The Atlantic District is completely in favor of the delay at the leadership/Board level, as far as I've heard, along with every congregation that I know of, all around the issue of the safety of parishioners. For that reason, we have had repeated Zoom meetings with pastors and leaders initiated by Bp. Lecakes on following the state guidelines for worship attendance and church opening/closing, wearing masks, taking other safety precautions in worship and enrolling vulnerable parishioners (at this time) for the vaccine.
I wonder in the context of this push to have the conventions if there's a correlation with the two other surrounding issues - wearing of masks/PPP/safety precautions and state mandates on houses of worship.
Here there has been almost zero pushback on safety precautions at the local level. There are no "anti-masker" leaders trying to force their views in who gets into the church building. And there are to my knowledge no congregations harboring resentment or pushing the envelope on the mandated house of worship restrictions. And without question, the overwhelming vote from here is going to be to delay the convention(s).
Is there a correlation the other way when it comes to the "don't delay, convene today" voters? AND - we don't need no masks, and we will bring out however many we want to our services? Is that a thing?
Dave Benke
Of course. Because everywhere is the same as NYC and its environs. Because everyone who fails to see the need for delay is automatically an "anti-masker" (ooh, it must be bad because you have a label for it!). Because if one does not agree that worship services everywhere must be banned (even if there is not the need locally) then one MUST be full of "resentment" and "pushing the envelope".
Honestly, Dr. Benke, you New Yorkers are THE most self-centered, egotistical folks in the world.
I do not understand why the above was not censured.
Prof David Scaer is a native New Yorker and was the late Herman Otten Sr. and Pr. Walter Otten. For the record,. the late Rev Prof. Kurt Marquart became a New Yorker when he arrived in NYC as a DP from Eastern New York. He attended Concordia, Bronxville.
The ALPB has is roots in New York City. The majority of ALPB Board Members have been New Yorkers, I think of the late Prof. Ruth Zerner, PhD in Reformation History, long time member of the Board and financial supporter of the ALPB. Ruth and I were members of St. Matthew, Manhattan, attended the same NYC Hunter College High School for girls, she went on to be a professor of NYC Hunter College. She was among the most gifted self-giving woman I had the privilege of knowing.
Think of ALPB men who served as pastors in New York... Glenn Stone,, Richard Koenig, Richard John Neuhaus, Fred Schumacher, Adolf Meyer, and Ted Wittrock, the list goes on. Many served as inner city pastors in congregations where they and their wives gave selflessly to support the ministries of their husbands.
I respectfully request that the statement "Honestly, Dr. Benke, you New Yorkers are THE most self-centered, egotistical folks in the world." be removed from this Forum.
Marie Otten Meyer