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Post by jennifercw on May 5, 2016 19:48:38 GMT
(well I suspect most of the peas will be outraged, some perhaps not... although this post really has little to do with ones personal feelings about homosexuality)
Some of you may be familiar with Family Promise and their mission to "to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response." Not familiar with how FP works everywhere but in my community, local churches take turns providing homeless families with meals and a place to sleep. Each church hosts 4-5 times per year for a week at a time.
My church is getting ready for our rotation starting this Sunday. We just found out that the church after us in the rotation has abruptly ceased their involvement with Family Promise altogether - because one of the families currently in the program is a lesbian couple and their children. According to my rector (pastor/priest), they wish only to house "Biblical Families." Big eyeroll from him when he was telling us this and we (the staff - I also work for my church) began imagining all the biblical families they might actually BE willing to host - Jacob and his sister wives perhaps? Shockingly, they have been hosting unmarried heterosexual couples with children for years now!
As an aside - this particular church thinks my church and everyone in it is totally going to hell. There's a longer back-story - but it got to the point where their pastor actually wrote a letter to the editor calling out our rector/church (not by name but it was VERY obvious who he was talking about), claiming that we promote "subjective personal desire over what the Scripture teaches is healthy or Christ-honoring." Actually we just try to #LoveLikeJesus. And if I am judged by God for that in the end, fine. But I will NOT be judged by a man who refuses to help countless families in need, now and in the future, just to avoid giving two homeless women and their children a bed to sleep in at night.
Anyway, I'm trying to remember where in the Bible it says "feed the hungry and invite strangers in - but ONLY if they are heterosexual". Pretty sure it doesn't.
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Post by ntsf on May 5, 2016 19:51:00 GMT
the story of the samaritan...jesus saying..help those who you hate!!!
--from a member of a church under the rainbow....inclusive and welcoming. if jesus could hang out with the tax collector, and feed the 5000 without a test first...why can't we do the same?
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Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 1:33:56 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2016 19:56:31 GMT
As an aside - this particular church thinks my church and everyone in it is totally going to hell. There's a longer back-story - but it got to the point where their pastor actually wrote a letter to the editor calling out our rector/church (not by name but it was VERY obvious who he was talking about), claiming that we promote "subjective personal desire over what the Scripture teaches is healthy or Christ-honoring." Wow, is the pastor six years old? If I believed in any kind of heaven I really wouldn't want to go there with people like him. |
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Post by lucyg on May 5, 2016 20:03:17 GMT
Very sad to hear about stories like this.
And stories like this are why liberals tend to believe in government assistance to those who need it, rather than relying on private or faith-based organizations that may pick and choose which recipients are "worthy."
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Post by beaglemom on May 5, 2016 20:03:26 GMT
So glad your church is willing to help them!
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Post by lucyg on May 5, 2016 20:04:05 GMT
So glad your church is willing to help them! That, too!  |
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Post by jennifercw on May 5, 2016 20:30:23 GMT
So glad your church is willing to help them! That, too! My church and the 11 others still in the host rotation! And the 3 churches that are unable to host families but still provide support to the program in other ways. Lucy - I understand what you are saying and agree that there will always be a need for government assistance. But please don't use this story, and others like it, to try and discredit all faith and community based assistance. It is a vital piece of the equation. And, in this case at least, one bad apple will NOT spoil the whole bunch. The rest of us will just keep on keepin' on and figure something out for these families. |
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oldcrow
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Post by oldcrow on May 5, 2016 20:33:08 GMT
So glad your church is willing to help them!  |
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peabay
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Post by peabay on May 5, 2016 20:34:12 GMT
How very Christian of them! WWJD, indeed.
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oldcrow
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Post by oldcrow on May 5, 2016 20:35:52 GMT
Perhaps they are just using this as an excuse to end something that they now consider a burden. And the bigger the stink they make about homosexuality the less it looks like uncharitable doings.
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Post by lucyg on May 5, 2016 20:42:42 GMT
That, too! My church and the 11 others still in the host rotation! And the 3 churches that are unable to host families but still provide support to the program in other ways. Lucy - I understand what you are saying and agree that there will always be a need for government assistance. But please don't use this story, and others like it, to try and discredit all faith and community based assistance. It is a vital piece of the equation. And, in this case at least, one bad apple will NOT spoil the whole bunch. The rest of us will just keep on keepin' on and figure something out for these families. Oh, I absolutely wouldn't want to discredit faith-based charity! Sorry if I gave you that impression. I think it's a very important component of community services in general. I just don't like the idea of relying strictly on charities in place of any governmental assistance. |
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Loydene
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Post by Loydene on May 5, 2016 20:46:31 GMT
Time for the "Crazy Cake-Bakin' Christians" again! - originally posted here in April, 2015 -- and some one should inquire of the "holier than thou" about those heterosexual, unmarried he is willing to host Bake for them two |
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tduby1
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Post by tduby1 on May 5, 2016 21:07:01 GMT
Perhaps they are just using this as an excuse to end something that they now consider a burden. And the bigger the stink they make about homosexuality the less it looks like uncharitable doings. I suspect it really *is about not hosting "unbiblical families". The church I belonged to growing wouldn't participate in such a program, I am sure, for that very reason. |
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tincin
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Post by tincin on May 5, 2016 21:14:22 GMT
That's that good 'ol Christian spirit I so often see. Don't get me wrong, some of my very best friends are Christians.  But they aren't the sort of Christians that use the Bible as a weapon for discrimination. The picking and choosing Christians are some of the ones I abhor the most. The ones who decide which parts of their Bible they will follow. Are all the women in their congregation made to not cut their hair? Do they shun left handed people? Do the not judge, lest they be judged? Whoops, I think that's the sticking point, never mind that whole do unto others thing. |
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Post by brina on May 5, 2016 21:15:22 GMT
that is awful. We love Family Promise - our church is in the training process to be a host site and my daughter's girl scout troop has done projects to help families in the program.
