Posted on 04/25/2005 7:59:46 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
Cites concerns about Roman Catholics, other faiths
KEN GARFIELD Staff Writer
One of Charlotte's best-known churches has withdrawn support for a food pantry that serves the needy because the pantry works with Roman Catholics.
Central Church of God explained its decision in a letter March 1 from minister of evangelism Shannon Burton to Loaves & Fishes in Charlotte: "As a Christian church, we feel it is our responsibility to follow closely the (principles) and commands of Scripture. To do this best, we feel we should abstain from any ministry that partners with or promotes Catholicism, or for that matter, any other denomination promoting a works-based salvation."
Loaves & Fishes isn't the only ministry with which the Sardis Road mega-church has cut ties, and Catholics have not been the only reason they've given.
The Rev. Tony Marciano, executive director of Charlotte Rescue Mission, said Burton told him the church could no longer support the agency after it allowed three Muslim students from UNC Charlotte to help serve a meal at the uptown ministry in November. Founded in 1938 by eight businessmen, including Charlotte-born evangelist Billy Graham's father, Charlotte Rescue Mission offers Christ-centered residential care for people fighting drugs and alcohol.
Doug Hartjes, director of development for Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte, said Central Church of God told them it will not provide financial support this year. Crisis Assistance provides emergency financial aid and other help to people. Hartjes said 200 congregations representing Christian, Jewish and other faiths donate money and volunteer time, as do people with no religious affiliation.
The church also ended funding for Love Inc., which provides services for the poor, elderly and disabled in Mecklenburg County.
The decision by Central Church of God isn't likely to cripple the ministries. Loaves & Fishes executive director Beverly Howard said the church has donated a total of $36,000 the past 11 years, plus volunteers and food. Marciano said the church gave Charlotte Rescue Mission $5,500 in 2004 -- a small part of the mission's annual budget of $3 million. Hartjes declined comment, citing the policy of honoring the privacy of donors.
But whatever its practical impact, the Central Church decision is likely to provoke debate over ecumenical cooperation, or the lack of it, in a city that prides itself on its many vibrant congregations -- and the notion that they generally get along.
Anna Burton, a spokesperson for Central Church of God and the minister's wife, said church leaders decline comment, letting the letter speak for itself. She said there was no animosity toward any of the organizations.
Howard said Loaves & Fishes receives support from 100 to 150 congregations each year, and that Central Church of God is the only one to pull out over the food pantry's partnership with other congregations. Jewish and Muslim congregations help, as do 10 to 15 Catholic parishes to which Central objected.
"It absolutely did shock us," Howard said. "We had no idea Central Church felt that way about ecumenical ministry."
Howard said Loaves & Fishes last year gave away a week's worth of food to 70,000 recipients. She said that's a mission all people should embrace.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte released a statement to the Observer Friday, saying, "This apparent attempt to divide the faith community is most unfortunate."
The statement sought to explain the Catholic position on what it means to be saved:
"As Catholics we firmly believe that Salvation for the world came through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through his Passion, Jesus Christ has already completed the work of salvation. Jesus calls us to love one another and that love must demonstrate itself in good works. Engaging in good works is putting your faith into action. We earnestly hope that we can sit down with fellow Christians at the Central Church of God and clarify our mutual understanding of God's word as put forth in the Scriptures."
The Rev. Conrad Hoover of St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte stressed that you are not saved solely by good works.
"Catholics believe it is indeed by faith in Jesus Christ," Hoover said. "We really are biblically grounded."
With some 6,000 members -- and often more than that packing Sunday morning services -- Central Church of God on Sardis Road is known for its huge crowds and electrifying sermons by the Rev. Loran Livingston. Crowds are so big at one of the nation's largest Church of God congregations that buses drive people to worship from the parking lot at Providence Day School and Charlotte Country Day.
In the letter to Loaves & Fishes, obtained by the Observer, Central's Burton tried to end on a positive note:
"I hope and pray you receive this as intended -- in love," Burton wrote. "Thank you in advance for your understanding in this matter, and if you should have any questions, feel free to give me a call."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reach Ken Garfield at (704) 358-5094.
Only in the way I say I'm in a cult. Take it or leave it, but what is good for you is good for me. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is a church, not a cult. The true head of our Church is Jesus Christ. We are Christians.
You may not like it, but the fact remains that we are Christians.
Forget Christian, you are a hypocrite.
I haven't seen anyone say you weren't Christian.
Now go back and read some more made up nonsense by smittyboy.
