Could you explain to me what you mean? I don't want to make any inaccurate assumptions (you know what happens when you assume
)
That's part of why I started this conversation. I want to know how you all see this forum. What is it's intended purpose / goal? What factors are interferring in meeting that goal?
What interferes? The same factors that interfere with Christians living up to the Sermon on the Mount, lol! In some cases people genuinely don't know that things happen a bit differently in this part of the CF house; in some cases their actions say "Ok now I know because you've told me but I'm going to insist on XYZ because it's
right"; in some cases folk just seem to come to the community with their own agenda without regard for community norms. Which is its own kind of blindness.
But I don't think that's the fault of the policy. Applying the policy is up to us, both regulars and visitors, because the values in the policy are not beyond our ability to live-out. And I think the regulars have been pretty good about this; as I say, I appreciate the group a great deal. It's because of that generally respectful baseline that the occasional rancor -- rancor that may be common/accepted in other areas -- stands out so much here. I like that it stands out. I'd like it even more if we could reduce its frequency.
What would you suggest? I thought the FSG's were quite welcoming to all.
WWMC is dedicated to following Jesus's example of radical inclusiveness and hospitality by including "whoseover will " to come join us in friendly and polite fellowship and conversation.
In your opinion are conservative christians and non-religious members allowed to debate in WWMC or are they restricted to fellowship posts.
Self-identifying moderates, conservatives, and non-religious folks hang out here all the time without causing mischief or offence -- and this probably has nothing to do with their affiliations and everything to do with their good manners.
But as far as the FSGs go, let me put the following revision on the table, and y'all can discuss it. For easier reading, I've marked additions but not deletions:
Whosoever Will, May Come (WWMC) is a welcoming, interdenominational congregation
. Some of its members identify as liberal, progressive, postmodern,
emerging, or emergent Christians
, while others identify as Christians, Christ-followers, or children of God.
Whatever labels we use for ourselves, WWMC is dedicated to following Jesus' example of radical inclusiveness and hospitality by
inviting "
whosoever will" to join us in friendly and polite fellowship and conversation.
Ours is an open community that fully embraces seekers, non-Christians, atheists, the unaffiliated and unpersuaded, and members from all other CF congregations. We are committed to the respect, love, and growth of all who converse with us, and we believe that this commitment requires us to be humble even and especially when we hold strong opinions.
The religious
and spiritual questions that bind us are complex
, and answers are elusive but not out of reach.
We are certain of a few things
: we all see "through a glass darkly"
and "know in part" (1 Cor 13). We discourage dogmatic statements of faith
and politics, and do not accept that we "have a monopoly on the truth." The search for truth
here is dynamic and shared rather tha
n stagnant or dictated.
We believe that heaven is the "whole of our hearts
," and
therefore welcome everyone to share their spiritual journeys with us. We do not
tolerate the belittling of
anyone's journey.
Following the example of Jesus's ministry to the world's outcasts, the broken and alienated among his society, we believe that as a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.
We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge that this extends to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons and their families are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
- that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities share the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
- that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome within the membership of this congregation.
As a result, debates on the morality of
sexual orientations and gender identities are not on-topic in WWMC.
We encourage those who wish to debate those issues to do so in
the Christian Philosophy & Ethics forum.
Thoughts?
Even when we agree on the text, we'll have to each commit again to making them a non-negotiable part of our practice, and teaching visitors to do the same.
