Reflections on General Assembly
I returned from the GA of the Christian Church (DOC) last week and I have had a little time to think about things that took place there.
First I thought Nashville was a great place to hold the GA with a good venue and lots of things to do close to the convention center. The city showed great hospitality towards us and I was impressed overall with the city. It almost makes me want to return sometime to Nashville and spend a few days.
As far as the assembly is concerned it was a good experience for me I went primarily to get information at one of the workshops for some responsibilities I hold in our region but there were a couple of other tracks scheduled for the same time so I was disappointed I could not attend everything I wanted to attend.
Because of a late start we did not arrive in Nashville until the first night session was over and there was not an evening session Sunday night so I only attended two evening sessions and I found the speakers to be on top of their game. In addition there were several times when during the assembly when breaks were taken in the business session for speakers to talk about how we can be involved in making changes needed in our congregations. I thought all of those speakers were excellent. Each one taking a different approach speaking in their area of expertise. I was particularly interested in Soong Chan Rah and Amy Levine in the things they were saying.
One downfall was I have come to the conclusion Disciples do not know how to do Emergent Worship. The night Brian McClaren spoke they advertised worship as emergent but it was at best blended. Needless to say I skipped out after McClaren spoke.
While I enjoyed the assembly I came home with some renewed energy to implement some things in my church and I guess that is their purpose.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
"Let's focus on the important things"
I am not surprised at the response of the response I have seen to the recent verdict in the latest trial of the century. When Casey Anthony was not found guilty of murder or even manslaughter and only was sentenced to four years for lying to investigators. The backlash directed at the jury has been overwhelming. I was reading an article where one of the jurors said, I did not say she did not commit the crime only that there was not enough evidence to convict her of the crime.
At the sentencing hearing there was person outside the court house holding a sign which said "hang the jury", obviously expressing his displeasure at the jury's result.
Let me share a couple of thoughts on these events. First, the death of a child by whatever means is a tragic event. I also was shocked by the verdict but then realized I was not in the courtroom hearing the testimony or seeing the evidence or in the deliberation room. I therefore unable to make a judgement as to the guilt or innocence of the person on trial.
Second, the media blew this case way out of proportion and created a media frenzy. Way too much time and focus was given to this case and everyone involved was tried in the press long before this case ever went to trial.
Third, the jury in a trial with such publicity is under a great deal of stress. To return with an unpopular verdict only subjects them to greater stress. It is easy to see why none of the jurors chose to participate in a post trial press conference. If I was on such a jury I would want to disappear in the crowd and never be heard from again. I also have to say I admire the jury to stand by their convictions and come back with an unpopular verdict in the midst of such a public trial. They did what they were called to do and they followed the law as they understood it. Is it any wonder people do not want to serve on juries when the decisions they are called to make are met with such criticism.
Finally, I believe there are a lot more important issues to deal with today than to rehash the trial in the media over and over. While a child is dead, and what a tragedy it is, we need to remember there are thousands abused each and every day that we never hear about. There are people suffering from floods and droughts and other natural disasters that are pushed to the back pages of the newspapers, when a celebrity gets a hangnail is on the front page.
I guess what I am saying is we spend a lot of energy focusing on the wrong things and not enough energy trying to alleviate the problems.
I am not surprised at the response of the response I have seen to the recent verdict in the latest trial of the century. When Casey Anthony was not found guilty of murder or even manslaughter and only was sentenced to four years for lying to investigators. The backlash directed at the jury has been overwhelming. I was reading an article where one of the jurors said, I did not say she did not commit the crime only that there was not enough evidence to convict her of the crime.
At the sentencing hearing there was person outside the court house holding a sign which said "hang the jury", obviously expressing his displeasure at the jury's result.
Let me share a couple of thoughts on these events. First, the death of a child by whatever means is a tragic event. I also was shocked by the verdict but then realized I was not in the courtroom hearing the testimony or seeing the evidence or in the deliberation room. I therefore unable to make a judgement as to the guilt or innocence of the person on trial.
Second, the media blew this case way out of proportion and created a media frenzy. Way too much time and focus was given to this case and everyone involved was tried in the press long before this case ever went to trial.
Third, the jury in a trial with such publicity is under a great deal of stress. To return with an unpopular verdict only subjects them to greater stress. It is easy to see why none of the jurors chose to participate in a post trial press conference. If I was on such a jury I would want to disappear in the crowd and never be heard from again. I also have to say I admire the jury to stand by their convictions and come back with an unpopular verdict in the midst of such a public trial. They did what they were called to do and they followed the law as they understood it. Is it any wonder people do not want to serve on juries when the decisions they are called to make are met with such criticism.
Finally, I believe there are a lot more important issues to deal with today than to rehash the trial in the media over and over. While a child is dead, and what a tragedy it is, we need to remember there are thousands abused each and every day that we never hear about. There are people suffering from floods and droughts and other natural disasters that are pushed to the back pages of the newspapers, when a celebrity gets a hangnail is on the front page.
I guess what I am saying is we spend a lot of energy focusing on the wrong things and not enough energy trying to alleviate the problems.
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