Did you confuse yourself? You certainly are good at twisting words and throwing around baseless accusations.
Are you sure you aren't a shyster lawyer?
Are you sure your wife has stopped beating you?
To: Protagoras
Yes, I pray often for all you protestants and catholics. I pray that someday you can come to Christ.
100 posted on 04/25/2005 11:50:44 AM CDT by Old Mountain man (Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice!)
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Do you have some logical objection to my prayers?
I have a logical problem with you saying that people who aren't in your group have not come to the savior.
Your prayers (if you said them, which I find unlikely) are a cover for your arrogant, purposeful, childish cheap shot at real Christians.
If you practiced Christianity yourself, you would not have made such an insult and certainly would have prayerfully reconsidered your purposeful insult and withdrawn it or clarified it instead of playing this little childish game.
But truly, I don't care. You came to the thread trolling for comments, and you got them. Oh well.
You are saying that praying is a cheap shot?
And you call yourself a Christian?
After all the garbage you have spewed over the last couple of days, I wonder where your heart really is.
Nope, you made that up. It's called false witness.
And you call yourself a Christian?
You bet I do.
I wonder where your heart really is.
You already said I wasn't a Christian. Why are you wondering now?
What you said was:
"Your prayers (if you said them, which I find unlikely) are a cover for your arrogant, purposeful, childish cheap shot at real Christians."
Now you are telling me I made it up. Are you psychotic?
Correct, and it doesn't say prayers are a cheap shot. Not even close. You made that up. Now you have lied twice in a row.
It says your comment that protestants and catholics aren't Christians was a cheap shot. And that you tried to cover it up by SAYING you would pray for them.
Now you are telling me I made it up.
You did.
Are you psychotic?
No, but you are becoming increasingly desperate and crazy in your posts and lies, so you might be.
You think I'm crazy? You ought to read your own crap.
Yes, that is what you are posting, total crap.
You are a liar.
To: Protagoras
Yes, I pray often for all you protestants and catholics. I pray that someday you can come to Christ.
100 posted on 04/25/2005 11:50:44 AM CDT by Old Mountain man (Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice!)
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"Thank God you aren't like those sinners."
Appy, of course I am a sinner, but this church is beyond. Living in a small town, you know people. There are some nice people who go there, but besides the ones who I prefer to avoid, the pastor is not one who I would want to call my spiritual teacher. I am not comfortable with him for many reasons, chiefly that he speaks against other churches in the area and other denominations.
"What if you prefer not to give to charities which you aren't sure *are* Christian, again due to the leading of the Holy Spirit?"
That is your choice, but I thought we were discussing the concept of cooperation rather than who we personally donate to? For my own part, I have no problem donating to charities regardless of if they are religious or not. If a non-religious group is passing out food to needy people or if they have a job program, I have no problem donating what I can. This, providing that I know my efforts are benefitting those intended.
There are churches I am not fond of, particulary one around here. But I still donate clothing on occasion, because it is about helping people, not my disagreements with the pastor or people in his church.
Nowhere did I say they were not Christians. That is an interpretive remark by you. Wrong interpretation. Typical for a sophmoric person.
"I just noticed one of the keywords tacked on to this thread: "War on Catholics". It seems a little strange to me after seeing a thread yesterday on which several Catholics were mercilessly attacking a non-Catholic just because she said she uses the pill and doesn't want children. These Catholics even went so far as to tell her she's not Christian, an action which is clearly against Christ's specific command."
I didn't catch that one, but I recall being the recipient of a lynch mob on one thread where I agreed with the Phillipine government giving financial incentives to families who have fewer children, in an effort to end dire poverty. I suspect these are the same people, because instead of agreeing to disagree, they branded me as Satanic for asserting that couples should have the choice over their family size and for my opinion that people should not have more kids than they or their nation can feed. It took me awhile, but eventually I was called a "feminist" for the sin of sharing my genealogy findings and asserting women today should not have to have baby after baby until they die in childbirth. I don't recall ever throwing names and insults at these nice folks, even after they had, in just about every post.
"I consider folks who would say such things enemies of the Word. Still, I understand I must love them."
Not necessarily enemies of the word, but of the spirit, the kind, loving spirit of Christ.
Actually, you are incorrect. It's not a book. So much for that.
Jesus was a man who lived and died back in the day. I understand that a lot of people believe that there is more significant meaning to both, but I personally don't happen to believe that there is.
What significance did they think he had and the bible have? Just so we know what you don't happen to agree with.
So you contend that people can be Christians if they haven't "come to Christ"?
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