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Ship of Fools: Memorial Service for Senator John McCain, North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Ariz

The Mystery WorshipperThe Mystery Worshipper Shipmate
edited August 2018 in The Mystery Worshipper

imageShip of Fools: Memorial Service for Senator John McCain, North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

A very moving farewell tribute to Arizona's beloved 'maverick senator'

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here


Comments

  • MIkeMIke Shipmate Posts: 5
    Just another homophobic church. sigh.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Er...in what way?

    Homophobia wasn't mentioned in the MW Report, and I'm sure Miss Amanda would have Taken Them Up On It if she'd felt the need....

    At least Senator McCain had the guts to spit in Trump's orange face by specifically instructing that he be not invited...!

    BTW, you may of course be correct in what you say. ISTM that, from reading numerous MW Reports, the US of A is rife with homophobic churches, many of them the big, 'family-oriented', mega-churches of denominations whose name is Legion.

    IJ
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    Mike, I do find your comment objectionable for the very reasons Bishops Finger stated. Homophobia, or the church's alleged stand thereon, was not mentioned in the report. Nor can I glean anything from their website that would indicate their views on the subject.

    I attended a service there once before and did not sense that they were anti-gay.

    Of course, if you know differently, enquiring minds want to know, e.g. "My partner and I attended a service there once, and as we approached the Lord's Table for communion we were almost tarred and feathered" or "An elder came up to us and told us that it would be best if we left quietly."

    Absent such evidence, I would prefer not to see comments such as yours attached to a report.

    Amanda B. Reckondwyth
    Lead Editor, Mystery Worship
  • MIkeMIke Shipmate Posts: 5
    Easy to find on their website if you look for it. Under About, Our beliefs, Family, it clearly says," The family is ordained by God. Marriage is the covenant commitment of one man and one woman "

    That is homophobic. My family and I would not be welcomed there.
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    You don't know that until you've attended a service, introduced yourselves to the clergy, and made clear your beliefs. "Get thee behind me, Satan!" is one thing, whereas "Well, we don't feel that way here, but we're still glad you've come to worship with us and you are welcome to stay" is something quite different.

    But don't get me wrong. Welcome or not, I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to stay.

    At any rate, the subject of this report is the memorial service for Senator John McCain, not the beliefs subscribed to by the church. The pastor gave opening remarks, said a prayer, and then gave concluding remarks, but otherwise the church itself and its staff played no part in any of it. North Phoenix Baptist Church is one of the area's largest churches, and although it's true that Senator McCain's family are members of the congregation, I wouldn't be surprised if it was chosen for the memorial service because of the large number of people it could accommodate.

    So as I said above, I would prefer to see comments about the service refer to the service itself, not to other matters that had nothing to do with it.
  • ClimacusClimacus Shipmate
    I too will remember the anecdote about Christmas Eve in a prisoner of war camp for some time. Thank you Miss Amanda.
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    The speaker went on to say that the prisoners were permitted a few minutes to sing carols together, and that during the singing of "Silent Night" McCain reflected that it had indeed been a "holy night" despite his plight. The speaker concluded his talk by looking at McCain's coffin and saying, "Sleep in heavenly peace, John." I could barely resist crying.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited September 2018
    O wow.

    That really is something.

    Humming Beans really are capable of the most despicable, and the most sublime, things - all at the same time, sometimes, IYSWIM.

    As someone who has had a brain tumour - nowhere near as malign as McCain's, thanks be to God - I do feel a sort of kindred wossname, despite my political views being (probably) diametrically opposed to his.

    Please, peeps, do as our dear Miss Amanda says, and comment on the service you have actually (or perhaps virtually) attended.

    IJ
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