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Thursday 22 September 2016

Will the real Jesus please stand up!

To whom it may concern:

Image result for gretta vosperLadies and Gentlemen. although the header for this post is also the title for one of the chapters in my book "An Exploration of Religion and the Meaning of life," in this case we are about to go off in a totally different direction, although it is a subject and concept that I am both familiar with, and sympathetic to! (I just got an e-mail about this.)

Greta Vosper is the Minister at a United Church in West Hill, Ontario, and although her organization is sort of liberal in their beliefs, she has a rather radical way of practicing her faith, so there were bound to be certain repercussions ...., which she is now facing!

She was just dragged in front of a panel that was focusing on whether she continues to affirm the questions asked of all candidates at the time of ordination, commissioning or admission and to report whether she is suitable to continue serving as an Ordained Minister in The United Church of Canada.

"Ms. Vosper told the Committee that she does not believe in a Trinitarian God. Instead, by ‘god/God’ she means what is created between people in relationships, but does not exist separate from us, and the construct is not divine. Ms. Vosper does not use the word ‘God’ because its use is a barrier to some people. She does not believe that Jesus was divine. He is not the Son of God. Jesus is not her Saviour. Ms. Vosper no longer calls herself a Christian. She does not believe that there is a Holy Spirit. Ms. Vosper does not believe that there is a God who calls anyone to ministry. Ms. Vosper does not administer sacraments. She does not consider scripture to be the primary source, but merely one source of information amongst many. She is no longer in essential agreement with the statement of doctrine of The United Church of Canada. Instead, Ms. Vosper said that her theology has evolved beyond the doctrine of the United Church.
The majority of the Conference Interview Committee has determined that Ms. Vosper is not suitable to continue as a minister in the United Church."

IT THEN WENT ON TO SAY:

This interview did not assess whether Ms. Vosper meets the Standards of Practice with respect to administration, community outreach and social justice, continuing education, denomination and communities, leadership, pastoral care and self-care.4 The question that Toronto Conference asked this Committee to address was limited to her beliefs and her theology and their impact on Ms. Vosper’s responsibility for faith formation, Christian education and worship.
Presbyteries are responsible for oversight of ministers within their geographic area.5 Pursuant to the Effective Leadership Pilot Project, Toronto Southeast Presbytery agreed that Toronto Conference would assume responsibility for the oversight and discipline of its ministers.6
In 2015 Toronto Conference received letters and emails and members of its Executive heard concerns that a person who describes herself as an atheist, who does not believe that Jesus ever existed, and who does not accept the authority of scripture could continue to be a minister within the United Church of Canada.

Well folks, although I have never met Greta, I can certainly agree with some of her positions since I too do not blindly follow the dogma thrown at me by organized religion ..........!

BUT!

Greta, Greta, Greta, ya can't have your cake and eat it too kid. You're either in, or you're out, there is no maybe, there is just do or don't! (Thank you Yoda)

Come to think of it, maybe she should try the Jedi religion ......, after all, what's she got to lose!

Oh ya, that's right, her immortal soul! [sic]


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