letting the truth challenge them to be their best in a world that says it is not
cool to be confrontational or judgmental.
The Rev. Barry Halterman spoke of a culture among young people
today that makes our church seem homophobic on the one hand, and not
encouraging young people to commit to anything on the other. Young people
feel that the job of the Church is to care for people.
The Rev. Thane Glenn said his job is to engage students at Bryn Athyn
College of the New Church with New Church teachings about the Lord, the
Word and their lives. If promoting membership in the General Church was
part of their job as well the College could probably have an impact.
Mr. Lindrooth then broadened the conversation by inviting several pastors
to speak, including the Revs. Ethan McCardell, Jay Barry, Mark Perry, Jerome
Dube and Mike Gladish. The discussion branched into related topics about
finding uses for people to do in the Church, and the Church serving nonmembers through our schools in ways that engage them with the doctrines.
The final session offered a repeat of Steve David’s presentation on “New
Christian Bible Study”; a discussion on meeting young people where they
are; and a presentation organized by the Human Resources department on
the transition to and services of Benefit Plan Administrator Services (BPAS)
which would be managing the Church’s retirement plans in place of Valic.
In the evening, the clergy had dinner in the Dining Hall while their wives
were invited to dinner at the home of the Rt. Rev. Tom and Nina Kline.
Joy in Heaven
Friday morning’s worship service was a series of readings by the Rev. Alan
Cowley on the subject of the Lord’s patient leading on the one hand, and His
persistence in the fight – not against people but against the hells.
The Rev. Ethan McCardell introduced a slide presentation with a reading
of the parable of the lost sheep, from which the title of his presentation
came: “There is More Joy in Heaven . . . ” He showed many passages from
the Heavenly Doctrines about how the angels welcome people into the life
of the spirit, accompanied by questions aimed at bringing angelic attitudes,
affections and methods into our work of welcoming people into the Church.
His aim was to approach the work of evangelization from the spirit rather
than from methodology. He thus brought forward such ideas as loving the
neighbor more than oneself; helping people to know themselves in terms of
their dominant love and being attuned to that; never giving up on people and
ministering to them where they actually are rather than where we think they
should be. He pointed out how people are part of communities naturally and
spiritually, and the value of listening to how the Lord is already working in
people’s lives, and paying attention to their spiritual and natural communities.
479