The organizing group, named by the congregation's president, Rick Holmes, established a process for Shiloh's Open and Affirming status, named workshop leaders and tailored an initial proposed ONA statement. The process was simple. Those who were interested were invited to attend Wednesday evening sessions at Boston's throughout April. On the first three Wednesdays, we presented issues that comprised the open and affirming stance and began working on proposed statements. On the fourth Wednesday, the working group narrowed the potential field of proposals to the top four. Those gathered voted. The highest single vote-getter was adopted as Shiloh's proposed ONA statement. The group edited the version selected.
As it turns out, the final proposal reflects much of that which was proposed by Shiloh's organizing group. The congregation will vote on the proposed statement at its specially called meeting this coming Sunday, May 1. Here is the final proposal:
Shiloh Church United Church of Christ welcomes and celebrates diversity.
We recognize that we do not have to be or believe alike in order to
accomplish God's will on earth.
Shiloh Church celebrates your journey, your gifts, your talents, and your
calling, and invites you to bring to the Lord's Table your energy and
your uniqueness, to join with ours in
"Living the Word by Serving the World"
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
On behalf of the organizing committee and the working group, I want to urge you to be at Sunday's congregational meeting. to vote on establishing this statement as Shiloh's official ONA Statement. Remember, too, that the congregation will be determining a financial path for the remainder of 2016.
See you there!
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