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One of Charlotte's best-known churches has withdrawn support for a food pantry that serves the needy because the pantry works with Roman Catholics.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.
I'm going to quote that story here, in full, since it makes it clear that the church didn't do this thing. It was an underling...an employee...who did it. The real leadership has reversed most of that employee's mistake. NOTE: To see the link to this story follow back in the thread.
Dear Mineral Man, I have lost about 70% of my hearing acuity in the last 10 years or so, and I find it has its advantages: I do not hear insults, slights and put-downs. (Can't seem to hear my two adolescent boys hassling with each other, either!)
I suggest you tune-out people's insults, or just ignore them: you get to smile a lot more, and if it aggravates the people who are trying to bait you---- well, let them deal with it.
I am glad you decided to make a donation to that charity that was dumped by --- was it the Church of Christ Without Christ? ("Where the blind don't see, the lame don't walk, and what's dead stays that way" -- Flannery O'Connor.)
I might toss them a buck myself. Then I'm going to curl up with my New Testament and read Matthew 25. I love the fact that --- have you ever noticed? --- both the saved AND the unsaved are apparently quite surprised about it.
Hoping you have the happiest of surprises,
Mrs. Don-o
"Why on earth would I discuss the bible with someone who rejects it? "
Would you discuss the New Testament with a Jew? They give it about as much credibility as MineralMan does, admitting to its Wisdom while denying the devinity of Christ.
Just curious if your discusson of Bible topics is limited only to those of your own faith. If so, you're missing some interesting viewpoints. One's faith alone doesn't distort or change the message of the New Testament, btw, nor the lessons contained therein.
Why would I tell you that? How long did it take you to make up that question and why would you ask it of me?
Mormons are nice people as far as I know. Lot's of people in cults are.
Yes? So? Be a cheerful giver? And continue in good works? Because the church chooses not to associate or yoke itself with unbelievers doesn't change anything from the verses you provided. It doesn't say anywhere that the church will no longer provide ministries for the poor and sick does it? Those verses apply just as well when taken into context with II Cor 6:14. Or should I not associate that the same Holy Spirit was speaking at both instances?
Yeah, those Baptist cults are tough!
LOL. Losing your hearing is a terrible thing, but I guess there are some compensations.
Well, I thought that too, then I looked for a church website... Central Church of God, which boasts more than 6000 members does not have a website. I find that somewhat surprising.
After reading all the articles I could google about this event, I tend to think this church is treading water, and possibly on the edge of getting into legal trouble with all of this. Separation of church and state is one thing, discriminiation on the basis of religion is quite another.
You see, you didn't follow my first instruction. Try again. Then give to who you will, help who you will.
- Pope Benedict XVI in early writings
"Mormons are nice people as far as I know. Lot's of people in cults are."
Oh...nice dig at the LDS folks! You're really working to annoy people today, aren't you? You're not as subtle, though, as you might think you are.
Romans 14 (New International Version)
Romans 14
1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11It is written: As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God. [a] 12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food[b] is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
No, how curious for you to ask that.
Just curious if your discusson of Bible topics is limited only to those of your own faith.
No, not topics.
One's faith alone doesn't distort or change the message of the New Testament, btw, nor the lessons contained therein.
I never said it did.
Discussing the New Testament with a Jew would be odd.
Jew..."Well, the New Testament is nonsense, not true, and Christ was a fraud (or alternately insane) but let me tell what all this means and what to think about it".
It's what I've always done. And apparently it's how the church in question has done too. Just because they don't buy into the ecumenical nonsense that's all the rage, they're getting grief from those that do buy into it.
From your tagline, I take it that you are a supporter of the Confederacy. Is that right?
The important thing is to take care of the widows and orphans, right? I don't think Jesus spoke to the how to do it, just the do it.
exactly...and let us always avoid assuming the worst motives behind what each other does!
An atheist comes on a thread about how Christians should interact and then has the temerity to quote a book that he rejects and I'm annoying?
You insult all believers here and you said you didn't want to do that and would apologize and not do it again, but here ya are. A Godless atheist pontificating to the poor stupid believers. Breathtaking arrogance. But then again, the only thing that matters is what YOU think, as you admitted, so, no problemo!
cult
Pronunciation: 'k<
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator health cults
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
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