Likes digital
Wow! I haven’t thoroughly read this magazine since it was sent out in paper form, and I am impressed. This latest edition (May/June) had so many stories on youth ministries. I was almost overwhelmed. I am the chairman of our church council and just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed the read and especially that you put videos and reference URLs with lots of other things to go to and to download some additional books. Wonderful job and keep up the good work!
Ronald McCafferty, Madison Street UMC, Clarksville, Tennessee
Ed. Note: Interpreter is now available in print and digital formats. McCafferty receives the digital edition.
Focus helpful
Many thanks to the staff of Interpreter for the May/June focus on young people. Youth and young adults are often an afterthought in churches, so it was great to see them in the forefront. I ordered extra copies of this issue to hand out to churches who are seeking resources regarding ministry with young people!
Cheryl Cook, associate director, Young Adult and Campus Ministry, Baltimore-Washington Conference
Celebrate with care
Thank you for highlighting the awkwardness that so often accompanies our churches’ celebrations of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day (May/June). As ministers, my wife and I see the myriad of emotions on people’s faces when something goes right/wrong/weird on those days. As people who cannot have biological children, but desperately hope to adopt children someday, having to celebrate those days while in front of a congregation as its pastors is a painful experience. The church can do many wonderful things on those Sundays. Thank you for bringing just a few to light.
The Rev. Weston Pendergrass and the Rev. Chrisie Reeves-Pendergrass, Columbia, South Carolina
Suggested reading
I was intrigued by the May/June issue devoted primarily to youth and young adult ministries. “Authenticity” appears to be an accepted code word for good youth ministry in our post-modern world. Could it be that part of what the young people sense in The United Methodist Church is the lack of authenticity in its presentation of what the Christian faith is all about? Maybe it will do The UMC well to make the following books required reading for both leaders and young people who are serious enough about going deep into the implications of not rethinking the church but rethinking “faith in God and following Jesus as disciples!”: How to Read the Bible (Harvey Cox), Reality, Grief, Hope: Three Urgent Prophetic Tasks (Walter Brueggemann), Convictions (Marcus J. Borg) and Beyond Belief (Elaine Pagels).
The Rev. B. B. Mequi, retired, Killeen, Texas
Change the line
Even though I am not comfortable with same-sex marriages, I am more uncomfortable with the hypocrisy of our church. We need to consider changing our position on issues of human sexuality in The Book of Discipline or drop our advertising tag: Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. Because, right now, they aren’t open.
Richard Schlatter, Chapel Hill UMC, Battle Creek, Michigan
Become more pro-life
I wish The United Methodist Church would become solidly pro-life. We serve the elderly, infirmed, disabled, poor, imprisoned and little children. I don’t understand why we don’t defend the unborn as well. I also don’t understand why we would be a part of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) or Planned Parenthood. I have been United Methodist since 1990 and agree with so many things but disagree with this big one. What if these little ones have souls, and are made in God’s image? What if God wants us to welcome them, not kill them? Plenty of Scripture verses point to the value of unborn life (including) Jeremiah 1:4-5 and Isaiah 49:1, 5.
Marv Gordner, Cumberland UMC, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Ed. Note: While the General Board of Church and Society and United Methodist Women are members of RCRC, no general agencies are members of Planned Parenthood. Neither organization receives denominational funding.
More than a black/white issue
As a pastor in the Dakotas Conference, I would like to know when The United Methodist Church is going to acknowledge racism as far broader than something black/white. Has that 2012 General Conference token “Act of Repentance,” supposedly directed toward First Nations’ peoples, made a real difference anywhere in Indian country? Other than the 2008 Women’s Division study (Giving Our Hearts Away), has The UMC done anything widespread and current to challenge or educate our episcopal leaders, our clergy and our congregations on exposing and addressing the racism experienced by Native Americans? A look through the “Widen the Circle” website curriculum (July/August) finds only two references to Native America: a simple (and inadequate) entry under Native American in a glossary of terms, and (vicariously) a link to the United Church of Christ “Sacred Conversations on Race.” Why is this?
The Rev. Susan Jennys, Colton and Chester United Methodist churches, South Dakota
Send Letters to the Editor to interpreter@umcom.org or to Interpreter, P. O. Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202-0320. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Letters without a local church name will not be published. Writers give permission for their letters to be published in the magazine and/or at www.interpretermagazine.org.