Shiloh Church is an interesting place to do ministry. If you read last week's "Shiloh Insider," you read that Shiloh is breaking new ground in a number of very important ways. The congregation is moving boldly forward in its witness to the radical acceptance and love of Christ Jesus, and to community action that articulates that love to all people. If you missed it, you can go back and read that post. It is free! It is entitled "Shiloh Breaking New Ground."
A shovel full of that new ground lies in becoming an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ. As noted last week, Shiloh considered registering as ONA as early as 2002, but rejected the move. The leadership did not think that the statement was wide enough in scope to encompass Shiloh's radical welcome, as it was targeted to only particular populations. The leadership believed that such radical welcome should be extended to all people, no matter who, what, where from, how they may live, with whom, what challenges they may face, how they look, economic or political values, opinions or practises, shape, weight.... The list is never-ending.
Current Shiloh leadership decided that 2016 would be a right time for the congregation to reconsider the Open and Affirming status, especially since congregations are now challenged to write their own ONA Statement. So, Shiloh leadership began the process of designing a process and shaping a statement.
As most of you are likely aware, the process consisted of several steps: 1. Create an ONA Statement that reflects Shiloh's radical welcome; 2. Engage interested persons in intentional dialogue around the issues of welcome and hospitality; 3. Vote as a congregation on the ONA Statement and issue. Rick Holmes, Shiloh's president, established a working group. That group designed a process that included Bible@Boston's discussion sessions throughout April and a congregational vote on May 1. The group arranged for presentations and discussion of the proposed statement. It drafted a proposed statement.
Some may be surprised to find that the issue has not been debated. The ONA Statement certainly has, however. It seems as though radical hospitality and welcome are not issues at Shiloh, but how to state that welcome may be. The original proposed statement looked like this:
Shiloh Church United Church of Christ celebrates diversity.
We celebrate who you are as much as we celebrate who we are.
We recognize that we may not be or believe exactly alike.
To accomplish God's will on earth,
God relies on each of us to respond to God's call in our own ways.
We invite you to bring to the Lord's Table your talents, your gifts,
your energy, and your uniqueness, to join with ours in
"Living the Word by Serving the World."
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE!
The response has been interesting. Alongside some grammatical suggestions, the group has received no fewer then ten alternative versions of this statement. Those suggestions range from full-page litanies to one-sentence declarations. Several suggestions have been made as well. One such suggestion is that the original statement carries too strong a "we/you" tone and could be stated in a much more inviting manner. Another suggestion is that the congregation adopt a statement that lists, at very least, those of the LBGTQ communities. Yet another is that we phrase it ala Dr, Seuss. In the spirit of compromise, I was asked to take the suggestions and versions and attempt some consensus and communicate it here and on Shiloh's Facebook group. So here goes. This is my best attempt at a complete compromise of proposed statements and suggestions:
Shiloh Church United Church of Christ welcomes and affirms all persons,
whatever the gifts, talents, energies, capabilities, uniqueness and life-styles
persons bring to the Lord's Table.
Persons are valued and embraced at Shiloh Church,
where each joins with others in reflecting Christ by
"Living the Word by Serving the World."
I invite you to make comment on Shiloh's Facebook page, where we can work together in further shaping a statement that genuinely expresses Shiloh's openness, radical welcome and warm hospitality. We will continue dialogue around issues of welcome and acceptance this Wednesday, April 20, at Boston's Bistro and Pub, from 6-7:00 p.m. Amy and Linda DeCamp will present on issues of life-style acceptance, after which we will continue our discussion of the proposed ONA Statement(s). We will finalize the ONA Statement on April 27, again as part of Shiloh's Bible@Boston's program. I hope that you join us.The vote on becoming an ONA congregation will take place on May 1.
