tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post5591240106540506532..comments2024-01-24T12:51:19.125-05:00Comments on Not Sure: Orlando and the Christian Reformed SynodJohn Sukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-17665972222005879292016-07-30T11:01:12.859-04:002016-07-30T11:01:12.859-04:00Paul, I've always struggled with the Tribalism...Paul, I've always struggled with the Tribalism of my home denomination the most. There is less of it in my new denomination. And, to give the CRC credit, they are trying their best, even structurally, to be a more diverse denomination. That said, congregations are often tribal too. The ambiguity of scripture, rooted in its diversity, is perhaps a telling alternative to the Tribalism of so many Christian expressions. We're all trying to get the main things right. If we could only learn to do this with a bit more grace, and without insisting on our interpretation, we'd be much better off.John Sukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-90654233039817506982016-07-28T08:55:16.712-04:002016-07-28T08:55:16.712-04:00Good piece. Your mention of "tribalism" ...Good piece. Your mention of "tribalism" is, for me, the most compelling point in my own efforts to understand faith. What really strikes me about religion is the extent to which faith is tribal. <br /><br />To me, it just seems such a man-made phenomenon. And if it's God-made and the Christian story is true, then that's a struggle for me too, because that means that He intentionally created a set of rules that were so unclear and ambiguous, that even people within a single denomination are miles apart in their understanding of what it all means, never mind the different understandings that come from different tribes throughout the world. And the result is ultimately violence and people killing each other like Orlando. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05597277297849979344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-37682221379468741652016-06-18T13:31:00.500-04:002016-06-18T13:31:00.500-04:00John, like you (and the previous writers)I couldn&...John, like you (and the previous writers)I couldn't stop myself from following synod even though I have come to think of myself as "emeritus in exile" When I read that the opening address was about keeping unity...well, my experience in my delegations to synod and service on boards is that unity is its own idol. I wish I had been wrong in the 3 areas that concerned me personally both in the orbit of family and friends and an activist: the "pastoral care" issue, the Belhar confession, and the report on Doctrine of Discovery. "Unity" is a powerful voice that can grind things to a halt, and demand that those who see need for change (and repentance) keep this denomination as the primary focus of their lives and central arena for action and keep coming back again and again. Synod confronted opportunities to counter forces of hate and injustice--but unity won. Stan VerHeul Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-58832200477040086392016-06-17T00:20:02.226-04:002016-06-17T00:20:02.226-04:00I stumbled across synods decision today because i ...I stumbled across synods decision today because i have a few family and friends in the CRC still. Several decades ago the CRC church left me. As a part of a diaspora of left or excommunicated or unwelcomed what i feel the most is a profound sadness in the loss of diversity, of otherness for those left in the crc. A community of increasingly boring homogonous sameness.... And im sad for the lack of allies for the kids and adults who experience themselves in an othering way but i am most grieved at the loss for those left behind. It is such a profound waste ... Like a mono crop culture of only one crop, lacking diversity, resilience, breeding ill health. The risk is for the queer and others, but most profoundly also for those that can pass or live comfortably within the stricture of acceptable. Theirs I believe is the biggest loss. My challenge I suppose is that I believe it is the wrong question or statement to grieve that there is no welcome or "pastoring" for queer and wierd and misfits. The pastoring is needed for those left behind.Dorothy Henneveldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-72409831306921506542016-06-13T23:29:43.566-04:002016-06-13T23:29:43.566-04:00Most Christians find themselves in a denominationa...Most Christians find themselves in a denominational structure. At the same time we know that Christ brought a message of hope and the people that he spent much of his time with were those who were marginalized, who society had turned their back on, who had no hope. That's what we need to live out.Hearts Changing Hearts Healinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18391115178566199185noreply@blogger.com