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One of Charlotte's best-known churches has withdrawn support for a food pantry that serves the needy because the pantry works with Roman Catholics.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.
Bless you, and good night to you.
Oh. Are you a Mormon or Jehovah's Witness?
Well, I'm outa here again. This time I have to go prepare the evening meal for my family, then spend the evening with them. Since my Freepday is over, I guess I'm out of this thread.
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof...."
Tomorrow's another day. Perhaps we will meet in other threads.
By responding to questions and making the statements they did about the Catholics.
They should have just kept their collective mouths shut.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Christian.
Ah, okay.
Thank you, but I'm not interested in joining.
And you as well.
"Marciano said the church gave Charlotte Rescue Mission $5,500 in 2004 -- a small part of the mission's annual budget of $3 million."
This mega-church that has 6,000 parishioners gave less than a dollar a year per worshipper?! Maybe I'm jumping the gun since I don't know what other charities they donate to or their operating budget. I would think there wouldn't be many charities in general that don't have multiple denominations making donations of food, volunteers and funds (or at least one of the three).
As a PR move this about as dumb as you can get particuarly a week after a new Pope had been elected. Jesus said to turn the other cheek - is the Catholic Church really an enemy of this mega-church?
Upstate NY kinda Christian .....
Christian Scientist: not Christian.
Undoubtedly.
I hope it's on a thread where your opinion matters.
That's cool. If you change your mind, let one of us know.
Christian. See, it says so in the name.
8-)
However, now that the organization hears that the Catholics are involved (and I am not a Catholic), they claim that because a secular-based (presumably) charity begins to get help from another religious group (just as the organization is), they feel that they can't help PEOPLE by feeding them.
What does such a move tell the community? It tells them that their organization is elitist and exclusionary, which in NO WAY represents the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It just makes me wonder whether this same arrogant group would accept donations from Catholics and others if they were in need? You bet they would and they would declare that "the Lord provided!"
This organization is free to give or withhold giving but don't dare try to hide their pride and elitism by saying they're doing so out of conviction. I hope this organization has to close its doors as a result of this. But I'm sure that the Catholics, et al, would be there to help them out.
Yes, ignorance does abound. It is sad and I will pray for them.
"View us, not advise us on what the bible means and what we should do. BTW, they view us as idiots."
I used to think the same, until I met Christians who were kind and non-judgemental. Non-believers don't view ALL Christians as idiots, just those who act high and mighty. If we follow Christ's example of humility, we are respected by non-believers.
For instance, an intellectual atheist friend of mine, who generally hated Christians had an experience that changed his way of thinking while travelling across the state. He was in a rollover accident. The second person on the scene was a Christian man who took him (and his dog) home and let him spend the night. The next morning he drove my friend to the train depot an hour away. The car was a total loss. The Christian man then kept and cared for his dog for several days, until he returned with his other car to pick up the dog. That one Christian man brought my friend closer to God by representing Christ well in his actions. I notice he now contrasts "good" vs. "bad" Christians, when before he though we were all hypocritical freaks. That is the first step for an unbeliever in accepting Christ, and like it or not, unbelievers formulate their opinions of Christianity by the words and deeds of Christians. So when the Atheist gentleman starts commenting on how we should treat each other and on scripture, I take it differently than other Christians, because I was once there myself, as is my Atheist friend. General interest is a good thing, even if that interest manifests itself with negative comments. When representing Christ to Atheists, you have a better chance of doing it well if there's no malice against them, even if they are prejudiced against you. Instead of getting mad at one who asks "who created God" a better way of dealing with it is to say "who created the components need for a "big bang?" I don't think evolution is illogical (it's quite simply the study of God's ways), but the "big bang" doesn't ring in my ears, and it wouldn't resonate with Atheists if they actually asked "who created the components that set off the big bang?
"This is the same denomination that believes that feet-washing was commanded by Jesus and thus is a liturgy of the church."
They are emulating the lady who washed Christ's feet as a demonstration of humility, as I see it.
"All religion is organized.. Even yours.. Unless you stay home, pray by yourself, and follow your own organization of scripture, you participate in organized religion.
Even your theology is organized and systemized..."
I'm glad to hear that! I always thought my theology was scattered and undetermined because I am still learning.
By the way, I don't attend church, listen to preachers on the radio or refer to certain web sites for lessons. I come across a situation, or have a question, then seek the answer, generally by doing a net word search, then reading the relevant chapters. I do pray alone, except when with Christian friends and usually it is the last thing we do before we part. I have several different bibles, so my theology is not denominational, and I compare verses in different bibles when I find contradictions. Whenever something is asserted AS FACT, I research it and do come up with different answers and try to just let the holy spirit guide me, rather than political or other factors. People impart different lessons from scripture. I notice alot of people tend to manifest the teachings in judgement of others, but I feel the bible is intended to make the reader examine themselves rather than to use scripture as a bludgeon against people who have differences with them.
We may not agree on some things, but we can agree on your tagline. :-)
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