Denominational voting …

MARTIN E. MARTY made some valid points regarding the problem with fights at denominational gatherings where delegates vote on resolutions ("Open season," June 14). However, there is a danger in ending the practice as well.

The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ several years ago deliberately chose to eliminate resolutions on social issues from their annual spring meeting. This has, indeed, made the gatherings friendlier, more like a "family reunion." We have great keynote speakers on how to develop churches or on ways to increase outreach. We have interesting discussions on how to implement the strategies the keynoter has presented. Then we go home to our congregations to report on the nice time we all had at "conference." But we, as a church, haven't stood for anything except being together.

This deficiency was noted a couple of years back when the topic of homosexuality was causing a few churches of the conference to propose leaving the UCC. So occasional "Days of Dialogue" were instituted at which controversial topics could be openly discussed. However, the events are like CNN's Crossfire: people from the left give their opinion; people from the fight give their opinion. Then we go home to our congregations to report on the nice time we all had "dialoging." But we, as a church, haven't stood for anything except to say we are still, at least, talking with each other.

William A. Pifer-Foote

Leesport, Penn.

COPYRIGHT 2005 The Christian Century Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning