-04:002015-07-01T16:59:35.055-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Bill Rushbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00579099372065932809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-20669112913048004002015-06-30T08:13:07.368-04:002015-06-30T08:13:07.368-04:00Perhaps, before taking any action after your Augus...Perhaps, before taking any action after your August session, it would be advantageous for the yearly meeting to simply request that Friends throughout the U.S. hold NCYM in the Light for a year or so. That might produce some divine Light and wisdom from outside the yearly meeting. This issue you are experiencing is an old one for Quakers - going back to 1827 with the great schism.<br /><br />Worshipping the idol of "doctrinal purity" is a slippery slope resulting in schism after schism after schism without end. The reality is that those who want this doctrinal purity will never achieve it themselves. The New Testament advocates silencing women, slavery, being completely free of debt, and many other practices that are repugnant to Christians who have centered their lives on the love and light of Christ. Jesus himself refused to go down this doctrinal path. And if we are centering our life on his same Spirit, we won't go down it either.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11812614351992659917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-14141137447628252182015-06-29T16:02:18.785-04:002015-06-29T16:02:18.785-04:00Deborah Seuss said, “while I haven’t wanted to pre...Deborah Seuss said, “while I haven’t wanted to preach about this before (there is not a lot of joy in it), I think it’s time to talk plainly from the “pulpit” about these wider concerns that are taking place beyond our local meeting in our wider North Carolina Quaker world.”<br /><br />One can certainly agree there is no joy in it. These “concerns” surfaced suddenly and intensely in NCYM almost a year ago.<br />Since then, some meetings targeted for expulsion and other punitive measures have spoken up eloquently on their behalf. But others, which also appear to have much at stake in the processes that have begun, have been notably quiet. As far as I have seen, FFM is one of the latter, and this has been very disappointing to me.<br /><br />I wonder if that will change for FFM in the August session. And in that connection, here are some questions that arise:<br /><br />When it comes to flexible approaches to the Bible, can one hope that your representative speak firmly and clearly to affirm them as legitimate and good, not only for FFM, but across NCYM and among Friends generally?<br /><br />On the matter of “salvation,” can your representative affirm and step up for the legitimacy of encompassing a “variety of ways” of “responding” to questions about it? Will FFM firmly reject efforts to impose one doctrinal formulation about this on NCYM and its meetings?<br /><br />You said, in this regard, “As one of my friends from the other end of the theological spectrum said to me, “How can we preach Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross as the only way to salvation when you across town teach something else? Our association dilutes the clear message of salvation in Christ.” And again, he said that not with a mean spirit, not even critically, but in care and with sincerity.”<br /><br />Can you or FFM’s representative answer clearly and sincerely to this person, and others like-minded, that how he/they preach their message is their challenge, not yours? Does not FFM (and other similarly-minded groups) have the same responsibility to speak their truth, even if it is hard for some to understand or even bear? And further, that differences about this within NCYM are neither new, nor shameful, nor any proper basis for wishing to silence or penalize FFM or other meetings for them?<br /><br />Concerning a welcome to LGBT persons and same sex marriage, can your representative be clear and firm in upholding their legitimacy as a witness some meetings have been led to?<br /><br />Can your representative step up unequivocally on behalf of the autonomy of monthly meetings to be free from inquisitorial investigations, whether cloaked as “audits” or other names?<br /><br />You also said: “What I do know is that it is time to stop our theological spats. Because the world needs all of us, conservatives and progressive alike, to do the work of Jesus, who called us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the orphans, and work for justice.”<br /><br />Indeed. Yet the current controversy was thrust upon the yearly meeting last summer without any advance notice, and has not let up since. Very specific charges of dishonesty, demonic and anti-christian beliefs and bad practices have been made, against specific meetings, and the challengers have stated that they want meetings which differ penalized and expelled from the body.<br /><br />Is there something unseemly about responding directly to these efforts, as several Meetings have done?<br /><br />Or would it have been better to be quiet, pray for forgiveness, and let the challengers work their will on the meetings they have identified? Is that how to “stop our theological spats”?<br /><br />Is there not a place for pushing back on behalf of our own integrity and witness? Is there not a place for defending these meetings’ right to be part of the NCYM fellowship? Can FFM do that, for itself, or any others?<br /><br />I certainly hope to hear a clear message from FFM in the upcoming August sessions. At least for me, that will mark an important departure from what has been heard thus far.Chuck Fagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049779603153152188noreply@blogger.com