This might seem to pithy but I would probably reply that the Congregations in the UCC are as diverse as this Website so its wise to do a little research before walking through the doors.

Peace
Scott

I think you're putting your finger on a couple of important issues. First, hospitality is an important issue in all churches. To not welcome someone strikes me as rude and - more critically - not in the spirit of the one we follow. I've experienced both ends in the UC and elsewhere. My other concern is this: is the United Church running a campaign that is inviting people to a church that only exists in our imagination?

We talk about the United Church as if it has an identity of its own. We forget that each congregation is made up of individuals and you won't even necessarily meet the same group of individuals on any given Sunday, Wednesday, whenever you meet. And you sure won't get the same dialogue you do here. You might get a nice to meet you, glad you came, see you again soon. You might meet Mrs. Nosy who wants your life history on the first visit. You might just be invited into the chapel for a time of quiet. Be very careful of first impressions, just as you would on any other shopping trip. And God Bless you on your journey.

I think Scott pointed out a big point - that each congregation is going to be different but hopefully this whole "campaign', if you will, can make each and every UC a more welcoming spot for those who seek them out.

I was raised in the UC in another province and now that I am settled in my own home with my own children I have been exploring church options in my neighbourhood only to discover to my great disappointment that the closest UC was a place I will probably never return to for a wide variety of reasons. It was definately not for families, I was the only person there with children, they didn't have a nursery, it wasn't stroller-friendly, and strangely, a woman with an unleashed, unmuzzled pitbull chose to sit right behind me and my children. I actually had to get up and leave mid-sermon because the dog's growls really began to scare me.

I've had a couple other UCs recommended to me but not close by so I'm asking myself is it worth the extra effort to go to these other UCs or do I look for another denomination in my neighbourhood?

I would just assume the church I was walking into was weird and old fashioned and pray to be pleseantly surprised.

Eutychus asks is the United Church running a campaign that is inviting people to a church that only exists in our imagination?

Perhaps... and then again, perhaps we should be jumping right in to create the church that exists in our imagination - my mother always told me - you get out what you put in.... you reap what you sow... etc. etc. Are we expecting the church to do all the work - or can this be a partnership of kindred spirits. Find your group of kindred spirits and roll up your sleeves.

mammas... you reminded me of my favourite quote from a show that (sadly, from my perspective) isn't running anymore... Angel:

"What you did to me"¦ was unbelievable, Connor. But then, I got stuck in a hell dimension by my girlfriend one time for a hundred years, so three months under the ocean actually gave me perspective. Kind of a M. C. Esher perspective "” but I did get time to think. About us, about the world. Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh, and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be."

Hey all - I agree with every post in this discussion tree. But would like to offer a couple of other observations for any outsiders who read this board

1. A Church as a psychological entity may be quite different from its leadership at any given time... I would rather be in sync with the leadership and help them bring about transformation.

2. I think this Wonder Cafe thingy might jsut work. Imagine if we create some sort of groundswell of identity... imagine the thigns we could do if we got over our congregationalist bias and became a UNITED church!

Of course, I am the hopeless optimist.... sigh....

I've actually done this. My husband and I recently moved to a new community and decided to go back to church after years of not attending. I was raised in the United Church and have been very pleased with its progressive stance on modern issues, so that's why we went there. We were not particularily welcomed and certainly didn't fit into the congreational upper middle class old folk demographic. And the music was horrible to boot. We don't go anymore, but I'm still a United Church kinda gal and I'm thrilled to see this new forum!

Melchizedek wrote:
"I think this Wonder Cafe thingy might jsut work. Imagine if we create some sort of groundswell of identity... imagine the thigns we could do if we got over our congregationalist bias and became a UNITED church!"

I hope this thing works too. (Incidentally, this site would work a bit better if we had access to emoticons and some sort of quote function) I come at this a bit differently in that I believe our future lies in greater "congregationalism." I am concerned that calls for a stronger denominational identity somehow end up with a a more "top-down," heirarchical church. Such churches tend to have trouble adapting and changing.

