American Unitarian Conference Forum

http://home.earthlink.net/~psdlund/2007....9934566446

Phil's Little Blog on the Prairie

"Canadian Unitarians to Enforce Visitor Repulsion Policy
Notice: "The Unitarian Congregation of Niagara has voted to ban bottled water in non-biodegradable plastic bottles from its premises. We ask that you respect this ban. Thank you for you [sic] help in saving the environment!"

"Okay, this is what I love about Unitarian Universalists. We can be so concerned about a just cause (in this case "disrespect[ing] one aspect of [the 'whole web of life'], be it the earth, the ground, the trees, the water"), that we forget that as a religious organization, we're dealing primarily with human beings. And human beings can be a little sensitive, especially when they're just beginning to test the waters of a new congregation to see if they want to dive in."

"I mean nothing says "You May Not Be Welcome Here" more clearly than the No Symbol plastered to the main entrance of your church. But that's exactly what the directors of the Unitarian Congregation of Niagara in St. Catherines have done. It's one thing "to ban all bottled water in plastic non-biodegradable, non-refillable bottles from use at all church functions." That's reasonable policy for members of the church to follow when they plan events. Don't offer bottled water. And it's fine to expect renters to respect the congregation's policy. But to greet visitors with a sign telling them that they're not welcome if they happen to have a plastic non-biodegradable, non-refillable bottle of water with them in a bit off-putting, don't you think?"
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This kind of thinking dominates too many liberal churches....and explains why many visit but few return.

Yesterday I attended Fayetteville Unity and, with all its faults, your comments brought to mind one thing that i do like very much about it: there is very little posturing there calculated to demonstate moral superiority.

Which is what this whole issue is really all about, is it not?

Fred

Phil,

Your post (blog) reminds me of the far right holiness that do not allow women in their services that have "bobbed" hair or wearing jewelry nor men with long hair or studs in their ears.
Whatever happen to "Come to me, all you who are troubled and weighted down with care, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (BBE)?
When churches put their theological or political convictions between people and God, they fail to be the light of the world. Their convictions cover their lamps with bushel baskets.
I have learned that it is God's job to convict people of right and wrong. Mine? Point them to God.

I remember well my first visit to a church we used to attend. We arrived about 15 minutes before the service....it was a small church with a stage type area to the left and an open sanctuary to the right. We were looking around the stage area...reading pamplets, looking at the stained glass etc. and speaking in normal but respectful voice. At the beginning of the service, a fellow who identified himself as the moderator, reminded the congregation and visitors that the time before the service was reserved for those in meditation (not sure if he said "prayer") in the sanctuary so please be quiet. We did not return for over a year.
Our next visit and relatively short membership (at the time considered the best of poor local pickings) was somewhat better but the overall experience there was much the same when it came to the intersection of religion and politics.