Posted on 04/25/2005 7:59:46 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
Cites concerns about Roman Catholics, other faiths
KEN GARFIELD Staff Writer
One of Charlotte's best-known churches has withdrawn support for a food pantry that serves the needy because the pantry works with Roman Catholics.
Central Church of God explained its decision in a letter March 1 from minister of evangelism Shannon Burton to Loaves & Fishes in Charlotte: "As a Christian church, we feel it is our responsibility to follow closely the (principles) and commands of Scripture. To do this best, we feel we should abstain from any ministry that partners with or promotes Catholicism, or for that matter, any other denomination promoting a works-based salvation."
Loaves & Fishes isn't the only ministry with which the Sardis Road mega-church has cut ties, and Catholics have not been the only reason they've given.
The Rev. Tony Marciano, executive director of Charlotte Rescue Mission, said Burton told him the church could no longer support the agency after it allowed three Muslim students from UNC Charlotte to help serve a meal at the uptown ministry in November. Founded in 1938 by eight businessmen, including Charlotte-born evangelist Billy Graham's father, Charlotte Rescue Mission offers Christ-centered residential care for people fighting drugs and alcohol.
Doug Hartjes, director of development for Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte, said Central Church of God told them it will not provide financial support this year. Crisis Assistance provides emergency financial aid and other help to people. Hartjes said 200 congregations representing Christian, Jewish and other faiths donate money and volunteer time, as do people with no religious affiliation.
The church also ended funding for Love Inc., which provides services for the poor, elderly and disabled in Mecklenburg County.
The decision by Central Church of God isn't likely to cripple the ministries. Loaves & Fishes executive director Beverly Howard said the church has donated a total of $36,000 the past 11 years, plus volunteers and food. Marciano said the church gave Charlotte Rescue Mission $5,500 in 2004 -- a small part of the mission's annual budget of $3 million. Hartjes declined comment, citing the policy of honoring the privacy of donors.
But whatever its practical impact, the Central Church decision is likely to provoke debate over ecumenical cooperation, or the lack of it, in a city that prides itself on its many vibrant congregations -- and the notion that they generally get along.
Anna Burton, a spokesperson for Central Church of God and the minister's wife, said church leaders decline comment, letting the letter speak for itself. She said there was no animosity toward any of the organizations.
Howard said Loaves & Fishes receives support from 100 to 150 congregations each year, and that Central Church of God is the only one to pull out over the food pantry's partnership with other congregations. Jewish and Muslim congregations help, as do 10 to 15 Catholic parishes to which Central objected.
"It absolutely did shock us," Howard said. "We had no idea Central Church felt that way about ecumenical ministry."
Howard said Loaves & Fishes last year gave away a week's worth of food to 70,000 recipients. She said that's a mission all people should embrace.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte released a statement to the Observer Friday, saying, "This apparent attempt to divide the faith community is most unfortunate."
The statement sought to explain the Catholic position on what it means to be saved:
"As Catholics we firmly believe that Salvation for the world came through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through his Passion, Jesus Christ has already completed the work of salvation. Jesus calls us to love one another and that love must demonstrate itself in good works. Engaging in good works is putting your faith into action. We earnestly hope that we can sit down with fellow Christians at the Central Church of God and clarify our mutual understanding of God's word as put forth in the Scriptures."
The Rev. Conrad Hoover of St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte stressed that you are not saved solely by good works.
"Catholics believe it is indeed by faith in Jesus Christ," Hoover said. "We really are biblically grounded."
With some 6,000 members -- and often more than that packing Sunday morning services -- Central Church of God on Sardis Road is known for its huge crowds and electrifying sermons by the Rev. Loran Livingston. Crowds are so big at one of the nation's largest Church of God congregations that buses drive people to worship from the parking lot at Providence Day School and Charlotte Country Day.
In the letter to Loaves & Fishes, obtained by the Observer, Central's Burton tried to end on a positive note:
"I hope and pray you receive this as intended -- in love," Burton wrote. "Thank you in advance for your understanding in this matter, and if you should have any questions, feel free to give me a call."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reach Ken Garfield at (704) 358-5094.
Sounds like they need more money to put into promoting homosexuality, gay marriages, removing drug laws, promoting anti-semitism, etc. The usual stuff the liberal-left churches do.
What denomination brought you to the savior?
Nope, I'm a Deist.
Why, I don't think I'll tell you at the moment. I'll just pray for you.
"Goodness? How does that work for a believer in nothing. No good or evil is possible in your religion."
Amazing. I have no religion. That does not mean I do not have a clear understanding of good and evil, nor does it mean that I have no clearly defined morality.
Those I learned from my parents and from my own studies. They are just as solid as yours, I guarantee. Among them is the belief that insulting people is wrong. That is why I do not do that, and if I fail and somehow insult someone, I apologize and try not do do so again.
Further, I do not believe in nothing. I have many beliefs. I do disbelieve in supernatural entities, however, but I recognize that many people do believe in them, and wish them well in their beliefs, so long as those beliefs do not lead them to do evil.
I believe in people's actions as an indication of their moral compass, not their words or professions of faith. If you act in good ways, then I will consider you a good person with a strong moral sense. If not, then I will consider you in another light.
Be well.
It's "The Reverend", not just "Reverend".
A subtle distinction, but we wince when we hear someone styling themself as "Reverend", as in "Reverend Jesse Jackson".
I have also seen priests addressed in writing as "Fr.", I thought it meant "Friar", at first, was embarrassed later at my mistake.
He'd splash around a bunch of vicious, snooty rhetoric about "Papist heresy," of course.
And then He would want us to constantly urinate on one another's shoes over fine points of doctrine, scream malapropism at unbelievers, and generally act like a bunch of brainless savages.
Sometimes I wonder if those who declare themselves so even know the same Christ I do. Maybe we should require all church leaders to read Matthew 23 every morning before they leave home. It certainly couldn't hurt.
That would make someone care about what you think about a God. And maybe on the right thread you could tell people why you reject Christ, but no one should really care what you think about how Christians should act with one another.
The Lord loves us all, of course, but I think if He was on the ground today, he would spend a period of time slapping the crap out of the so-called Christians.
8-)
Ok, thanks.
I was just curious why, if you valued me coming to Christ, you wouldn't tell me how to do it differently than I'm doing it. What I'm doing must be wrong,,,right?
Many a loving smack has been handed out by a caring father. We could hope for no less.
When Jesus told us to feed the poor, I don't recall him making exceptions for Catholic assistance.
Ooops. no God, no right or wrong. Maybe you can explain to me how there is right or wrong in your religion.
Absolutely...And hopefully, the 'faith in Jesus as your savior' came first...
I'm a big fan of Matthew. It's less popular, though, in some churches than the writings of Paul. I've never quite understood that, but it sure seems to be true.
Matthew seems to me to be the clearest Biblical statement of how Christians should live. I remember memorizing the entire book when I was a teenager.
"Ooops. no God, no right or wrong. Maybe you can explain to me how there is right or wrong in your religion."
As I said before, I have no religion. Right and wrong are concepts laid out, not only in religion, but it all social systems. It is a mistake to assume that the only people who have a morality and a knowledge of what is right and wrong just happen to be Christians.
You're free to believe that, I suppose, but it's just not true.
If you really mean that, apologise and leave the thread because your presence here quoting scripture to believers is an insult.
I'd bet plenty that won't happen.
"Absolutely...And hopefully, the 'faith in Jesus as your savior' came first..."
Bingo. Faith in Jesus then works will follow. Those who teach salvation through works has it wrong.
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