By: Dan J Frisby

Dan J Frisby — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:08:41 +0000

Thank you Kathy for the enlightenment on the issue of The Board of Church and Society use of assets.

In reflecting upon your incisive article it occurred to me that the original ‘founders’ and ’supporters’ of Southern Methodist University did not intend for their premiere university and seminary to be ‘commandeered’ by a ‘political institute’ and house ‘political’ facilities named after an American President who expounds ‘torture’ upon prisoners of war, but, ……in Texas, it appears, the Gospel of Jesus is not nearly as important
as the wealth of oil magnates who influence our school’s ’shill’ leaders…..
What was it that Jesus said to the ‘rich young ruler’(?)…..
if Jesus had been a Texan it is easy to hear him say,
” Where are you going? Don’t walk away…..Just a minute there, Son, maybe we can work a deal here…”

Respectfully,
Dan J. Frisby

By: Dana Robert

Dana Robert — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:01:05 +0000

The fact is that the temperance money was largely given by women, who could not even vote until 1920. Church women hired the very first lobbyist for Capitol Hill because they were unable to represent themselves, as they could not vote. Church women’s activism was focused on temperance because men could squander family income, but in case of divorce women did not even have custody rights to their own children. In the late 1800s, most political meetings were held in smoke-filled saloons which respectable women could not enter. The takeover of the temperance movement by a general board and agency was yet another chapter in the long history of women’s church movements being co-opted and disassembled through denominational reorganization under the name of “efficiency.” If we go back far enough in the history, we will see it is the women of the United Methodist Church who ought to decide what happens to the building. Women funded the temperance movement, and church women introduced lobbying in the first place. Where is Frances Willard when we need her?–the most famous woman activist of the late 19th century! (Come see her in stained glass at Marsh Chapel, Boston University) Note that the motto of the women’s temperance movement was “do everything.” Alcohol was seen as the root of all social evils that harmed women and children.

Comments on: Church Agency’s Future Awaits Legal Ruling

By: Dan J Frisby

By: Dana Robert