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Post by mom on May 5, 2016 22:00:15 GMT
I am a Christian, and hearing things like this just make my heart hurt.
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Post by jennifercw on May 5, 2016 22:10:12 GMT
that is awful. We love Family Promise - our church is in the training process to be a host site and my daughter's girl scout troop has done projects to help families in the program.  Our youth group occasionally volunteers to cook and serve dinner one night when hosting at our church. I am one of the youth leaders so have personally helped out in that tiny way. But the dedication of the small army of volunteers that actually organizes/oversees our involvement 4 times a year is amazing - it is a lot of work! |
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Post by jennifercw on May 5, 2016 22:23:16 GMT
My church and the 11 others still in the host rotation! And the 3 churches that are unable to host families but still provide support to the program in other ways. Lucy - I understand what you are saying and agree that there will always be a need for government assistance. But please don't use this story, and others like it, to try and discredit all faith and community based assistance. It is a vital piece of the equation. And, in this case at least, one bad apple will NOT spoil the whole bunch. The rest of us will just keep on keepin' on and figure something out for these families. Oh, I absolutely wouldn't want to discredit faith-based charity! Sorry if I gave you that impression. I think it's a very important component of community services in general. I just don't like the idea of relying strictly on charities in place of any governmental assistance. Gotcha. I suspect we might differ on the proportion of government vs. 'private' assistance necessary but seems we agree that both are needed!  When these types of threads are posted there is always at least one pea whose broad-brush reaction is "see, this is why Christians are bad" (paraphrasing obviously) - despite it being a case of TWELVE churches doing the right thing and ONE church doing the wrong thing. So I was probably over sensitive and apologize. |
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Post by jennifercw on May 5, 2016 22:30:32 GMT
Time for the "Crazy Cake-Bakin' Christians" again! - originally posted here in April, 2015 -- and some one should inquire of the "holier than thou" about those heterosexual, unmarried he is willing to host Bake for them twoLoved that then, love it now. Soooo tempted to post the link on their Facebook page. But #1: it wouldn't do any good and #2: it might cause hurt to this family. I'm hoping they have no idea what has happened and that they feel safe and accepted at the host churches they spend time with until they can get back on their feet. |
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Post by lancermom on May 5, 2016 22:35:51 GMT
It makes me sad to hear this. People are people. Gay or straight we are all human. And if a human needs help and you are able to give, that should be it. My company is called Good Samaritan based on the Bible story. Not one place does it read, help only if...
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Post by lucyg on May 5, 2016 22:54:50 GMT
oh my gosh. No worries!
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Post by auntkelly on May 5, 2016 23:11:36 GMT
It's sad that the one church is pulling out of the program. It sounds like a wonderful program and it's wonderful that so many churches open their hearts and do participate.
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J u l e e
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Post by J u l e e on May 5, 2016 23:50:05 GMT
This honestly makes me furious! I have never heard of Family Promise and want to go check it out and do this at my church! Maybe we'll take the families not welcome elsewhere!
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Post by jennifercw on May 6, 2016 0:58:49 GMT
This honestly makes me furious! I have never heard of Family Promise and want to go check it out and do this at my church! Maybe we'll take the families not welcome elsewhere! You should! Then something good will have come out of something shameful! Family PromiseCurrent Programs - in case there is already one near you... |
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on May 6, 2016 2:46:40 GMT
I actually am the president. Of the board of trustees for our local Family Promise and i can tell you that Family Promisr (national IFHN). And the organizations that help fund family promise units ( such as United way). Do lot condone such actions. Our definition of Family is very broad... And same sex couples are welcome if they and their children need us.
We have served Muslin, Hindu and atheist guests .... The goal of FP is to help the child by helping the family.
And as a Christian.... I believe in the phrase " they will know me by what I DO"
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anniebygaslight
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Post by anniebygaslight on May 6, 2016 6:37:58 GMT
Another 'What would Jesus have done?' moment.
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janeliz
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Post by janeliz on May 6, 2016 12:22:26 GMT
Disgusting and shameful.
Family Promise is a fantastic program, and what that church is doing is the antithesis of what Family Promise is about.
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Post by debmast on May 6, 2016 12:48:54 GMT
Gotta love this type of "Christian" group. They give others a bad name.
So happy to read your church, and others, are still participating.
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Post by anonrefugee on May 6, 2016 14:41:36 GMT
That, too! My church and the 11 others still in the host rotation! And the 3 churches that are unable to host families but still provide support to the program in other ways. Lucy - I understand what you are saying and agree that there will always be a need for government assistance. But please don't use this story, and others like it, to try and discredit all faith and community based assistance. It is a vital piece of the equation. And, in this case at least, one bad apple will NOT spoil the whole bunch. The rest of us will just keep on keepin' on and figure something out for these families. I agree with you and lucyg both and will add a twist some won't like. we need a little government oversight cover gaps between secular and faith based groups. We need to be sure each person can find assistance some where. I probably did a poor job writing that. |
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But they aren't the sort of Christians that use the Bible as a weapon for discrimination. The picking and choosing Christians are some of the ones I abhor the most. The ones who decide which parts of their Bible they will follow. Are all the women in their congregation made to not cut their hair? Do they shun left handed people? Do the not judge, lest they be judged? Whoops, I think that's the sticking point, never mind that whole do unto others thing.
