Heard It at Council (June 2016)

June 14, 2016

Opening Council with a prayer, Moderator Deb Washington invoked the hope of Jeremiah and the selflessness of Sarah. God of the saints and the prophets is also our God who reminds us that we come not to be served, but rather to serve.

She then asked Council to reflect on how we are doing as a body. How have we experienced our work together so far this year? Prompting input from members as to Council’s effectiveness, role within the church, and vision for the future, Deb noted that while Council is made up of divergent people and ideas, we all strive to share, contribute toward, facilitate, guide, and sustain our common goal of service.

Rubén Bonilla-Santiago observed that the GBIO assembly was a great success this year. Hosted at Old South Church, the many different denominations represented were warmly welcomed in our church home and a generosity of spirit abounded.

Senior Minister Rev. Nancy Taylor reported that the Capital Campaign is progressing.

Music Committee Chair Karen Hand reported that the music luncheon, for all members of all choirs and music teachers and ringers, was well-received and will likely return on an annual basis. Preparation continues for the arrival and performance of Jonathan Welch and his “Sing the World” choir in September (a New Zealand choir composed of homeless persons). There will be numerous opportunities for all church members to engage with them during their time in Boston in September. More details will be reported as they develop.

Rev. Taylor paused to discuss the events of the Orlando massacre at a gay bar, historically a cultural sanctuary within the LGBT community. As Old South Church and the nation struggle to cope with the violence of Orlando, Rev. Taylor reminds us of our universal need for interdependence. We at Old South Church stand defiantly against hatred, bigotry, exclusion, violence, and homophobia. She listed various venues for sharing, lamenting, praying, and celebrating our diversity in the aftermath of Orlando. The loud, the rude, the noisemakers—these are the people who make the news. How do the quiet get heard? How do we respond to the reactionary hatred towards and suspicion of blacks, gays, Jews, Muslims, immigrants, or anyone else deemed “different”? We are all ministers of repairing social inequities in the world. At the most local level we can show love to those who feel they are outsiders. For Muslims we could go to an Islamic center and show our support; for the LGBT community we could bring flowers to a gay bar.

By a show of recognition of and love for others, including or especially for those outside of our comfort zone, we declare our interdependence. We embody the spirit of Christ as we strive to serve rather than be served, include rather than exclude.

In that spirit, the meeting was adjourned until Council meets again in September.

Robert Gabler, Clerk