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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
September 2005 |
Letters to the Editor
Adding other video ideas to consider
I thought it was interesting you included an article about screens being used in Brownsburg, when lots of churches have been doing that for years now.
May I add an idea that we have been using for the past couple of years. I don't know if anyone else is doing the first part of this:
First, we operate two live cameras during our worship services. They drive through the projector system. They can focus on people doing special music and make those folks more visible from the back of the church. It is enjoyable to see the image switch from one camera to the other for a different perspective. They can focus on the pastor during the message. We also started to build into our system (but have never completed the project) a remote camera that could be down on the floor with the kids during "Children's Moment" - this is especially good so the camera can focus in on some small object the pastor us sharing with the children, but the congregation cannot see. This way the congregation can actually know what is going on and participate too.
Second, and probably a lot of churches are doing this, we send everything that is going on in the sanctuary to televisions in the nursery so parents, or nursery workers, can participate in the service. They can see and hear everything going on.
These were also simple projects to accomplish and not overly expensive. I thought perhaps other churches would especially find the first idea helpful.
Paul Fulp,
Muncie, Ind.
Future not bright
The letter entitled "Reflections on 'Tightening our belts'" was right on target. The UMC has become overweight with administrative positions and those with vested interests in being employed by the UMC will resist reduction "in force" with vigor. The UMC system is outdated and outmoded. The future of the UMC is not bright.
Harlan Hinkle
Brownsburg, Ind.
Appalled by liberal bias in Together
I am appalled by the elitism and liberal bias shown in several articles of the latest HUMC paper....TOGETHER
On page 3, The "Emerging Church May Bring an End to Holy-War Culture" the author states that the writer McClaren is 'not a theologian.' Of course he is. He, as a professed Christian is free to use 'God talk' and certainly as a Pastor he most assuredly does as well. So what gives? Are only ivory tower PhDs bonifide theologians now? I think John Wesley would roll over in his grave!
On page 11 "Church agencies focus on health in body, mind, spirit" the author Linda Bloom notes that only Democrats managed to come to a meeting in NYC to discuss advocacy efforts to help United Methodists lead healthy lives and confront a corrupt and broken health care system (the hidden message here is that Republicans have broken the system and that Democrats want to fix it). I beg your pardon. As I Republican, I am offended. As a Registered Nurse, I am offended. As a United Methodist, I am offended. Ms. Bloom should reconsider the facts about who has 'broken' the health care system, who was charged with fixing it, and who has intensely lobbied against public health initiatives over and over. Get real!
And finally, the unsigned piece "South Asians, Muslims, Arabs detained without rights" is the last offensive article to get my dander up, alleging that all of these folks are getting their rights abused while we are engaged in a War on Terror.
Excuse me! Our young people (the best of our best) and other innocents young and old are in constant duress and danger due to this war. Can any of us wander freely and safely in the Middle East, Philippines, Indonesia, Africa? Can we go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or even Mecca without fearing for our lives? Do we have any rights in their world? Were the 'rights' of innocent Americans on Sept 11 heeded? Were the 'rights' of hospital workers, UN workers, soldiers, journalists, and innocent bystanders provided in Afghanistan or Iraq or Saudi Arabia or Syria?
We all know why these 'targeted' folks are getting detained and deported! And because they hide behind their religion and their race does not remove the evil intent from their hearts. If they want the rights of POWS, then form armies and become uniformed opposition and sign the Geneva Convention. If they want the rights of citizens, take the citizen's oath and become citizens-they will have a day in court. To expect everyone to give them 'human rights' while they so flagrantly and violently abuse the rights of others unbelievable-did the women in Afghanistan have rights? Do the women of Saudi Arabia, or Pakistan? How about the Kurds? If you live by the sword, you die by it.
Let's not fool each other here. While at war, we are all lucky to have ANY rights - history has suspended habeas corpus many times (ask Abraham Lincoln).
In the meantime, we have to take an unyielding stand. Yes, a few folks might get their feelings hurt but the ball is solely in their court. And this war could be over in a heart beat if these Jihadist folks will simply quit trying to coerce their will and ways on other people. Lay down their AK-47s, stop the homicide bombings and improvised explosive devices and there would be peace. No question about it. To allege that we are withholding rights of many people to catch a few bad guys is simply ridiculous.
LaVerna VanDan
Valparaiso, Ind.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008