The Center for Progressive Christianity: The Eight Points
In his sermon on Pluralism Sunday (May 3) Pastor Tom introduced The Eight Points which serves as a belief and mission statement of The Center for Progressive Christianity. The Session was presented with the Eight Points at its last meeting for their study leading to the possibility of Old South Haven becoming an affiliate of the Center.
The Eight Points are as follows:
1. We have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus. That is why we are Christians.
2. We recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us. In fact we feel we can learn something from them.
3. We understand the sharing of bread and wine in Jesus' name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God's feast for all peoples.
4. We invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable (including but not limited to): believers and agnostics, conventional Christians and questioning skeptics, women and men, those of all sexual orientations and gender identities; those of all races and cultures; those of all classes and abilities; those who hope for a better world and those who have lost hope; without imposing on them the necessity of becoming like us.
5. We know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe.
6. We find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty, more value in questioning than in absolutes.
7. We feel called to communities of faith that are dedicated to equipping one another for the work we are called to do: striving for peace and justice among all people, protecting and restoring the integrity of all of God's creation, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers.
8. We recognize that being followers of Jesus is costly, and entails selfless love, conscientious resistance to evil, and renunciation of privilege.
Visit the Center’s web page at http://www.tcpc.org/template/index.cfm
News from the Long Island Council of Churches
The Council reports that it is feeding 53% more families this year than last year and last year was a record increase in numbers served. At the same time financial donations to the Council from individuals, churches, foundations, businesses and government have dropped considerably.
At its May Annual Meeting Alan Stevens was elected to the Council's Development Committee and Pastor Tom was elected to the Personnel Committee
