Ok, here's a scenario that actually happened that really got me incredibly angry not long ago and I would love to hear your thoughts. As some of you know, I manage a volunteer services department for a pretty large non-profit that serves homeless men and women in NYC. It gives me a great opportunity to meet so many diverse people of all ages, races, orientations and belief systems. It's a pretty great gig if you ask me!
Anyway, I had met with a young, newly married couple who had recently moved from the west coast. They were nothing but lovely, attentive during the entire orientation and wanted to stay behind to ask even further questions. While chatting, they revealed that they had moved to NYC with other members of their Born Again Christian church, in hopes of "bringing the word of God" to those of us they felt needed it. They didn't get into who those people were and frankly, it didn't bother me in the slightest. I did explain, however, that our organization was completely secular because we have to respect the wishes, needs and religious leanings of our client base. We want to meet the needs of everyone and not a select few. Plus, from a therapeutic standpoint, we are very strict about establishing boundaries with our clients to insure the success of their participation in our programs. That said, I also mentioned that any kind of prosletyzing was not just discouraged, but it was not allowed in any way, shape or form by staff or volunteers at any time. I should mention that I wasn't gruff or nasty when telling them this, I was just very matter-of-fact.
They asked if they could bring along literature and speak to our clients if any client asked them for it. I turned the question around and asked them how a client was going to ask them if they didn't bring it up? I also asked if that was their primary intent in volunteering with us and they readily admitted that yes, that was what they hoped. I then explained that I knew several other volunteer managers at other organizations that were indeed religiously affiliated, particularly of the Christian faith, and that they would love to have them. They insisted they were interested in working with us.
I took them at their word and put them both to work. A few days later, I was making my rounds of the programs throughout the city, and I stopped by to see them (and other volunteers) to see how all was going. The two of them were in the midst of what I perceived as an intense conversation with a few of our clients and sure enough, it was prayer followed by the distribution of leaflets inviting them to their church.
I was pretty dumb founded and down right angry. