07-30-2007, 05:03 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The People's Republic of Monsanto
Posts: 3,085
|
This is one of the big challenges facing the church (and it faces the Church, not just the leaders. If we screw this up we can't blame them). And while music is one of the important areas of contention (and one very near to my heart), the broader problem is the fundamentalist, "you will be correlated" attitude of too many. This attitude has strong ethnic and nationalistic overtones on some levels.
I've noticed some leaders taking steps to moderate it a bit. Elder Ballard's talks of late seem aimed at this. Elder Oaks has warmly advocated "a gospel culture" that is not about ethnicity or nationalism. Their ideas, though, get little traction when the "unwritten order of things" crowd simply ignores them and keeps handing leadership callings to people of it's mindset. CES is, in large measure, a cult of personality and is Pharasaiac. The Honor Code, rules-obsessed, old testament attitude crowd are part of this in their own way. A return of the doctrine of Common Consent and people standing up to fundamentalist, blind obedience nonsense needs to happen or we're in for real trouble. Start quoting Ballard and Oaks and others on these points in talks, when you speak up in classes, whenever you get the chance. If their ideas are going to have an impact, it will be because rank and file members carry the water for them. Some wards and stakes are doing better than others on this. Music is alive and well in my own ward. People sing loudly and with enthusiam, the choir is great, and my bishop is convinced that music (and not just of the hymn book kind) is one of the most powerful of spiritual tools. He's right. Some months back, Non-Seq listed some problems he saw with the Church: Consumerism and an ultra-right fundamentalist mindset were on the top of his list. I am in complete agreement.
__________________
"Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; " 1 Thess. 5:21 (NRSV) We all trust our own unorthodoxies. Last edited by Sleeping in EQ; 07-30-2007 at 05:08 PM. |
07-30-2007, 05:06 PM | #22 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: the far corner of my mind
Posts: 8,711
|
Quote:
There is no magic recipe, I just think you should give the bishop a chance to re-consider in a calmer moment. Telling him the policy error when he is acting is not a good time to get that sort of reflection.
__________________
Sorry for th e tpyos. |
|
07-30-2007, 05:07 PM | #23 | |
Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 474
|
Quote:
Who would have thought - CG as a source of hope! |
|
07-30-2007, 05:08 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,596
|
I'm with creekster here; it seems too easy to just pile on the bishop.
Obviously the man could've handled the situation better. Cancelling a musical number after weeks of practice on the morning it's supposed to be sung is just poor form. That's really an extreme measure that was overkill for the supposed offense. That said, Bishops have the responsibility for maintaining a proper decorum for sacrament meeting, and believe me, if you lose control of the music you will, guaranteed, lose control of the Spirit in the meeting. It falls under his purview to decide what's appropriate and what isn't, and if he wants only hymns, I think that's his choice. It doesn't make him a white oppressor. His fault in this case is not making that clear to his counselors, and overreacting later. I think there's a real risk in escalating this up to the Stake President and "raising hell." Is this really something that should be costing black members their testimonies? Is the church's truthfulness, the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith, the inspired origins of the Book of Mormon, contigent on one bishop's bad behavior? Are they hinged upon the choice of music used by a ward choir in an intermediate hymn? I have seen people leave the church and lose their testimonies over trivialities because the minor offense grows and grows and grows. More people get involved, and more feelings get hurt. My best suggestion to you and to your choir members, Requiem, is to let it go. It was unfortunate how it was handled, but escalating it will probably do more harm than good. |
07-30-2007, 05:10 PM | #25 | |
Senior Member
|
Quote:
This is a really disconcerting issue-- frankly, it turns my stomach somewhat. Best wishes for a quick and complete solution. And if he won't give it to you . . . give 'em hell.
__________________
εν αρχη ην ο λογος |
|
07-30-2007, 05:10 PM | #26 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: the far corner of my mind
Posts: 8,711
|
To be clear, I do not think you should just let it go. At the very least, a private meeting will set it up for the next time. The goal here is to enlarge the tent a little. You just need to do it in a reasonable way, IMO.
__________________
Sorry for th e tpyos. |
07-30-2007, 05:10 PM | #27 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,596
|
Sorry, didn't mean to suggest that this was your position, creekster.
|
07-30-2007, 05:11 PM | #28 | |
Demiurge
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 36,365
|
Quote:
Most of us believe in a church where disagreements can be talked about. It IS appropriate to talk about this to your ecclesiastical leaders. |
|
07-30-2007, 05:13 PM | #29 | |
Senior Member
|
Quote:
Maybe they shouldn't be offended that the bishop won't let them sing a song. Maybe. But Paul taught that we shouldn't even eat meat if it offends our brother.
__________________
εν αρχη ην ο λογος Last edited by All-American; 07-30-2007 at 05:15 PM. |
|
07-30-2007, 05:13 PM | #30 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The People's Republic of Monsanto
Posts: 3,085
|
Quote:
__________________
"Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; " 1 Thess. 5:21 (NRSV) We all trust our own unorthodoxies. |
|
Bookmarks |
|
|