In another thread, a commentator wrote about the church plant she was a part of. She wrote: "In many ways we are traditional - we believe in God, seek to follow the path of Jesus, try to live the gospel; believe all ages have gifts to share. To be an open, inclusive and welcoming community means respecting those who are on a different path. We do not try to be all things to all people. We have chosen a place - a way of being community - and said, 'Here we stand.' You are welcome to be here. If this is not the place and time for you, we will bless you as you continue your search for a faith community."

Paradoxically, if the United Church is to survive and thrive as the "big tent" kind of denomination we claim, I suspect that it will need to encourage local congregations to discover the particular expression of ministry that God's calling them to be about ... and that size won't fit all. We will have to learn to live with the reality that each congregation is going to be quite different.

jennsays The music was horrible we werent particular welsomed. That is just it the UCC a front for all kinds of different views. No one is going to hell bec ause God loves you. It doesnt mater you steal from your neighbour, or rob the blind and poor, because God loves you. it doesnt matter you want to marry your sister because God loves you. This is the theme of the modern United Church.

Ah, sylviac...

Marry your sister? Wha?

Sometimes, sibling o' mine, I just don't get what you're talking about.

richard I think you should have a good talk with goldenrule that is what he is saying in essence.

"So. How do I respond to somebody who says, "Oh, yeah... I checked X United Church out... and they couldn't have cared less that I was there?" - or (and I hope that I *never* hear this one - "Oh, yeah... I checked Z United Church out... and, gawd, were they hostile! This whole thing is a load of bull.""

I would say: Ya, it's hard to merge into a big group. Choose one of their Small Groups and start there. That's where you'll get the real deal.

sylviac...

I've just re-read through every one of the posts in this thread - and Goldenrule hasn't a post here, let alone one that suggests marrying one's sister!

Now, I've not read every post in every thread, but I'd appreciate it if you'd point me in the direction where Goldenrule said/suggested/intimated that.

By the way... I'm not sure about other folks, but if you posted something like that about me in a thread that I hadn't been a part of, I'd be rather ticked about it. (Especially when it doesn't seem like the search engine is doing much,) At the very least, I would expect the person who posted such a comment would let me know, so that I could respond, if I so desired.

Blessings and Christ's peace - Richard

richard Goldenrule constantly talks about this A/gape love so even if a person robs me blind, I am suppose to love him/her. I dont I call the police on them. So you see I dont belong in a church that preaches inclusitivity.

Hey RichardBott, that should answer your question, eh? ;)

richard lots of people talk about me in their posts, when I am not present.

I might quote Bugs Bunny...when he said upon being offered a particular book to read...."ehhhhh, no thanks. I read a book once. I didn't like it."

My congregation would probaly scare you away with attention.

I missed this thread, but it was in this kind of spirit that I started "Identifying our safe places". Please go there and contribute :)

link here

SylviaC wrote: Goldenrule constantly talks about this A/gape love so even if a person robs me blind, I am suppose to love him/her. I dont I call the police on them. So you see I dont belong in a church that preaches inclusitivity.

You misunderstand the concept of Agape love, Sylvia. If a person breaks the law, YES, you call the police. The point behind Agape love is that you don't hate the lawbreaker...you don't judge the lawbreaker (you let the "judge" assigned to the case to do that!)...you don't make the lawbreaker's life miserable by harassing them or their decision to break the law...you FORGIVE the lawbreaker for breaking the law and whatever they did to you...you support them in turning their lives around.

In the same way, you are misunderstanding the concept of inclusivity...is that on purpose? Inclusivity does NOT mean that we in the UC tell lawbreakers, etc. to continue to breaking the law. It means we are not going to lock the doors and keep those people out of the church Sunday morning.

And, if someone told me that attended another UC and weren't happy, I'd invite them to mine so they would have another experience before they gave up on the UC.

Quoted from above:
Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh, and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be."

I really like that.