Urge the Sub-Executive of United Church, Toronto Conference to reject the recommendations of the Conference Interview Committee Re: Gretta Vosper
Disheartened by the flawed and unfair process that led the Conference Interview Committee to conduct an unprecedented review of the suitability of Gretta Vosper for ministry in The United Church of Canada;
Recognizing the grave implications of creating a new disciplinary process without denomination wide study, consultation, debate and appropriate decision making;
Aware that the recommendations of the Conference Interview Committee, if implemented, have grave implications for Gretta Vosper, Westhill United Church, an unknown number of clergy within the denomination, many members of The United Church of Canada across the country, and the reputation of the denomination in the Canadian public;
Conscious that the repercussions of adopting the recommendations in the report include:
- silencing important conversations about our faith that have been stimulated by the ministry and writings of Gretta Vosper;
- disenfranchising many seekers who have found spiritual community within congregations of The United Church of Canada because of an emphasis on their values rather than beliefs;
- discouraging new candidates for ministry who seek to commit to life-long learning and evolving in their faith within an inclusive denomination without fear of recrimination;
- creating disunity for many progressive individuals and congregations who face the reality of no longer seeing a place for themselves within The United Church of Canada;
Valuing diversity (including theological diversity) within the United Church of Canada, honoring the important ministry of Gretta Vosper within this church and celebrating the unique and essential presence of Westhill United Church as a spiritual community within the large umbrella of the United Church of Canada;
Recognizing that there is a significant expression of dissent within the report and a significant expression of dissent across the church from the recommendations of the majority in the report;
Persuaded that the theological conversation Gretta Vosper has provoked is a matter for dialogue and not a matter for discipline;
We, the undersigned, urge the sub-Executive of Toronto Conference to reject the recommendations of the report of the Conference Interview Committee.
Updates
September 20, 2016
ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE JOINED THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT INCLUSIVE MINISTRY!! I AM COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE STRENGTH OF THIS COMMUNITY STANDING UP FOR GRETTA VOSPER!!
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 18, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
September 13, 2016
719 Comments
As a life-long member of the UCC, I am amazed at the inability of the UCC to admit and acknowledge that a significant portion of its adherents and members do not attend church because of a belief in God, but rather because or outreach or social reasons.
As someone who was baptized as an infant into the UC 65 years ago by my grandfather who was a UC minister, I am very aware of the evolving nature of our church through deep conversation. I do not understand why the brakes are being put on conversation.
Alice Farrell from Scarborough I have been going to West Hill for several years now. I'm Catholic but i've never felt so welcome in any church as i've at West Hill. People are there for eachother and anyone else they can help. Its all because of Gretta.
400 years ago, Galileo was hauled before the Inquisition for his support of the Copernican view of the solar system. Surely there ought to be more freedom of thought and expression in the United Church in 2016 than there was in Galileo's time!
Your decision pivots on this point: will the United Church evolve to welcome spiritual seekers and clergy with diverse beliefs, or will the United Church entrench itself in the previous century's definition of Christianity and seal its fate in irrelevance?
Dialogue not discipline.
Jesus would accept her even if the Christian Church does not.
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Urge the Sub-Executive of United Church, Toronto Conference to reject the recommendations of the Conference Interview Committee Re: Gretta Vosper
Disheartened by the flawed and unfair process that led the Conference Interview Committee to conduct an unprecedented review of the suitability of Gretta Vosper for ministry in The United Church of Canada;
Recognizing the grave implications of creating a new disciplinary process without denomination wide study, consultation, debate and appropriate decision making;
Aware that the recommendations of the Conference Interview Committee, if implemented, have grave implications for Gretta Vosper, Westhill United Church, an unknown number of clergy within the denomination, many members of The United Church of Canada across the country, and the reputation of the denomination in the Canadian public;
Conscious that the repercussions of adopting the recommendations in the report include:
- silencing important conversations about our faith that have been stimulated by the ministry and writings of Gretta Vosper;
- disenfranchising many seekers who have found spiritual community within congregations of The United Church of Canada because of an emphasis on their values rather than beliefs;
- discouraging new candidates for ministry who seek to commit to life-long learning and evolving in their faith within an inclusive denomination without fear of recrimination;
- creating disunity for many progressive individuals and congregations who face the reality of no longer seeing a place for themselves within The United Church of Canada;
Valuing diversity (including theological diversity) within the United Church of Canada, honoring the important ministry of Gretta Vosper within this church and celebrating the unique and essential presence of Westhill United Church as a spiritual community within the large umbrella of the United Church of Canada;
Recognizing that there is a significant expression of dissent within the report and a significant expression of dissent across the church from the recommendations of the majority in the report;
Persuaded that the theological conversation Gretta Vosper has provoked is a matter for dialogue and not a matter for discipline;
We, the undersigned, urge the sub-Executive of Toronto Conference to reject the recommendations of the report of the Conference Interview Committee.
Updates
September 20, 2016
ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE JOINED THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT INCLUSIVE MINISTRY!! I AM COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE STRENGTH OF THIS COMMUNITY STANDING UP FOR GRETTA VOSPER!!
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 18, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
September 13, 2016
719 Comments
While I do not fully agree with Gretta's (non)theology, I believe to proceed with the Conference recommendation would be a grave mistake for the United Church. How many more ministers will be faced with a similar process for their beliefs?
As a life-long member of the UCC, I am amazed at the inability of the UCC to admit and acknowledge that a significant portion of its adherents and members do not attend church because of a belief in God, but rather because or outreach or social reasons.
As someone who was baptized as an infant into the UC 65 years ago by my grandfather who was a UC minister, I am very aware of the evolving nature of our church through deep conversation. I do not understand why the brakes are being put on conversation.
Alice Farrell from Scarborough I have been going to West Hill for several years now. I'm Catholic but i've never felt so welcome in any church as i've at West Hill. People are there for eachother and anyone else they can help. Its all because of Gretta.
400 years ago, Galileo was hauled before the Inquisition for his support of the Copernican view of the solar system. Surely there ought to be more freedom of thought and expression in the United Church in 2016 than there was in Galileo's time!
Your decision pivots on this point: will the United Church evolve to welcome spiritual seekers and clergy with diverse beliefs, or will the United Church entrench itself in the previous century's definition of Christianity and seal its fate in irrelevance?
Dialogue not discipline.
Jesus would accept her even if the Christian Church does not.
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While I do not fully agree with Gretta's (non)theology, I believe to proceed with the Conference recommendation would be a grave mistake for the United Church. How many more ministers will be faced with a similar process for their beliefs?