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rebcamuse
Posts:153
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| 01/12/2007 1:56 PM |
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I subscribe to the Interfaith Alliance's weekly "Media Roundup" which compiles as list of articles on the intersection of faith and politics. This one intrigued me as it focuses on UCC efforts to back the "Democratic" agenda as espoused by Speaker Pelosi. I'm not completely sure how I feel about this. I'd like to think we can support that agenda because it is aligned with the Christian agenda (and not SOLELY the Christian agenda, but we happen to be Christians), but not because we are Democrats (which we all are not, undoubtedly). Take a look at the article and please share your thoughts about this topic. (I'm taking a cue from Jack and feeling free to post slightly provocative topics).
http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/content/news/2007/01/a_faith_base_of_their_own.html?msource=MR_001
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Rebecca M
Somerville, MA |
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keyless.chuck
Posts:58
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| 01/12/2007 3:35 PM |
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To be honest, I am not really troubled by this, just as I am not troubled by those church bodies that address the issues important to them -- abortion and homosexuality.
I think the final lines of the article sums it up well -- "We'll actively engage our public policy network in supporting the minimum wage. We can't help that it falls in the first 100 hours," says Johnson [John Johnson IV, Episcopal Church government relations staff member]. "We've been working for and advocating for this for a long time."
Same with our church body. We can't help that the social issues with which we are concerned are being addressed in the first 100 hours by this Congress. We've been advocating for these issues for years with all members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation. We'd be doing the same thing if a different party was the one leading the charge to change governmental policy for the social issues that matter to us as a religious body -- that party just chose not to address these issues, even after our attempts at conversation with them. And, we'll continue to speak about these issues with all Congressional members long after this Congress has its day -- that is part of our work.
As long as we as a church do not rely on one party to do our will; as long as we work with all members of Congress who are willing to listen to our voices; as long as we remain bipartisan, then I am not bothered by this. These issues are not solely religious issues; they are not issues that reflect governmental coersion to a particular religious viewpoint -- rather, we speak about these social issues from a religious viewpoint. |
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"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." --Madeleine L'Engle |
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subear
Posts:760
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| 01/15/2007 10:25 AM |
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I am grateful that there are Christians who are actually trying to live the values that Jesus taught. And speaking out for those values. Love one another, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, heal the sick, love the enemy. . . be kind to the outcasts, forgive.
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"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
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rebcamuse
Posts:153
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| 01/15/2007 11:04 AM |
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Keyless Chuck wrote: "As long as we as a church do not rely on one party to do our will; as
long as we work with all members of Congress who are willing to listen
to our voices; as long as we remain bipartisan, then I am not bothered
by this. These issues are not solely religious issues; they are not
issues that reflect governmental coersion to a particular religious
viewpoint -- rather, we speak about these social issues from a
religious viewpoint."
Yes, that is what I think too. What troubled me about the article is that there was an implication we were adopting the tactics of the Religious Right. I'd like to think it is issue-oriented rather than party-oriented. Just in the same way many evangelicals have crossed party lines to advocate for energy conservation and measures against global warming.
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Rebecca M
Somerville, MA |
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keyless.chuck
Posts:58
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| 01/16/2007 8:06 PM |
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Posted By rebcamuse on 01/15/2007 11:04 AM Yes, that is what I think too. What troubled me about the article is that there was an implication we were adopting the tactics of the Religious Right. I'd like to think it is issue-oriented rather than party-oriented. Just in the same way many evangelicals have crossed party lines to advocate for energy conservation and measures against global warming.
But, then again, comparing the UCC to the Religious Right is like comparing apples and oranges -- one is a denomination, the other is an advocacy group. It's easier for the Religious Right to use the tactics which they do than it would be for an entire denomination.
I think there are enough people in mainline Protestant denominations who wouldn't let this happen, though. I've experienced more caution from mainline Protestants about entering political debates than I have in any other denominations in which I have taken part. People here seem to have a healthy respect for the separation of Church and State.
Our church organization itself seems to be issue-oriented. Some individual members might be more party-oriented than issue oriented, but that would likely be found in all church bodies as well.
