Adult Christian Education Opportunities: “Can we live without cars?”
Pastor/author, G. Travis Norvell, in the July issue of Christian Century magazine teaches us that if we fail to take time to exercise our muscles for moral discernment, we are apt to overlook important parts of our discipleship journeys, in this case, that our use of various modes of transportation can be ‘‘expressions of beloved community!” In his review of two recent books that explore this topic, he realizes that “the one unspoken requirement for church membership is driving!” I bet few of us would have guessed that! He notes that “church life is almost always dependent on car ownership or at least being able to operate a car.” He then asks us a critical question of moral understanding, “What if church life was planned instead around the one third of people who are nondrivers rather than the two-thirds who are? What if at least one nondriver was asked to be a part of every church board or governing body? What if, before every church decision, the question was asked, ‘How will this impact the nondrivers in our community?’” Thoughtful reflection and discussion of critical issues such as this one, ones that are reflections of whether we are faithfully responding to the critical challenges of climate change, including normal, everyday behaviors like driving our cars, need to be happening! Do we realize that even what seem small acts can actually be big signs of transformation in our thinking that bring these needs to people’s active consideration and eventual improvement?
Over the last two Sunday coffee gatherings, a short introduction to our fall study of the Social Principle relating to Creation in Crisis was handed out. It asks three short questions, one of which, we want to hear your responses to, in a brief sentence or two! We still await these and want to share them with others in a coming bulletin insert! Let’s not wait any longer to get our social ethics in gear and revved up to make beloved community here at FUMCWA newly and amazingly enlivened!! Who is stirred up and wants to see those two books, one about “The Fifteen Minute City,” and the other about what happens when “driving is not an option?” And, for your delight and enjoyment this summer, without the need of a car, you can continue to at tend Tom Bolton’s series of videos and displays all about the Holy Land and its sacred sites!