"All progress is a negotiation."
The Chamber (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: The Chamber, set largely in and around the Mississippi State Penitentiary, is the story of Sam Cayhall, a former Klansman who has been convicted of murder and sentenced to death by gas chamber 20 years after his bombing of a Jewish lawyer's office.
Cayhall's sentence has so far been held up by legal maneuvering, but with all his appeals exhausted, he has weeks to live.
His grandson Adam Hall, a lawyer (whose father Eddie changed his family's name because of the disgraceful family history), journeys south from Chicago to represent Sam in the final month before the date of execution.
Adam decided to become a lawyer soon after his father committed suicide on the day that Sam was convicted of murder in Mississippi. Adam is determined to argue a stay for his grandfather, in spite of Sam's violent past, because Sam is one of the few living links to his family's history. Sam and his daughter Lee Cayhall (Adam's aunt) reveal the sad, brutal history of their family.
Initially uncooperative, Sam eventually opens up to Adam, and it transpires that Sam did not in fact commit the actual crime for which he has been found guilty. Nevertheless, he has a long and largely secret history of Klan-related crime and has killed several times. As Adam desperately argues motion after motion, the story moves to its last moments.
The novel combines elements of legal commentary and suspense to fully illustrate the complications surrounding various legal issues, such as the death penalty and racism.
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pro·gres·sive
[pruh-gres-iv]
adjective
1. favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, especially in political matters: a progressive mayor.
2. making progress toward better conditions; employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, etc.: a progressive community.
3. characterized by such progress, or by continuous improvement.
4. ( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to any of the Progressive parties in politics.
5. going forward or onward; passing successively from one member of a series to the next; proceeding step by step.
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A Statement of Counsel to the Church--2011
Out of concern for the welfare of all God's people, and, out of special concern for the people of The United Methodist Church, we, United Methodist Bishops-retired, believe The United Methodist Church should remove the following statement from The Book of Discipline (2008):
"...The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church." 304.3Our lives and ministries over the years have included prayerful, thoughtful consideration of our Holy Bible, our Wesleyan heritage, reflection on our experience of the church and world, and our conviction of God's intention for a world transformed.
With increasing frequency we observe and experience the following disturbing realities and know them to be
detrimental to the mission of a Church of Jesus Christ:
Laity and clergy, gay and straight, withdrawing membership or absenting themselves from the support of
congregational and denominational Church life in order to maintain personal integrity.
Young adults, especially, embarrassed to invite friends and expressing dismay at the unwillingness of our
United Methodist Church to alter its 39-year exclusionary stance.
Closeted pastors, currently called and ordained in our church, living divided lives while offering effective
appreciated ministry.
Bishops being drained of energy by upholding Church Discipline while regarding it as contrary to their
convictions.
Bishops caught between care for the Church by reappointing an effective gay or lesbian pastor and care for
the Discipline by charging them under current legislation.
Seminary leaders desiring greater flexibility and openness from the church in order to advance their mission
of identifying, recruiting, enrolling, educating and spiritually forming Christian leaders.
Christian gay men and women understanding themselves called of God to seek ministry opportunities within
their United Methodist family Church home, but having to decide between:
o leaving to go to accepting denominations, or
o staying and praying for change, or
o challenging Church law and accepting punitive actions.
Our United Methodist Church, ashamed and repentant in the past, ended official and unofficial restrictions on
candidacy, ordination and appointment for reason of race, gender and ethnicity. We believe the God we know in
Jesus is leading us to issue this counsel and call – a call to transform our church life and our world.
Bob Gary, trained in facilitating the reconciliation of factions having divergent views on
important issues within an organization, led our Common Table. Bob is recognized nationally as
a leader in this art, especially among churches. He graciously donated his time and skill for this
task to Glenn. The Common Table acknowledges with heartfelt thanks and affection his work
and guidance, and urges the Church Council and Glenn to recognize his contribution to our
church in this endeavor.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Appeal_(film)
For years, as pastor of an affluent, suburban Roman Catholic parish, Father Tim Farley has maintained a close relationship with his congregation by delivering folksy homilies filled with practical advice and adhering to clerical policies without waver. One Sunday, his sermon is interrupted by seminarian Mark Dolson, who questions Farley's position on the ordination of women. The older priest charmingly sidesteps the young man but is annoyed that he was placed in an uncomfortable position. This is a man who relies on charm, harmless white lies, and inane jokes when interacting with his parishioners, and he always has been careful not to get involved in controversial issues.
***
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Appeal_(film)
For years, as pastor of an affluent, suburban Roman Catholic parish, Father Tim Farley has maintained a close relationship with his congregation by delivering folksy homilies filled with practical advice and adhering to clerical policies without waver. One Sunday, his sermon is interrupted by seminarian Mark Dolson, who questions Farley's position on the ordination of women. The older priest charmingly sidesteps the young man but is annoyed that he was placed in an uncomfortable position. This is a man who relies on charm, harmless white lies, and inane jokes when interacting with his parishioners, and he always has been careful not to get involved in controversial issues.
***
Although an anti-Christ (just another way of saying atheist), as a self-avowed practicing homosexual (although getting harder practicing at my age) have no problem with ex-neighbor Janet Gary believing herself a 'mature' Christian within a church while concurring with her husband George Robert Gary, Sr. ThD working outside the church helping getting homosexuals into the church.
The answer... BEING... just too easy:
If there's a reason they want in...,
you better be helping to get them in.
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