Rev_Roger's blog

Friends,

The man across from me in the coffee shop is an unemployed minister. Boy, is that ever a strange phrase, “unemployed minister.”

Turning the Tables on the Bigots
Here is an interesting approach. Ronald Goetz, a "Proud PFLAG Dad" is proposing a lawsuit on behalf of clergy and churches whose rights are being violated because they cannot perform marriages for same-gender couples. This is a turn the tables approach on those Christians who argue that marriage equality somehow violates their freedom of religion. What do you think? Mr. Goetz is looking for advice and input.

"Proposed Class-Action Lawsuit on Behalf of Churches and Ordained Clergy Because of the Violation of their First Amendment Right to Free Exercise of Religion"

There are many denominations that are on record as supporting Marriage Equality and want to marry same-sex couples as a matter of religious faith.

There are thousands of Open and Affirming congregations nationwide that support Marriage Equality and want to marry same-sex couples as a matter of religious faith.

There are additional thousands of ordained clergy who want to marry same-sex couples because of their religious faith.

The first amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Congress includes state and local jurisdictions, which cannot violate your civil rights either.

Today is Veteran's Day; and all across our nation, people are pausing to thank veterans for their service to our nation.
I must confess that I have some real ambivalence about my own military service. I cannot claim any selfless patriotism as being a motivating factor to my service; rather I (like many others) served because of a percieved lack of opportunity to better myself. That being said; I served proudly and I hope that I served well.

I must be honest and state that I lament that many fine young men and women are led to to military service because of lack of opportunity elswhere.
I lament that the business of war is destoying the lives of men, women and children; as nation upon nation places pursuit of strategic and political gains above the health and welfare of their citizens.
I lament that there is no peace.

Therefore in support of our service members past and present; as well as the military members of all nations; I present this my prayer for veterans and serving military of the world:

Litany For Peace
By Bishop Karl Pruter

Lord, Heavenly Father help us to become peacemakers, that we may be called, “The Children of God”

Lord, hear our prayer, and grant us Thy peace.

Lord, Heavenly Father, help us purge ourselves of those attributes which make not for peace but which set the stage for war.

Lord hear our prayer, and grant us Thy peace.

Please join us for the Theology Panel conference call on Tuesday October 20th 8:30 pm Eastern.

We have had some lively discussions in email over the last couple of weeks on the subject of engagement with our brethren on the right; please join us!
To participate call 1-218-339-2500, use 727705* as your access code.

Friends,

I have been engaged in discussion during the past week with a diverse group of folks discussing the future of Progressive Christian engagement with the Religious Right. I would like to repost the string and open the topic up for discussion.
Please share your ideas and thoughts.

Peace,
Roger
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The whole progressive Christian movement is, and has been for quite sometime, under silent attack. While it's roots can be traced back to 4th century, the Peligius-Augustine debates, and up thru Calvin, and beyond, it's current roots, from what I can discern dates to 1928 and creation of Opus Dei, an ultraconservative Roman Catholic organization approved in 1950 by the Holy See as a secular institute, who's members "profess the evangelical counsels of secular life". They strongly oppose the reforms set forth by the Second Vatican council.
On the protestant side we see creation of what has become known as The Family. Founded in 1935 by an evangelical minister Abraham Vereide, it meets at 133 C St, SE in DC, it has come under scrutiny of late for the extra-marital affairs of SC Gov. Mark Sanford and NV Senator John Ensign. Sen. Ensign been the subject of 2 recent editorials, The NY Times, Oct 2nd and the Washington Post, yesterday the 5th for possible serious conflicts of interest.

Dear Dr. Perkins,

I recently had cause to visit the Family Research Council's website while researching an issue that is near and dear to my heart; that of health care reform.

As a pastor, and one who earnestly attempts to follow the core teachings of Judeo-Christian tradition; I first studied the scriptures themselves to glean a better understanding of the principles espoused therein.
I am sure that you are familiar with the passages I found, but please bear with me as I list a few of the more telling ones:
Genesis 1:27
Genesis 2:7
Isaiah 1:16-17
Isaiah 65:20
Jeremiah 7:5-7
Jeremiah 29:7
Matthew 4:23
Matthew 25:31-45
Mark 7:32-35
Luke 9:1-2
Acts 10:38
Romans 8:22
Revelation 21:4
Throughout my study, it became ever more clear that:
1. all life is precious before God.
2. That healing and life are integral to the Christian Faith
3. That we will be judged on the basis of the care that we give to one another.

Additionally, I studied the history of the early Christian church, so that I might determine just how they practiced the principles so integral to their faith. There I learned that these early Christians, who had so recently received the teachings of Christ lived out their faith in community with one another, meeting one another’s needs for food, clothing and care.

It is (past) time once again for our (not quite) monthly Theology panel conference call. I would like to invite all those interested to the next Theology Panel conference call on Tuesday October 20th at 8:30 PM Eastern. To participate call 1-218-339-2500, use 727705* as your access code.

Via email, I received the following suggestions for topic:

1) The beattitudes
2) As Progressive Christians, our respect for other faith traditions is part of our identity. How then do we retain our Christian identity while respecting those of other faiths?
3) Health care reform

We have had a bit of a sabbatical of late, but I would like to invite all those interested to the next Theology Panel conference call on Tuesday, August 25th 8:30 Eastern. To participate call 1-218-339-2500, use 727705* as your access code.

Rich (the elder) suggested the following topic for discussion:
"I would like to suggest we focus on the morality of Capitalism. Specifically the ministry of Jesus to the poor.

Would He be considered a Socialist for advocating public services for the poor? Or would he shame the wealthy into supporting the needs of the poor, not just through charity but more through education and job training, empowering the poor to provide for themselves?"

Please join us.