Sabbath Rest?
Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 2:19PM Saturday was a day of extremes. After all of the advisory group work on the Belhar, I was a bit dismayed over the conversations. I feel like I want to wear a t-shirt that says, "The Belhar is NOT about homosexuality!!!"
If we pass the Belhar, it will be part of our RCA identity, as well as an identity to strive for. It will be a beacon before us to live in unity and seek reconciliation with all people.
And then, that evening we were blessed with the gift of Dr. Skinner. I really cannot put into words the power of her words. She embodies the power of the Holy Spirit alive and at work in all of us in the pursuit of reconciliation, justice, and unity. I really hope that her spirit permeates our spirits on Monday!
And now, we are in session on Sunday hearing reports. I had the chance to worship at Hope Church, and was blessed by it. I hope we can find rest in this all!
Reader Comments (2)
Thanks Scott for your comments on the Belhar Confesson. I've been busy working as a Moderator for one of the Advisory Groups and haven't had the chance to do much commenting yet, but your thoughts struck a chord for me because I have been feeling the same way. I believe that the Belhar was written with the thread of Racism at the root, but it teaches us so much about reconciliation, justice and unity that the RCA needs to grab hold of to make our denominaiton richer. I believe we need to keep these themes in general at the forefront of our minds as what the Belhar challenges us to learn and not bring into the conversation the adgenda of specific minority groups that the Belhar did not intend the Belhar to address. That is what we need to keep before us now. To keep the main thing the main thing. Now does that mean that the Belhar does not teach us how to have reconciliation with our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters? No, it does teach us how to reconcile and how to love one another. Just like to teaches us how to love all minority groups who need reconciliation, justice and unity. Belhar and homosexuality? This is not the platform for the agenda of this group.
Looks like you were blogging during my report...hmmm.