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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-04-26, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1989. Rev. Snihur member of Community of Concern A local chapter of the Commun­ ity of Concern within the United Church of Canada was established on Wednesday, April 19, at a meeting in Mitchell. This is part of a national organiz­ ation that was formed in 1988 by a group of concerned United Church ministers. It was following the United Church appeal over the top Earlier this spring, an appeal was launched by London Confer­ ence of the United Church of Canada for $10,000 to provide vaccinations against meningitis in Ethiopia. Those attending the “April Special Event’’ at St. John’s Church, Stratford, on Tuesday evening, were told that to date, $34,000 has been contributed, and that more funds are still coming in. All money raised will be used in that country for health services. Under theme, “Come Cele­ brate,’’ about 250 women from Huron-Perth Presbyterial heard an address by Rev. Cheryl Anne Stadelabuer-Sampa of Egmond- ville. She spoke about the Ecunem- ical Decade - Churches in Solidarity with Women, sponsored by the World Council of Churches and pointed out the many problems faced by women, particularly those in Third World Countries. First it is necessary to identify ways in which women are being limited - through poverty, oppressive systems, and famine. Then we need as church women to become aware of the place of women in our fellowships and communities, and in the world; and finally to discover ways in which people of faith can help. As an example of a faithful response to a particular problem, she told of young women in the Philippines forced into prostitution to accommodate visiting business­ men. The local church contacted partner churches in Japan and Germany who publicized the situa­ tion. Thereafter, more wives ac­ companied their husbands on busi­ ness trips. We, too, she said, must find constructive solutions to pro­ blems affecting women. Special music for the evening was provided by the Mitchell Gospel Singers, and an opening sing-song was conducted by Anne Hiemstra and Phyllis Barkley, both of Stratford. After a refreshment break, with time for purchase of books, the Presbyterial officers for 1989 were introduced by Alma Langford, Resolutions Chairman for London Conference U.C.W. Communion, conducted by Rev. Stadelbauer-Sample concluded the evening which had been planned by the Christian Development Committee, under the leadership of Margaret Engeland of Stratford, assisted by Marion Werford of Stratford and Nancy Corrigan of Bluevale. President Helen Ander­ son, also of St. John’s Church, chaired the meeting. release in the spring of that year of a report called Toward a Christian Understanding of Sexual Orienta­ tion, Lifestyles and Ministry, that these ministers began meeting and formed the Community of Concern. It started fairly small but has grown in number since that time. Approximately 2,000 petitions were sent to the General Council of the United Church during the summer of ‘88 expressing their concern with the direction that the report seemed to be taking. Council shelved that particular report and made a new statement titled, “Membership, Ministry and Hu­ man Sexuality.’’ They believed that they had done what the Community of Concern wanted but a spokes­ person for the group said the direction of this statement is simi­ lar in intent to the original docu­ ment. The proposed ordaining of homo­ sexual ministers is moving the United Church in a disturbing direction, the committee feels. They want to see tradition, a biblical and historical values up­ held in the Church. According to Reverend David Snihur of the Londesborough and Auburn Pas­ toral Charges, who is a member of the new chapter, “We feel that these documents are causing a shift. It opens the possibility that a self-proclaimed homo-sexual could be ordained. There is a definite need for a national policy on what is accepted morality amongst the members and clergy in the United Church of Canada.’’ The committee also feels there is an imbalance within the spectrum of theology that has occurred in the last few years. Liberals say that it doesn’t matter what you believe in as long as you believe in some­ thing, said Rev. Snihur, while the evangelical belief is that there is a Christ and you must believe in him to be saved. It is the Liberal theology that is being taught now that is causing the imbalance and Rev. Snihur says that a balance of both must be reached. Though the issue concerning homo-sexuality is primary it is most certainly not the only issue being looked at. The Community of Concern is studying all the issues, seeing where they come from, whether or not they are a good direction to go in, and what to do about them. Rev. Snihur compares it to a sudden eruption of sores on your body stating that you would not fix the sore without fixing what is happening in your life to cause the condition. That is what he says the Community of Concern hopes to do. “We need to find out why our Church is moving in this direction and how to fix inbalance,’’ he said. Members of the Huron-Perth Community of Concern are Chair­ person Rev. Sam Parker of the Varna-Goshen Pastoral charge, Sam Young of Mitchell, Rev. Paul Field of the Tavistock-Linglebach Pastoral Church, Mrs. Sharon Wit­ tich of Listowel, Mrs. Ann-Louise McAllister of Bayfield, Rev. Rudy Plug of Monkton and Rev. Snihur. Any inquiries should be directed to Rev. Sam Parker at Varna, Ontario, N0M 2R0, or by telephon­ ing 233-3110. Rev. Parker is also a member of the National Committee of the Community of Concern. Business & Professional Directory Drive off with A Bargain in the Classified Section. B&G ELECTRIC Plumbingand Heating Brussels. Ont. 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