Anyone know anything about a film entitled "End of the Spear" or something?

[Critters2]

Another church in the neighborhood invited our youth group to watch it with their youth group. I have reason to be suspicious of things this church invites us to. So I am. I'll do some googling, but wondered if other progressives have seen it, heard about it, have an opinion on it. I trust you guys more than the people who are describing it as "a life-changing experience" in their invitation. TIA :hi:

[RevCheesehead]

1. Never heard of it.

And yeah, I'd trust your instincts. Sounds like a "Passion" wanna-be.

[Sanctified]

2. Have not seen the movie but I did see an interview

with the guy who's dad was one of the missionaries killed. Amazing story and even more amazing that this man is still working with the tribe who killed his father. Thanks for bringing this topic up by the way, I had not heard of the movie but look forward to watching it, here is some info from Wikipedia on the movie. It looks like there was some controversy with the lead actor being openly gay in real life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_the_Spear

[Critters2]

3. Apparently, the missionaries are still working with the native people AND with the oil companies

who wanted the indigenous people's land:

From Brandon Yoder, Indigenous People and Oil Production In Ecuador's Oriente (http://www.cwis.org/fwj/51/b_yoder.html)

“Out of all of the negative aspects that have come about as a result of oil production in the Oriente, the one that has had the greatest impact on the indigenous people, outside of the pollution, has been the encroachment of missionaries into their daily lives. Beginning in 1967 with Texaco’s discovery of the Oriente oil field, oil companies have constantly used missionaries as a method of quelling indigenous animosity and relocating the indigenous peoples from possible drilling sites. The missionaries used in these procedures have drastically reshaped the indigenous communities and are responsible for altering the behavioral practices that once served as a way of life for the indigenous peoples. Although Rachel Saint’s establishment of a permanent indigenous community precedes Texaco’s oil exploration (Kimmerling, 76), her role in the early years of Texaco’s oil production was momentous because of her success in aiding the relocation of the indigenous people.


More here: http://www.akha.org/news/2006/jan/saveamericasforestsendofspear.html


Like the pineapple plantations in Hawaii. There's nothing new under the sun.

[Critters2]

4. Well, I did a little research If I should decide to have my kids see this film,

I would follow it up with either the film "Trinkets and Beads" which demonstrates the symbiotic relationship between Texaco and Shell Oil Companies and the missionaries portrayed in "End of the Spear"; or "Playing in the Fields of the Lord" which is a fictionalized account of the exploitation of indigenous peoples of South America by fundamentalist missionaries like those in "End of the Spear". I was suspicious of the film because this other pastor mentioned Wyclif Bible Translators when telling me about the movie. I had a parishioner in Iowa, the most conservative member of any church I've served, who spent her winters at the WBT HQ in Arizona. I learned through her about Wyclif's strong identification of Christianity with Western culture, which always made me uncomfortable. It turns out my discomfort is well-founded, and WBT is more sinister than I had realized.

Hey, RevCheesehead, here's the most amazing thing to me, though I've been reticent to mention it. This church that keeps wanting to do things with mine--and which I keep resisting--is a UMC congregation. In fact, all three UMCs here are Evangelical which has been both a surprise and a disappointment to me. The PCUSA congregation here is, too. We've gained members from these churches as they've become less friendly to progressives and glbt people. But they've been growing even more. So, there must be something to this, church growth-wise. When the mainline Protestant churches in town are as conservative as these are, it makes for a really lonely place to serve. Also makes me look intolerant, when I'm not willing to do things ecumenically with them. Being here has been a very strange experience.

[RevCheesehead]

5. Hey, I hear you!

I've got a hot lead for a UCC congregation up here - a very nice sized congregation, too. PM me if you're interested.

Don't get me started about the Methodists. I am totally fed up. In fact, I am probably going to be leaving the ministry altogether. You know, I'd rather work with evangelicals - at least they believe in Jesus, and aren't afraid to mention his name once in a while. :banghead:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Which congregation is it?

PM me if you don't feel like posting it. I might know of it!

[RevCheesehead]

7. Sturgeon Bay.

They just fired their pastor, and are in limbo.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Sturgeon Bay - not a church I am familiar with.

Don't even recognize the former pastor's name.

[RevCheesehead]

11. I wish I could give ya more information...

but my contact up there is on vacation for a week. When he gets back, I'll ask him again what's going on.

[Critters2]

8. I'm sorry you're probably going to leave the ministry. It'll be the Church's loss.

I'll hunt up the Sturgeon Bay profile. When I was in West Bend in Sept, to drive my dad to Milw for his angiogram, I realized that I should be thinking about moving closer to him. He's just gonna get older, after all. Before coming here, I turned down a call to a church just outside West Bend, and spent the year my mom was sick kicking myself! I had some concerns about the association and conference there, after a really badly handled conflict in the WB church (the reason my parents became UM). But it would be practical for me to head up that way. Thanks for the lead. I'll check it out!

[RevCheesehead]

9. I'll know more about my situation in a week or so.

I'll definitely keep you posted.

[davidinalameda]

12. the UCC is always looking for good ministers

come on over!