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Old and new Christians
The words "Global South" in "Faith & Values" [Jan. 6] caught my attention because the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin is preparing to affiliate with the Global South. The author states that the Global South churches (African/Asian) are characterized by "a veneration of the Old Testament" and by "moral conservatism."
The Old Testament god with immediate punishment and reward may be an easier sell to a poor, oppressed and brutalized tribal people (the author's description), but most Western Christians who venerate the life, wisdom and teachings of Jesus find much of that "moral conservatism" cruel and unacceptable. As an example, Peter Akinola, the chairman of Global, endorsed a recent law making even the discussion of homosexuality punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and would not support women's efforts to pass a law against female genital mutilation.
I look at the entire Bible as our journey of spiritual discovery culminating in Jesus. The article confirms my observation that there are New Testament
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'Biblical authority'
The Bee reports that "the division [in the Episcopal Church] is primarily over the interpretation of the Bible ... on the ordination of homosexuals" (story Dec. 9). That's not quite correct.
The division is not over interpretation. No one interprets the Bible to endorse homosexual practice, much less among those ordained to shepherd the flock. The issue is whether the Bible continues to be our indisputable authority for faith and morals. Only in recent years has the Episcopal Church officially departed from its acceptance of such biblical authority and so divided itself from orthodox Christianity.
Those in the Diocese of San Joaquin who want to separate from the Episcopal Church believe that the Bible continues to govern regardless of contrary thinking that might be popular today in our American culture.
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'Violation of our right'
Fresno once again is creating religious discrimination among residents of this community by providing a Christian parade among other Christian observances, using tax money that all residents are required to pay to the city.
There are at least 70 different ethnic groups, speaking 75 or more different languages, living in Fresno, most of whom will observe celebrations of their own religions. There are also many residents who do not choose to participate in or pay for Christian celebrations.
This is a violation of our right to freedom of religion. The Constitution says I should not be forced to pay for or participate in other people's religious ceremonies as well as not being forced to participate in or pay for any religion not of my choice.
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Protect the river
I thank The Bee for reporting on positive developments in respect to our beautiful and invaluable San Joaquin River. And congratulations to the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, Friant Water Users Authority, the Bay Institute of San Francisco, the state and federal agencies and many others for collaborating to develop the public education program, "Our Land. Our River. Our Way of Life."
The public service announcements released recently mark an important milestone for groups involved with the future of the San Joaquin River, and represent unique cooperation among diverse interests who each recognize the importance of the San Joaquin River as a vital public resource.
Through continued collaboration, we can protect the San Joaquin River for farmers, wildlife and for future generations.
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Obama's premature glory
Glena Penner’s Oct. 21 letter is critical of Christopher G. Tasy’s letter of Oct. 16. She opines that our president has been in office nine months; it is a bit premature to point out his failures.
Doesn’t Ms. Penner think that it is a little premature for our president to have received the Nobel Peace Prize for services rendered to mankind? What are his accomplishments? What has our president done in nine months that can go down in history as a great humanitarian?
Let me point out what he is trying to do: ram down our throats his ObamaCare plan. He is dead set on a government controlled nation by nationalizing our free enterprise system.
Age: 51
Occupation: Estate attorney.
Hobbies: Teaching Sunday School to grade school kids and coaching soccer.
Bee reader since: 1993.
How many letters: 10 since 2001.
Favorite topics: Role of Judeo-Christian ethics and philosophy in our pluralistic society.
Why do you write? To show that Christian-based morality (loving God and loving others) is the best way to live, that secularists do not have a monopoly on intelligent thought and that abandoning our God-centered foundation has put our freedom in peril.
Education: AA, City College of San Francisco, 1978; BA in public relations, San Jose State, 1981; MBA, San Jose State, 1986; JD, Santa Clara University, 1993.
Family: Wife, Doris (married 23 years); three children: Joe, 21 (in U.S. Navy); Molly, 17 (senior at Fresno Christian); Paige, 4 (adopted from China).
Political philosophy: Compassionate conservative Christian who believes in limited federal government, obedience to the law (even those I vigorously disagree with) and in the bedrock principles underlying the greatness of America.
-- Compiled by Pam Rowse
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