Our church will be going through pastoral change in the coming months. Our church is a mainline church that has seen attendance dwindle over the past several years to about 50-60 dedicated and God loving people Sunday. They are also all senior citizens and the average age of the congregation is 70+. My wife and I are the young people and we are young 50ish.
My wife is on the pastor parish committee and they were discussing the upcoming retirement of the minister this morning and the process of replacement. The superintendent of the church was at the meeting this morning and said we likely would have a recent graduate of the theology school located nearby and may split his or her ministry between us and another church.
The theology school has VERY liberal leanings. I'm afraid that the new pastor will have the new age way of seeing a church.
My wife and I were discussing the new way of everyone is welcome as they are vs the reality of God's House has rules. My thought is Christ would have welcomed everyone, but would and did admonish those who joined him to sin no more. Too many churches, mainline especially but even evangelical, have forgotten the "sin no more" part of all are welcome.
My understanding from other threads is that Alan not only cut off housing and financial support but also familal support and contact. The financial and housing I can understand. She has made a choice to either live as a lesbain or if she is pre-destined to be a lesbian, made the choice to come forward with her sexuality. But to cut off contact and family support is a tad too far. Her only source of aid and comfort likely is the gay and lesbian community. That to me is throwing her to the wolves.
Like coming to church, Christ will take you as you are when you work hard to sin no more. I think Alan could learn that lesson.