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

This is so NOT the United Church, certainly not the one I was ordained into, nor is it Christian in terms of hat Jesus lived and taught. I am disgusted and myself feel betrayed.

I support this petition.

An inclusive UCC should include Gretta Viper and me. Their is a God, but you want to put a fence around your tent. There should be no boundaries.

While I may not agree with all she says, I share so many of Gretta's beliefs that reading her articles and poetry gives me a kindred soul in our United Church. I agree with a previous comment: "I support the petition. The crux of the issue, surely that it is more important how we live than what we believe, which is what Gretta Vosper has tried to highlight. We will lose an important voice and perspective if she is silenced. Roy Eaton, Little Current, Ontario.

A dark day for the UCC!

This who process has gone down a horrible path that need to stop before any more irreversible damage is done to the UCC, West HIll United and Gretta Vosper. This kind of process has no place in the UCC.

Gretta is raising an issue that I believe requires an open debate within our congregations.

Gretta brought my partner and I back to Church. Finally a Minister that talks about today's issues in today's world. Messages I can take with me and participate in. Gretta inspires us with her thoughtful words, her courageous actions, her intelligent and forthright opinions and beliefs, The United Church would be wise to acknowledge that there is more than one way to guide and teach a message of love, honour and respect for the people of the world

If God is love maybe she's not as atheist as she says.

Many well known Christian leaders would not be able to pass this review.

There is room in the United church for Greta Vosper. If there isn't than I am with Greta and no longer want to be part of this church.

To me, gretta is suitable beyond belief. Her leadership helped to create and sustain a warm, caring, curious, questioning and extremely thoughtful community of people who are living life in loving ways. Through her ministry, writing and speaking, she has made the church accessible to many people who may not otherwise have engaged. Even if you don't agree with her on things, you have to admit that she sparks thought, discussion and engagement about church and it's place in people lives - and vice-versa. By engaging with her and with the West Hill United community, I hope you will find her a suitable minister after all.

I wholeheartedly support Gretta, West Hill and everything in this petition! By rejecting the recommendations of the report, the sub-Executive of TC can turn this issue into an incredibly strong and positive media event that will have the potential to take the dialogue within the UCC TC to the public through the high level media coverage it is receiving now and will likely continue to receive! This may potentially attract many, many people to join the UCC in its dialogue about these issues that Gretta and others have brought to light. As well, seekers outside the UCC may be so impressed with the UCC TC’s open and authentic approach to handling the controversial faith/theology issues, that they may be drawn into the dialogue, whether that takes the form of online or in person discussions hosted by the UCC’s conferences and its congregations. These seekers may even consider becoming UCC members/adherents! I was christened in the UCC and have spent most of my life as an active member of the UCC. I am a member of the UCC specifically because it allows me to feel welcome as I grow and explore my progressive, extremely liberal theological views.

Given current academic and religious scholarship, the Committee's ruling against Gretta Vosper has rendered the Committee and its kind of United Church irrelevant.

The United Church in its fear of survival is pushing out that which offers the hope of new life. Only in dying to old ways of Christendom can the church recover its essence. I help hope for this for most a half century. It was a dark day when GC42 decided that would determine our theological direction not within the church but by its lawyers and issue management focus.

While I don't agree with Gretta's views I value that she is providing an important ministry for folk. At this juncture in the church the last thing we need to be doing is to be exclusive and dogmatic. I believe this actionic accepting the recommendations of the interview committee will put another nail in the coffin of the church.

You need to reconsider your actions

With many progressive members who are regular UCC attendees and many more no longer attending, a larger exodus will result if the proposed action goes through. The UCC needs gretta and progressive members to be the bridge to the SBNR / Nones who are a fast growing group.

We have experienced the life-giving nature of Westhill's community first hand and we are disappointed and saddened by this decision. We expected more inclusiveness and grace from the UC of Canada.

Dialog don't discipline. Gretta brings an important viewpoint to the table. Love is all we need.