C-Mail
It's embarrassing that some pastors burn daylight to define the "pecking order" of other clergy, rather than concentrating on the ministry where God has placed them. The laity should be suspicious of such a worldly, bureaucratic clergy system. ["Kitchen Cabinet adds element of fun to a stressful season, " May 6 edition]
Maybe, it's time to pray, rediscover our Wesleyan roots, and put all full-time clergy on the same salary. Then perhaps, drifting clergy could refocus on reaching people for Christ instead of reaching for the next promotion.
Maybe, all Holston clergy could reclaim celebrating as Wesleyan pastors, "called and sent" as missionaries, charged with encouraging and equipping all the "priestly people."
Maybe, instead of mocking the precious witness of the itineracy, we could joyfully educate others who are in Christ.
No ... forget it! It wouldn't be as newsworthy as a front-page article about just another group of position-craved Pharisees groping for hollow authority on just another junk Web site.
Rev. Stephen Burkhart
Vermont UMC, Kingsport District
I have mixed emotions about the article, "You Called?" in the April 22 edition. I am a church secretary, but not in Holston Conference.
I do understand that Easter doesn't come the same time every year, like Christmas Eve and Christmas. But should a person wait until Saturday afternoon to find out the time of the services? This is after a secretary has typed and printed thousands of bulletins (and I do repeat, thousands) for the Easter season, to be sure all who attend have a bulletin.
Web sites were also not mentioned as a way of finding out service times. I update the Web site every week.
However, I did learn something from this article. I will always return all the calls on my answering machine on Tuesday when I return to work after the holiday and tell callers about our regular worship times.
Janet Tabor
Blacksburg UMC, Virginia Conference
I love the United Methodist Church, but I believe we've reached a crossroads in our theological teaching. A small number who hold the keys to power advocate same-sex marriages and unions. It is one thing for government to recognize such unions, but it is another for the church (United Methodist or otherwise) to go along with the "trend."
I wonder if it is more a political issue than a theological one for the UMC power structure. On the surface it appears the United Methodist bishops in D.C. have become more concerned about offending individuals and less concerned about standing on their convictions.
The majority of the UMC is against the ordination of homosexuals and lesbians. Certain bishops and UMC ministers still continue to advocate this issue and use the weak excuse that we should have "continued dialogue" on the issue of sexuality. I believe this is an attempt to "hold out" in an effort that the UMC will bend and change its position.
In closing, I am not opposed to everyone coming to the table and worshiping God. It is in that experience that we come to know the grace of God – grace that is open to each of us no matter what our orientation is. It is from that point in our spiritual journey that we must decide if we will continue to follow the path of our culture or the path God has for us.
Carl Miller
St. Andrews UMC
Chattanooga District
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