Hi Bishop Swanson,
I
am writing to you, to express deep concern about your conference's
decision on decommissioning 'Forrest Avenue United Methodist Church' in
Chattanooga, TN.
It is a despicable act considering that you
are short changing the poor in order to receive some petty cash. It is
despicable because you are forgetting what Jesus said in Matthew 25 " I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Maybe
you have not forgotten these powerful words but just choose to ignore
them. Is it the mission of your conference to make money, sell holy
sacred consecrated land for big bucks? Forrest Avenue UMC is a sacred
place because it administers to the least in society, it offers them a
place where God's will is being done. It offers the homeless, drug
addicts and alcoholics a place to pray, have fellowship, a warm meal
and restore dignity. Mr. Bishop -do the poor and the downtrodden
disgust you? If this were a church that was all clean cut and 'hoity-
toity'; paying their dues and satisfied with being comfortable fringe
Christians would you even consider decommissioning them?
The
pastors/people at Forrest Avenue, are acting every day on Christian
Faith and Love, they are a positive influence on not just the poor but
also the new comers to downtown Chattanooga. You can see them handing
out sack lunches at parks, administering God's Love in street corners
and living a life of active faith. Yet, you and your cohorts think that
their ministry is not worthwhile? Are you more interested in nickels
and cents (well millions in reality)than serving God and doing His
will? Poverty is mentioned in the scriptures over 2000 times in the
Bible. Don't you think that this should then be the church's calling to
reach out to both the economically poor and the spiritually bankrupt?
Isn't it awesome that Forrest Avenue is working on these two aspects so
wholeheartedly. This church should be raised up as epitome of what it
is to do God's work, an encouragement to other churches that only pay
lip service to God's calling. Do not decommission this church!
I
do not know if you have ever visited the church or seen it's cross
shine at night. Imagine, what an inspiration it is, to someone who is
broken in spirit and broken in life to see the shining cross on the top
of a hill. It could restore hope, faith, and create a reawakening
experience. Imagine, now if that church is bulldozed to the ground and
some fancy condo comes up, with fancy little coffee shops- what kind of
inspiration is it going to serve. The poor are going to be more
isolated and face intense pressure to move out. Gentrification right?Of
all people, the church must not allow gentrification but support
unification where rich and poor can still come together to serve God.
Unless, you think that 'church' is a 'members only; rich holy huddle.'
Mr. Bishop you can do the right thing, before it is too late. Do not decommission Forrest Avenue UMC!
Please consider the words of Martin Luther King Jr, in his Strength to Love speech, 1963:
" The church must remember that it is not the master or the servant of
the state, but rather the conscience of the state and never it's tool.
If the church does not recapture it's prophetic zeal, it will become an
irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority." How true, the church should not just be a social
club, but the conscience for both the state and society. I think that
Forrest Avenue UMC is fulfilling that role but maybe you and your
conference have to work on that more. You could be a leader, a star
activist Mr. Bishop- do not decommission this church.
To quote Bono (U2's front man):"God is in the slums, in the
cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who
has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the debris of wasted
opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them." God
is in all these places, God is on the move, even in Downtown
Chattanooga. You, can be a rock star, Mr. Bishop - do the right thing!
Do not sell your self, do not make Christianity look bad. The poor may
die, because they no longer have access to a warm meal, their
addictions may over take them before they are given a chance to a new
life. Do you want that kind of record against your name? I am sure that
you have somewhere within you a deep moral conscience- I urge you to
pray about it, talk with God - there are no 2 ways about
this..decommissioning a church is abhorrent and despicable. You have the
power to make a difference and I am hoping and praying that you will do
the right thing. Do not decommission Forrest Avenue UMC!!!!
Sincerely
Manisha Anna Lance
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