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

I met Gretta over 10 years ago just as I was beginning to discern for ministry. I stayed true to my own faith journey and spoke my authentic truth. I listened to her and read her book "With or Without God" and thrived in my own spiritual journey. I began with the Presbyterian Church only to find there was no way I could fit with the traditional, Calvinistic view on faith and chose to make the change to the United Church after my second year in seminary. I then discerned with the UCC, much to the sadness of those who know me because they said "you don't fit here either, they will never ordain you", however I believed in the institution and people discerning in the UCC to be open to change and future inclusiveness of that which many call "GOD". I tried and I worked and I built relationships only to be discerned "unfit" and "unsuitable". The reasons are on paper, however the TRUE reasons lie like cuttings on the editor's floor. The reasons for rejection given were targeted as my personal inability to comply with direction and my petulance. I was there in those meetings it honestly had to do mostly with the UCC's inability to define itself and for anyone to know what it is the UCC stands for. That is where the problem lies Gretta stands for ambiguity and openness in one's faith journey, no institution knows what to do with this. To believe in the intangible such as love, honour, integrity and psyche is troublesome and the select few know how to live there. Thank you gretta for being the face of those who live there and are mature enough in their own journey to be vulnerable. Thank you gretta for being the voice of reason in a set of unreasonable traditional faith statements, which are the crumbling foundation of a crumbling institution and Thank you gretta for widening the margins to the point where they are so thin there is no beginning and no end, therefore no boundaries. All are welcome, all are included, none are excluded and LOVE is the very core of

It is important to me ,as a long time member of the United Church, that we continue to encourage diverse ways of growing our spirituality.

In his book The Future of Faith, Harvey Cox outlines three great periods in the history of Christianity: The Age of Faith, The Age of Belief, and The Age of the Spirit. His thesis is that the future of faith rests in this move beyond an emphasis on belief and correct beliefs, to spirituality as a way of life. I am thankful for Gretta for her ongoing work of opening up this new way and inviting us to walk into a revitalized future of authentic spirituality. I stand with Harvey Cox in seeing this as the hope for the future of the church. I am dismayed that this important dialogue may be forever silenced by removing Gretta from ministry in the United Church, and by so doing, silence others from ever speaking honestly of their own spiritual search. This would indeed be a death in the church.

We're better than this; let's prove it. She says god is love; so did Jesus.

I joined this church 20 years ago because of its open mind, intelligent theology and its consideration of diversity and perspective from the edges of society. This action throws all of that into question. It is not a faithful decision!

NOW is the time for dialogue.....perhaps the LAST chance. Please do not loose this important opportunity to engage in meaningful discourse. NOW is a time to listen and discern, not a time to rule.

This denomination-shaping decision is too important to be left to a sub exec or even a Conference exec...the big tent of the UCC is in serious jeopardy and a national discussion is needed.

The United Church needs Gretta Vosper (and West Hill congregation) to keep our future more open not closed. Fruits of her faith include prophetic witness on social and economic issues; such as climate justice.

Different voices make the church.

Gretta does not deserve this!

Not all may agree with all Gretta Vosper has to say but neither do all agree that God is a "grand father in the sky". The United Church has always been one where we studied and discussed our experience of the Holy, The rules and opinions expressed pre 1925 should not prevent us from being an inclusive church, I feel that the action of Toronto Conference is more about sticking to the thoughts of those pre Union than showing loving acceptance of the diversity and unity which they sought and thus it should be considered as no more than part of a the seeking of what it means to be one in the tradition of Jesus who changed the opinion of God in His time.

I respect the practises and thoughtful insights of Gretta Vosper within the United Church context. I appreciate the diversity of the United Church that allows one to keep learning in thought and in spirit. I am 70 years old and still on a spiritual journey. Thank you, Gretta; may you not be silenced.

This is the last opportunity to step back from the brink of enforcing alleged theological purity. Diversity Not Permitted is not a good message.

I wholeheartedly agree with the statements made in this petition! We need Gretta and West Hill to stay within the UCCan to continue to push the boundaries and encourage all of us to continually reflect on our current beliefs and actions and do they make sense in the 21st century.

We pride ourselves on being an open, questioning church. This are not the actions of such a church.

In the United Church, which I have been a member for almost 70 years, the values of inclusiveness, love, friendship and family of all types is the primary teachings from our miniters

If there is not room for Greta in the United Church, there is not room for me.

2000 years ago an itinerant preacher radically challenged the religious status quo of his day. He spoke of love & values. What would he say to this.

Gretta is one who is speaking truth and power should not be silencing her.

Keep the tent wide!