On faith and Rev. Vosper
Re United Church minister exalts apostasy, Nov. 12 Rosie DiManno hit the nail on the head and, personally, as a United Church minister, I am affronted and more than puzzled by the church’s action to allow Ms. Vosper to continue to minister within its purview.
In my opinion, Ms. Vosper cares nothing about the church, only about herself.
If she were a person of integrity, the honest thing for her to do would be to resign her position and start her own congregation outside of the United Church where she would be free to spread her atheistic “faith.” Rev. Ralph Garbe, Aurora In addressing the Gretta Vosper controversy, officials of the United Church have said that it is important for the church to be inclusive and welcoming. The question arises whether the church should be more welcoming both to those with more liberal and more conservative viewpoints than official doctrine.
If the United Church is tolerant only of those who are more liberal than its existing doctrine, then it is not truly inclusive. Bruce Couchman, Ottawa I’m somewhat surprised that you spent your column on where and how Gretta Vosper and her flock should spend their Sunday mornings.
There are more important things to think about than Gretta’s crisis of faith. How about climate change, saving democracy, poverty and capitalism and figuring out how to live in peace, for a start? Why don’t you write a column about the climate change lobby movement or the Voice of Women movement, or just about anything. I am drawn to reading your fiery opinions, but please use your skills for something that matters. Lorna Weigand, Scarborough To begin with, I would like to point out that Christianity is based on a Bible that was written well over 2,000 years ago in a time of patriarchy, violence, inequality, and a time when “traditional” thought was totally unlike present day thinking in a modern world. Knowledge and understanding evolve over time.
Personally, the more I read the Bible, the more confusing and complicated it becomes, but I am no biblical scholar. But Gretta Vosper is. I don’t know exactly what Rev. Vosper believes, although I have read a number of her books. From this reading, I do know that what she preaches is exactly what is present in many of the teachings of Jesus. Gretta talks about loving and supporting each other, just like Jesus. She focuses her sermons and writings on helping us find our better angels, just like Jesus did. She talks about our responsibility to care for and love the environment, our children, our families, those less fortunate than us and those who live in war-torn countries, just like Jesus did. So, instead of preaching empty sermons based on a focus of living ever-after in some heaven “if we are good,” she helps us focus on how we can live better now to help make this world we do have, a better place. And Gretta walks the walk, she generously listens to people and she lives her ministry in outreach.
Personally, I thank the god-spirit that is connected to all living things in myself for the sanity and openness of Gretta Vosper’s teachings and I am comforted by knowing that she will continue to offer love and hope to so many. So, thank you, Rev. Richard Bott, moderator of the United Church of Canada, for your courage and support for those of us who believe in an evolved Christianity. Fran Bazos, Newmarket