Urge the Sub-Executive of United Church, Toronto Conference to reject the recommendations of the Conference Interview Committee Re: Gretta Vosper

This is unjust! You are impacting a thriving congregation at a time of declining members in churches.

I think that love and justice should trump doctrine.

In recognition of "grave implications" for progressive, thinking Christians everywhere

I think it is important that the United Church continue to be accepting of a wide range of beliefs.

I attended West Hill with my husband John Ross this past Sunday. If what I witnessed is atheism then we should be recruiting many, many more. I started at Emmanuel in the early nineties as a member of the Metropolitain Community Church of Toronto. The "Community of Concern" made me feel totally unwelcome as a gay man in the denomination of my birth. Thankfully the welcoming, liberal faculty at Emmanuel gave me time to rethink my stance. MCC still holds a special place in my heart. During a CPE unit with Rev. Bob Thompson he suggested we find the biblical reference for a point we wished to make. For me, a group of power hungry priests 2000 years ago got rid of Jesus. The similarity seems obvious. Warren Schell / John Ross

While I am not a member of the United Church, I do recognize the importance of dialogue around issues that Gretta Vosoer has raised. May we continue to evolve.

I do not want to belong to a church that treats its clergy like this. Our church is dying for people like Gretta.

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.

Anything less that remaining in her role is unacceptable.

From Toronto I am a christian and have been a member of this community for the last three years. I have never seen, in my entire life, a united people living upto christian values and a minister who is filled with love and integrity! West Hill deserves to stay in ucc. Infact ucc should be proud of West Hill....

I stand with Greta. She is one of a number of United Church Clergy I have met who live the same faith during the week as on Sunday. And what a breath of fresh air is that for an educated lay person. I love the United Church of Canada and the work it does through those people in it who's FAITH pushes them to bring the world to a place of peace and security for all. I call myself a Christian, however, I stand with Rev. John Shuck from the Southminister Presbyterian Church in Beaverton . OR, USA when he said in his sermon last Sunday. "If Gretta is an atheist minister for her stance with the atheist bloggers of Bangladesh, I, too, am an atheist minister. If Gretta is an atheist minister for speaking aloud what other clergy are too afraid to admit to themselves about the shortcomings of churchy words, I, too, am an atheist minister. If Gretta is an atheist minister because she has opened her own mind and the minds of others to the amazing insights of science and literary exploration of our sacred texts and symbols, I, too, am an atheist minister. If Gretta is an atheist minister because she won’t let the bureaucrats define the terms of the argument, I, too, am an atheist minister. I am an atheist to any version of God that silences free-thought and open-ended exploration and compassionate solidarity. The God of the United Church of Canada is obviously way too small. Sometimes it takes an atheist to protest a too small god. If Gretta is an atheist minister for doing that, Then I am honored to be in her company. I, too, am an atheist minister. Amen." http://www.southmin.org/multimedia-archive/brother-loves-traveling-salvation-show/?player=audio Thank you Greta for the light you have brought into my life.

In this United Church we have many very Conservative ministers who are on the fringes of being fundamentalists. If we have room for those folks, we also have room for the leading edge of Progressive Theology. Gretta needs to be retained as an active minister within this Church in order for the Church to survive!!!

As a former long time past member of the Canadian Church who is also a former atheist, long time Unitarian Universalist and now a devout, dedicated Neopagan priest and adherent of the Goddess Brighid, I do strongly protest the wrongful church review of Gretta Vosper. Not only is Rev. Vosper an admirable genuine person of faith but she is also a honourable, honest, authentic, very spiritually worthy suitable candidate for United Church ministry! Sincerely, Judy Hageman

The PROCESS, initiated by the Sub-Committee of Toronto Conference (TC), was made possible by its request to the General Secretary, Nora Saunders, to issue a NEW ruling not contained in the Constitution of the United Church of Canada (UCC). The design and implementation of The PROCESS by the TC Sub-Executive has all the characteristics of an INQUISITION. Repeated requests by the West Hill United Church (WHUC) Board Chair to open discussion so differences and commonalities could be explored and debated were met with rejection. No reasons were given. The PROCESS, as it progressed, clearly had the objective of removing WHUC (both its minister Gretta Vosper AND the congregation) from the UCC. THE PROCESS is both flawed and unjust! Does this reflect the “NEW” UCC? It certainly does not reflect the UCC that I have known, for over 70 years. Should this inquisition continue, I urge all members of the UCC to protest The PROCESS, and its seemingly intended result. Simply, you can make your protest known by writing to your Church Board, requesting your membership in the UCC be put on the discontinued list, until such time as this wrong has been corrected. This does not mean you can’t continue your normal church life and giving’s which will be held and used by your congregation. The reduction in national membership and the resulting reduction in central admistrative funding are two major issues facing the UCC today An easy and effective way to gain their attention. Don’t delay act today… c.c. The United Church Observer

Always have treasured the United Church for its forward thinking and ability to understand all spiritual views.

I am disappointed with this whole process because one of the things I value most about the United Church is its inclusivity and encouragement to ask questions and grow spiritually. We are not a church that stands on doctrine. Suddenly all of that has changed. If this decision is upheld our church will no longer be the safe supportive place it once was. Please do not let that happen!

As a member of a United Church congregation, I find the entire process embarrassing and at odds with the professed notion of inclusion I hear so often at church.

I am member of the United Church but do not attend my local congregation because my beliefs are in line with Gretta Vosper's beliefs. I would love to be a member of her congregation. The United Church has always been progressive. It needs to embrace the ministry of Gretta Vosper.

I share many of Gretta's non beliefs, notably Jesus is not my saviour, I am solely responsible for my actions on Earth, I do not believe Jesus was divine. If he existed his prime directive to us was "To Love One Another" and that is what I try to do everyday! I find it disgraceful that Toronto Conference would take this action. Shame! Shame! Shame! Many who call the United Church (mine being Camrose United) their spiritual home are beyond the belief that the Bible is the only word of god, spirituality comes from many other places and there are many paths to the Center. If the UCC is to survive it needs voices like Gretta.

Finally a congregation that understands there needs to be a place in the Church for those who do not believe in the supernatural but wish to live a live based upon the belief that doing good is the primary essence of true religion. This Congregation is like a breath of fresh air for those of us who need a place where we will be accepted without the need to adopt a creed that is contrary to our beliefs.