Notice that those evangelicals who have worked with Democrats to fight global warming are almost always not members of the Religious Right. In fact, didn't the head of the Christian Coalition (an organization within the Religious Right) recently resign because he wanted to bring the Christian Coalition into the fight against global warming, but was met with so much resistance that he just gave up?
Here's the story |
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"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." --Madeleine L'Engle |
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rebcamuse
Posts:153
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| 01/17/2007 10:29 AM |
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Oh that is terrible news! I had no idea. I heard an interview with Joel Hunter on "State of Belief" (Air America's radio show hosted by Rev. Welton C. Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance--HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) and was impressed. I knew that he and I would disagree on a great deal, but I thought expanding the goals of the CC to include that which happens to unite quite a few liberals and conservatives was a very lofty and Christlike goal. I'm very curious as to what his proposed methods were that the CC didn't like...
Ultimately I was complaining about the article I posted. I think it implied that the UCC and other typically-left leaning churches were trying to counter the RR. I don't believe that is the actuality, but I do believe we should be careful to make sure our involvement in politics is issue-oriented, not party oriented.
"State of Belief" did a great series around the election last november on the IRS requirements for churches to maintain their tax-exempt status. They covered not only what churches could NOT do but what they could. I think there are a lot of blurred lines in many churches and it calls for caution--not inaction, but caution.
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Rebecca M
Somerville, MA |
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keyless.chuck
Posts:58
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| 01/17/2007 1:57 PM |
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Posted By rebcamuse on 01/17/2007 10:29 AM
"State of Belief" did a great series around the election last november on the IRS requirements for churches to maintain their tax-exempt status. They covered not only what churches could NOT do but what they could. I think there are a lot of blurred lines in many churches and it calls for caution--not inaction, but caution.
That sounds similar to the situation with the Episcopal Church in California that is currently being reviewed by the IRS because its priest preached against the war in Iraq the Sunday before the 2004 election. I guess the IRS claims his sermon went beyond just issue-oriented preaching, but that the pastor was specifically endorsing John Kerry over George Bush. Interesting.
I also remember the PBS television show "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly" doing a recent study on the tax-exempt status of churches and how that can be compromised by getting to close to a particular party or candidate. I think this episode was prompted by Ohio congregations inviting politicians of a certain party to talk, but not inviting anyone else.
I wish my region got Air America radio but, alas, we do not. And, my dial-up access at home is too slow to even listen online.
If I remember correctly, didn't The Interfaith Alliance send out guidelines to its members in 2002 or 2004 as to what religious institutions could and could not do as far as politics is involved? I thought so, but maybe I'm wrong. Either way, I think TIA is a great organization to be involved with -- their viewpoints need to be heard more by the public, who tend to only think of the Religious Right as the "faithful" viewpoint in American politics.
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"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." --Madeleine L'Engle |
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rebcamuse
Posts:153
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| 01/18/2007 11:00 AM |
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Hi Chuck (can I call you that--leaving out the keyless? ;-))
Yes, the TIA is a fabulous organization. I'm a card-carrying member and it is one of the few I've stuck with.
I listen to the show via Podcast...I don't know if that is an option for you (e.g. do you have an iPod), but I'd imagine it is probably the same problem that you have with the downloads anyway. If you ever get DSL/HiSpeed Cable, do try and catch the show. Rev. Welton Gaddy is a wonderful radio host and the episodes are always informative and entertaining. But even if you can't listen to the show, the website for the show is pretty informative and has a good blogroll (they have a feature called Blogs of Belief).
All best,
Rebecca
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Rebecca M
Somerville, MA |
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Con Carroll
Posts:11
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| 01/18/2007 11:19 AM |
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the UCC sholud take a progressive political role. one which is not afraid to attack the politics of American President,George Bush.
it has to stand with men and women who are politically, economically socially alienated from church and society
Ucc should stand in solidarity with peoplewho are asylum seekers
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subear
Posts:760
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| 01/18/2007 11:23 AM |
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Dear Con:
Welcome.
Susannah |
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"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
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Con Carroll
Posts:11
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| 02/23/2007 9:07 AM |
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interesting to see Obama standing as a candidate in Presidential elections.
his challenge to Hilary Clinton about supporting the war in Iraq is very interesting
about time someone who is African American is standing up to the obnoxious politics of Bush, Cheeney Rumsfield.
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