Category: Presbyterian Church(USA)

One church’s perspective on the “English Only” charter amendment

TOMORROW, January 22, is voting day on the English Only charter amendment.

Hearing the biblical call to welcome the stranger, the Session invites the congregation to prayerfully consider the following:

On December 18 the Session voted to urge members of Trinity to vote against the “English only” charter amendment in the January referendum. The Session gave the following reasons for its action: The “English only” requirement does not acknowledge the linguistic diversity that has always characterized the U.S. (the result of many factors, including voluntary migration, conquest, employment practices, and compassion toward refugees) and continues today. Furthermore it does not manifest the hospitality toward immigrants and refugees that we have every reason to expect in our public and private life. And it is out of keeping with the future character of our nation, region, and city, which will remain both red and blue, black and white, yellow and red and brown. The Presbyterian General Assembly in 1990 acknowledged “the special claim that immigrants make on Christian conscience and the contributions they make to U.S. society,” and reaffirmed the following principles:

-providing for the human needs of refugees and immigrants;

-non-discrimination in aid and in application of laws and policies;

-upholding constitutional and civil rights;

-protecting lives;

-special consideration for women and children, individuals with special needs, and unification of families;

-provision of adequate resources to communities in order to reduce tensions;

-vigorously combatting expressions of racism in policies and their implementation.

From Trinity Presbyterian Church PC(USA), Nashville, TN

A New Year…Some New Stuff

Holy cow! I believe my wordpress.com page has changed three or four time since I last posted something of unimportance. I am a huge slacker in the blog world. My Twitter account is seeing all the action these days. Maybe I should look back on my ‘tweets’ and consolidate them into some sort of narrative longer than 140 characters.

Here’s the update: The Elder Extroverted Holy One is now the Reverend Elder Extroverted Holy One. Damn, her alias is getting longer. Maybe I’ll just call her “The Chosen”, or “The Truly Better Half.” How about “The Reverend Extroverted One?” That works for now…Well, The REO (awesome! “I can’t fight this feeling anymoooooorrrrrrrre”) was called to a church in Chattanooga and has since been ordained in the Presbyterian Church(USA) and is now serving that church. It’s a pretty cool small thang but with some great potential and I do believe that The REO is the youngest person there. tee hee

The Young Extroverted One is now firmly planted in a new school which is near our new house. It was a totally different experience dropping her off for her first day than her first day at the old school in east Nashville. But that’s for another post I suppose.

The Mullethead is now one year old and is doing great. Cruising around and standing on her own. We’re waiting for her to take some steps any day now. Look out world! When she can walk by herself I’m getting her a job! She needs to start earning her keep around here.

Speaking of earning one’s keep, I am no longer earning mine. I am back to being a full-time stay-at-home dad. My frequent tweets have changed dramatically from ‘doom and gloom’ to ‘rainbows and unicorns’. Sort of . . . those of you who follow me either on Facebook or Twitter would understand.

Selling our house in Nashville has been another issue entirely. The economy bit the big one right around the time we were getting our house on the market. And there it sits. All alone and empty. Waiting for someone to move in. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Something-d-o-o economics…anyone?

We are in a house that we really like in Ooltewah, TN but it’s only under a lease/purchase agreement. Basically, we’re renting it until someone buys our house and than we can buy this house. But since we’re renting the owners didn’t want us to have our pets here. So, Bosco, Maya and Aine (pronounced “anya” yeah, we’re weird) are living the good life at grandma Lucy’s house until we can buy this house. I don’t care much about the cats but I miss my dog. Sigh . . .

So, that’s us in a nutshell. Boring I know but that’s all I got for now. I would like to write more regularly on things that interest me in the future and hopefully I will. Until then? Just read this over and over again.

Reflections on the Predators

I must say that I’m feeling the post-playoffs-hockey’s-over blues right now. I had hope (more than Barack Obama hope) that the Predators would pull off a win and force a game seven. Alas, no such luck.

As a fan of the game and of the Predators I must say, in my humble opinion, that they did not ‘bring it’ against the Red Wings. They can’t play a period or two of mediocre hockey and turn it on for the third period to play spectacular hockey against a team like Detroit. It’s gotta be all on all the time and the Preds didn’t have it. Which is kind of depressing because I know they are a team that is capable of great things. For now, I must fall back on one of my love-to-hate phrases, “There always next year.” It was a great season of overcoming many obstacles and Barry Trotz and his staff did a great job of keeping it together.

