tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post3111309366134202989..comments2023-12-25T14:38:40.017-05:00Comments on Holy Ordinary: The Sacraments of Everyday Life: Sore Losers or Good News?Brent Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01351957537347562545noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-76388253863235880762009-09-08T21:10:13.988-04:002009-09-08T21:10:13.988-04:00@ang -- well, I would say that there was a sense o...@ang -- well, I would say that there was a sense of the Meeting. That sense was that there was not approval of a certain recommendation that a Yearly Meeting committee had put forward. So the sense of the Meeting was, as I understand, to lay the matter aside and move on to other business.<br /><br />But that is just my understanding.Brent Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351957537347562545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-50954828989928471722009-09-08T20:50:18.822-04:002009-09-08T20:50:18.822-04:00Sorry Friends - after reading Bill's post, and...Sorry Friends - after reading Bill's post, and then slowing down and reading Brent's, I see that there was no sense of the meeting, so I jumped to conclusions in my naming of egregious behavior for why I named it. Coming off a very rich and full committee weekend, with a new return to Quaker process for the committee, I was tender to the subject and failed to listen well. <br /><br />My love for Quaker process in coming to true unity in discerning the Will of God stands. <br /><br />I apologize if my poorly written words add any fuel to the fire, and I pray that the fire will burn to purify, not destroy.anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907362042684864253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-62373419414929263172009-09-08T20:42:45.714-04:002009-09-08T20:42:45.714-04:00How can true unity of faith be found if we do not ...How can true unity of faith be found if we do not honor Quaker process? It is not about logic, or emotion, it is about discerning a Godly outcome, seeking the Will of God, in this time, at this place. If Friends chose not to stand aside or stand in the way of the sense of the Yearly Meeting and then to come back questioning that sense, seems to me, yes I think will say it, egregious behavior. How can we come to true unity, how can we be Light to the world, if Friends will not engage in Quaker process with honesty and integrity? <br /><br />Having said that, I understand I do not know the situation of which you speak, and rather than speaking to that situation, I am speaking for my love of what Quaker process brings to our witness as a people.anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907362042684864253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-2621518408752131582009-09-02T20:48:22.614-04:002009-09-02T20:48:22.614-04:00Ah, well, Scott King, while I am more hesitant tha...Ah, well, Scott King, while I am more hesitant than you to name what is "error" and what is not, I will say I think that you are wrong in that you missed my point. <br /><br />I'd say Quaker process does take priority over being in unity of faith as the meeting for business is conducted because that process is rooted and grounded in seeking the Will of Him Who leads us -- and not in the will of those who would lead us in the way they think is right or slavish adhereence to certain sections of a book that is revised every so often. <br /><br />Quaker process is about trusting that we are not the only ones who might be led by God, but that others who faithfully seek Him -- even if they do not think exactly as we do -- may have a word from God that we need to hear and obey. Unity does not consist in my way or the highway among Friends -- it consists in seeking the will of God as the people of God. And that's what Quaker process is about.<br /><br />So I -- even if in error -- will respect the process because it is how we live out learning God's Will for our time and place and circumstances. The process led Friends to work toward the abolition of slavery and other unpopular issues. The process is not God -- but points to God and God's will and can be trusted in so far as we are willing to say God may speak in voices other than those who agree with my thinking.<br /><br />If we do not do that -- then unity of faith is farce. It merely means unity of thought and not unity of faith in the Living God.Brent Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351957537347562545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-91260598676720321182009-09-02T20:03:41.679-04:002009-09-02T20:03:41.679-04:00Quaker process doesn't take priority over bein...Quaker process doesn't take priority over being in unity of faith as the meeting for business is conducted. We must know and believe in He Who leads us, and His Lordship over the Meeting. I think it is an error to put respect for "the process" ahead of the unity of faith!Scott King- Atlanta GAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11877429093763283183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-46669542503997340002009-08-28T10:00:02.678-04:002009-08-28T10:00:02.678-04:00When you let your emotions get in the way of cool ...When you let your emotions get in the way of cool logic, then regrettable displays like this come to light. I happen to think that a lot of this harshness is born of a frustration that reform never happens as it should in any form, so best to reinforce one's point of view harshly. Either that, or they believe that the way things are changing is ill-thought-out and unnecessary. Many think they're resorting to tough love and never one contemplate that they might be coming across otherwise. <br /><br />And when the stress of the many problems swirling around us only makes this response worse, then responses like this are common.Comrade Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393718048145784837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-91258459798097435802009-08-27T22:35:03.772-04:002009-08-27T22:35:03.772-04:00Here is the comment I left on Bill's post:
It...Here is the comment I left on Bill's post:<br /><br />It's clear to me that Friends on all sides of the issue <b><i>care,</i></b> and I certainly don't know what is or has been involved, since I am not a part of Western YM.<br /><br />But just as in a marriage that has hit a rocky spell and both partners need time to reach deeply into their faith in God, I would want to know to what extent Friends are willing to sit in the discomfort for a while, let go of any hoped-for outcome, and invite the Spirit in, to be close, and to show everyone a Third Way?<br /><br />It's a rhetorical question so no need to answer. I just wonder if God is starting to break through to a number of yearly and monthly meetings, because there are a number of issues and topics that are creating pain and even outrage...<br /><br />We are all one. You are all in my thoughts and prayers today.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Liz Opp, <a href="http://thegoodraisedup.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">The Good Raised Up</a>Liz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-45454369002916058262009-08-27T21:58:15.620-04:002009-08-27T21:58:15.620-04:00Since this Sunday's Meeting is wide open and i...Since this Sunday's Meeting is wide open and is looking for "a way forward" I would suggest that those who felt that the Faith and Practice statement either did not reflect their perceptions or was otherwise more restrictive than they would like to see should attend the Meeting with the idea that a way forward would be to initiate a change in the statement.Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07004334102672210987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-71365875286150918482009-08-27T15:24:26.397-04:002009-08-27T15:24:26.397-04:00I appreciate Bill's post and encourage you to ...I appreciate Bill's post and encourage you to read it on his blog. Bill is a wise, good, and thoughtful man.Brent Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351957537347562545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36295725.post-4407671233427921152009-08-27T13:11:00.130-04:002009-08-27T13:11:00.130-04:00Brent was kind enough to give me a heads up about ...Brent was kind enough to give me a heads up about this post, which touches on some things I have done and been involved with as pastor at Plainfield. <br /><br />I have posted a response at <a href="http://billclen.blogspot.com/2009/08/grieving-loss.html" rel="nofollow">Meeting Jesus / Finding Peace </a> rather than take up a lot of space in Brent's Comment box.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17063175711541546350noreply@blogger.com