Hm, perhaps it's a blessing in disguise that I'm home sick from work today.
Sorry, some of these posts are from pages back. I'm playing catch-up now and had a few comments.
I'm not saying we're perfect, however I do think membership needs to take responsibility for some of this. I don't think some members are community oriented. We get PMs daily from people who think we let conservatives get away with anything; people who think we let liberals get away with anything; people who want to create more new congregational forums to kick out those in their denomination they feel aren't "truly" of the denomination; we get requests daily to close various forums because they aren't Christian enough; we get daily requests to open the entire board and have no CO areas; we get requests to make more of the board CO.
Without members there is no board. I understand that. However, I'm also not going to be quiet anymore and allow myself, Tonks, arbor, Gweny, Paul, and the entire staff take beatings when people aren't taking responsibility for their own mistakes and behavior. (Not pointing to anyone on this thread in particular. It happens to be the thread talking about this issue). I find some of the forums here unbearable. Christians are bashed left and right in some areas. In other areas, non-Christians are bashed. And then we have areas where Christians bash each other with no mercy. I don't find that community oriented. I find that to be people who want everything their way or no way and they have no patience for anyone who doesn't believe exactly as they do. Which is actually fine if you come down to it. Don't have patience. I don't care. But post as if you do. CPE in particular was offensive as I don't believe a lot of theories there, either, however I would never tell someone who disagrees with me they aren't really Christian, and that was happening.
So according to feedback and complaints there are too many CO areas, there aren't enough CO areas, some people don't actually belong in the area or denomination to which they belong, there should be more denominational splits, there should be no denominational splits, the board is too conservative, and the board is too liberal. Which should we believe?
I understand and sympathize with your frustration. Again I think that what people are generally suggesting here would help staff out a great deal as well. People need structure. They need to know what this site is about, what the definition of Christian really is, etc. There needs to be a genuine mission statement, and yes, it could be a bit lengthy to clarify some things. That's OK. We wouldn't be here if we couldn't handle a little reading, right?
How this helps staff out is that you guys know what is expected of you and you have guidelines to follow. Every report or dispute is not heaped on the heads of already overworked staff to try and figure out. It gives you guys a foundation to work with, and to blame when people complain, too. Right now we don't have that. So everyone complains. It's not just that most are happy and a few complain (and a few will always complain, no matter what). Right now it looks like basically everyone is unhappy. And I think that's because CF still doesn't have much of a direction. It's kinda wishy-washy.
I've said a few times that I support slow, careful changes over a long period of time. It's needed after all that CF members have been through in the past few years. But changes are clearly needed. And while yes, Paul and upper staff are well within their rights to remain cryptic about that, the reality is that members will continue to be frustrated, and staff will continue to have to play referee. It's really not ideal.
I can honestly tell you, as a conservative, a fundie, and a Calvinist, that I'd rather see a clearer, more defined direction for CF, even if it's not in agreement with my beliefs. I may end up walking away, and that's OK. But at least I'd know. That's probably something everyone you talk to will tell you. We're tired of not knowing. Yes, some staff may step down and others take their places. That's OK too. At least it would create some cohesion. Site leadership does need to pick a direction and head that way. Swaying back and forth and keeping everything intentionally vague just makes things harder for everyone.
Meh and Tonks. I'm glad you're posting, and I hope this thread doesn't get closed. imo, things are on the point of blowing, and it's good we are finally all getting to vent our spleens a bit. I think the move to keep things behind the scenes has separated the Advisors from the members to where frustrations build up, and there is no safety valve. A good throw down can be helpful from time to time.
Again, we agree! What a wacky day it is, huh? lol
Now, in terms of the whining. Yes, we do a lot of that. Every board is going to have whiners. It's often good to ignore them for the most part. But, when the conservative whiners and the liberal whiners are whining about the same thing, it might be time for a listen.
Exactly.
The thing in Paul's vision that I found most disheartening was his viewing this site like a church. That only opens the door up to even more exclusion. I know he's talking about us all getting along and being charitable and such. But, if we are constrained to this place being a church, I don't know that there can be any outreach at all. Maybe that's the point. Perhaps he doesn't want to do outreach. If that's the case, then he needs to be more clear.
I have a problem with it, but for maybe different reasons. I think it is natural to look at a place like this as similar to a church in some ways. I mean it's about members of the Kingdom gathering together. So in that respect there could be some similarities. But where there is a problem is in the actual function of the church. It is impossible to run a forum according to God's biblical standards for the church. Accountability is nearly impossible. We come here to chat, but have no real interaction in each others' lives. Yes we can offer encouragement and even rebuke at times. But that's as far as it goes. Additionally, we do not have a headship role here that elders would take in a real church. Without that, there is no leadership. That's not what forums are set up to be like. So I think it's important to be really careful about calling a forum a church. It's not. And it can't be. Doesn't mean there shouldn't be biblical standards and boundaries.
And regarding outreach... genuine outreach can and does happen whenever we are free to share God's word boldly, and with love, patience, humility, and grace. So, setting up biblical guidelines can really cater to outreach.
I don't want to get cluttered here with the "whiners." I am concerned here because I saw so many of the mods who supposed are conservative trying to be "objective." This is one thing I couldn't handle when I was voted to be a moderator because I don't see much objectivity in the gospel. No matter how much we want to be inclusive here by nature the gospel is divise. So either a) take everyones vote equally or b) define specific parameters to define your Christianity.
Pauls statement seemed to vague to make a conclusion for a or b. We'll see where things go.
I pick b! I pick b! (are you shocked? lol)