Now, I have the dilemma of deciding on season tickets or not. Not because they didn’t win the cup. Remember, I love the sport of hockey and I dig the Predators a lot. But with the Elder Extroverted Holy One graduating in a couple of weeks with her masters of divinity (I still don’t know how someone as divine as she is with a schmuck like me) and can possibly get a job at a church anywhere. Do I go ahead and get season tickets and then try to sell them if we move? Or should I wait to figure out where we’re going to be. There are some cities that are appealing to her (and me) but I’m not so sure I can obtain season tickets for the Sabres, in one possible scenario. I don’t even think I’m ready  to add a new favorite team to my list. I only have room for a certain number. This is so hard.

On a final note, Dan Ellis has become my new hockey gawd (vague TV reference. any guesses?)! Hats off to him. He worked magic out there but he couldn’t defeat the wings by himself.

Holier Than Thou (or at least Holier Than Me)

Well, the Elder Extroverted Holy One just got a little holier. Back in August(?) she took ordination exams that are required by the PC(USA) to be called and ordained as a minister. After taking those things she had to sit around for a couple of months while Presbyterian monks locked in caves somewhere in Scotland read what she wrote. Apparently, they like what she wrote because she passed!

Now, she just needs to make it through this semester carrying a child (on the inside) and then make it through next semester carrying a child (on the outside) to graduate. Then some awesome church will want to call her to be their minister and by default I’ll end up being the churches a/v geek.

Blogged with Flock

Southern ‘Urban’ Living and Pet Peeves

At the moment I am trying to make a move up the corporate ladder. Yup, I am climbing up ‘The Man’s’ damn ladder. Hey, it looks good on the resume and it means more money while the Elder Extroverted Holy One is in school.

I work for Presentation Services or PSAV which holds the audio visual services contract in many properties across the states. I found that a director of event technologies (which used to be director of av) position is open at the Marriott at Vanderbilt University. This is a very cool opportunity because not only is it advancement but it’s also closer to EEHO’s school and the Young Extroverted One’s school. Plus, the hours are a little more flexible and no real late night rigging hours.

Now on to the peeves: With this new property I am very close to downtown and have to drive through downtown. So, not only do I have to get familiar with new traffic patterns I also have to watch out for more pedestrians. And this is where you have to listen to this song while reading the next paragraph (if you can): In the Middle, In the Middle, In the Middle – by They Might Be Giants.

I began noticing the awful practice of crossing a busy, wide street in the middle of the block when I spent a short time living in Memphis with the then fiance EEHO (although she was just the Extroverted One at the time). We would be driving down Union to Idlewild Presbyterian Church (where she and I worked) and these people would be crossing the street at random times and spots along the block. On top of that they were going slow!?! As if daring us to run them over. Well, I am seeing the same thing here in Nashville. It’s not like it’s miles to the next corner to cross appropriately and safely. The corner and a traffic light are right nearby! I feel like I’m playing Frogger but I’m one of the cars and the not-so-smart pedestrian is the not-so-smart frog. I just don’t understand it. Does this happen everywhere? Is it just a southern ‘thang’? I just don’t get it.

My next pet peeve is probably a lot of people’s. The lack of turn signal use which really pushes my buttons. It really is the only thing that makes me yell out loud when I am driving. With this new commute I have been doing I’ve been seeing it more and it drives (ha!) me nuts.

Last, but not least, is rampant cell phone use while driving. I feel like I’m the only one that’s not using the phone. Am I somewhat indaquate that I don’t have conversations to carry on while I’m driving home? Am I not important enough? I just don’t see what is so important that it can’t wait until you get out of your car or before you even get in the car.

Heck, those are the folks that aren’t using turn signals I bet . . .

Sunday Happenin’s

Anyone in the Nashville area that is without a place to worship or want a change of scenery should come to Trinity Presbyterian Church tomorrow.  This is where the Elder Extroverted Holy One will preach at 11:00AM.  I’ll be there even though by then I will have heard it for the fourth or fifth time.  I guess it makes up for all of the unchurchiness I have done in the past.

My lovely bride is so awesome up there preachin’ to the masses!