Sometimes I feel really good about being a mainline Protestant.

[Critters2]

I'm serving on my county Long-Term Recovery Committee, organized after flooding here in September. All the churches in the county were invited to attend the first meeting, and stay active after that. Four churches sent representatives: me (UCC), one of several UMC congregations, an ELCA, and an American Baptist church. None of the conservative congregations has shown any interest. Catholic Charities is involved, which is probably why no specific Catholic congregation is, which is understandable.

So, of all the churches in this county, and I'm told it's more than 100, four mainline Protestants and Catholic Charities are concerned about helping people who literally lost their homes or livelihoods, or both. Yet, some of the conservative churches are HUGE! What is attracting people to churches that are not concerned about the most basic needs of their neighbors, and maybe their own parishioners?

Tonight, the UCC conference disaster relief coordinator drove 90 miles to be at the LTRC meeting, and to see how the conference and national church could help. I was really impressed and proud to see that interest by the larger church; and UMCOR (United Methodist relief) has promised a sizable amount of money.

So, we may not be huge, and Obama may not invite us to give invocations at big public events, but denominations like those represented in this group have much to be proud of. Give yourselves a pat on the back!! And when your denominations ask for support for disaster ministries, give generously, knowing those funds and know-how do help in real ways in real communities! If you have given to such efforts in the past, my community and others thank you!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Yes, I was proud of my parish Sunday

We have a special relationship with the Anglican diocese of Jerusalem, which is largely Palestinian, and they put out an emergency appeal for help with repairing their hospital in Gaza, which suffered heavy damage in the fighting.

I'm pleased to say that my parish raised about $1700 from Sunday's attendees.

[Critters2]

2. Well done!

$1700! You should be very, very proud!


We sponsor a child in Jerusalem. She's Palestinian and Muslim. We're not working to convert her. Just keep a roof over her head, and keep her fed and educated.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Because the evangelicals are making sure that society is safe from even bigger tragedies,

like gay people and immigrants being treated like human beings.

And I'm sure they're helping all those flood victims get out of their predicament by sending them tracts, Bibles, and praying for them from the comfort of their homes heated by the flesh of the poor, and telling those poor suffering flood victims all about Jesus and how a personal relationship will make them rich. And making the flood victims feel better by making sure they know that God only flooded their town because of gay people, not because of any sin of the real people in the town.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

4. Evangelicals

apparently hate the social gospel.

I have a fundie acquaintance and he was saying that the church's job is to make sure souls are saved for Christ and that the mainlines are heretical because they are trying to better improve things here on earth rather than prepare people for the kingdom of heaven. I had to pick my jaw up from the floor when he said that.

[shrike]

6. You know what I really HATE that some fundie churches do?

They organize letter-writing programs between members of the congregation and prisoners.

Yes, I realize prisoners are people, too. But a lot of the letter-writers are young women, single women, older women. Recipe for trouble, even tragedy.

I know a woman in her 70s who has been writing to a female convicted of a rather notorious murder in these parts. When she was only 15 years old, she beat an elderly woman to death in her home, after the woman had invited her in for some lemonade. (She had help from a friend.) She was tried as an adult, originally given a death sentence, but the sentence was commuted to life after intercession from a lot of different people, including the Pope. (I'm not kidding.)

Maybe years in prison have changed her, but I find it very creepy that this elderly woman is now corresponding with her. She is in love with the idea that the woman has "found Christ." Even creepier, the old woman never locks her doors. Thinks God will protect her. And she lives in an urban area.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

7. That does seem kind of dangerous.

The thought is nice, though.

[shrike]

5. I remember doing a story for the local paper on a new "megachurch"

opening. Place looked like a corporate headquarters, not a church. I asked if they'd be starting a food pantry, outreach to the poor, and they looked at me like they were crazy.