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Posted on 10/06/2016 8:16:02 PM PDT by hiho hiho
New Creation Church in Hillsboro recently found itself at the center of a controversy when guidelines posted on its website for people seeking to join the "worship team" were posted on Facebook.
Among the requirements for the group of churchgoers who help lead the congregation in songs during services at the non-denominational evangelical church? "No excessive weight."
"Weight is something that many people have to deal with," reads the instructions for would-be worship team members. "Make sure that you are taking care of your temple, exercising and eating properly."
Ponder Anew, a blog about faith, reports that the document was posted on Facebook by "Stuff Christian Culture Likes," where it received enough negative feedback that it was removed from the church's website. But a PDF of the worship team guidelines has been preserved online.
Other points in the list that commenters find objectionable include:
"A submissive attitude is very important among the worship team members. Speaking against the leadership will not be tolerated." "Smoking, use of narcotics or alcohol, swearing, illicit sexual behavior and ongoing family problems are not acceptable in a music minister's life and will not be tolerated." "Bodies must be clean and use of effective deodorant is essential to positive interpersonal relationships." "Remember that the way we look is of utmost importance. We are the first thing the congregation sees. People do judge by appearance. We never get a second chance to make that first impression. Please be sure that your style and clothing bring honor and glory to God, isn't excessive and doesn't draw unnecessary attention to yourself." In the document, the church writes, "The purpose of the NCC Worship Team is to edify and build up the body of Christ by creating an atmosphere for the anointing of God to flow."
New Creation Church Pastor Rebecca Sundholm says that the guidelines had been on the website for a long time and she said she was "dumbfounded" by the controversy.
"What's funny is this has nothing to do with anybody else but our church," said Sundholm over the phone Thursday. "If anybody looked at our worship team, they would see they aren't all skinny."
"In fact," she added, "the worship leader has weight issues."
Sundholm said the worship leader wrote the guidelines years ago -- the church is 28 years old -- and that, "those guidelines aren't even enforced anymore."
Still, she said, "We have standards just like anybody would have standards in a business."
"Don't come to church with wet hair; if you wear make-up, put it on," she said. "It's not negative."
On Facebook, some people question how Christian it is to not allow overweight people, those who don't use deodorant, speak up or have "ongoing family problems" to be part of the team.
"Nothing but Old Spice and Weight Watchers can wash away your sins," wrote one commenter on "Stuff Christian Culture Likes."
"It's like Jesus said," wrote another, "'don't be fat.'"
But Sundholm thinks that these commenters don't really understand her church, since she assumes none of them have actually attended services.
"It's ridiculous really," she said. "It's just so taken out of context."
“No Fat Hicks”
“Stuff Christian Culture Likes.”...
It’s ONE church but hey, NEVER miss an opportunity to bash Christians.
This article is a hit piece on Christians. IMHO.
As a choir member, I can tell you deodorant is important when you have a bunch of people squeezed onto the risers under hot lights.
No perfume is a must as well.
Clean teeth and mouthwash, too.
Well, Gluttony is one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
If you would like more information about what's happening in Oregon, please FReepmail me.
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New Creation Church Pastor Rebecca Sundholm
I’ve spotted the basic problem there.
Stopped reading here.
**New Creation Church Pastor Rebecca Sundholm **
1Co 14:34
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
Hey Hack hack Acker.Mind your own business.Better yet why don’t you try your crap criticisms on a local Mosque and we’ll see how long a fatwa will be pronounced on you.
“In fact,” she added, “the worship leader has weight issues.”
Well, that’s mighty big of her.
I agree. That was my first thought too.
Wow.
What if somebody has Cushing’s or something?
I went to a church a few years ago and there was an obese woman in the pew behind me and boy could that woman sing!
Seems like they could be missing out with this kind of exclusion.
Nasty.
Everybody should feel welcome to attend church....but worship teams do need standards. Not sure how important weight should be in that regard unless there is a safety limit problem on the choir rafters....but hygiene, not being egotistical and dressing modestly are good rules. I would also add musical talent.
Satan loves BO, so don’t skimp on the deodorant folks.
‘If you smell you go straight to H-e-double hockey sticks.’
That Oregon church's rules would foolishly rule out this guy for their music program (and many other good, wonderful people), just because of their robust and generous girth:
"When The Saints Go Marching In"
Fats Domino
(youtube video link)
I am pretty sure that what you are talking about, Fats Domino’s weight, and what they are talking about are quite different.
When a person of “excessive” weight steps onto some of the risers in a church, they can be the Sampson who brings down the temple.
Fats Domino was thin and trim compared to some of the whales which inhabit some churches.
Kierkegaard wouldn’t agree with anything Paul wrote.
Since this pastor doesn’t tlike excess, I’d love to know what the volume of the worship is. It’s hard to find a church where the decibal level isn’t deafening.
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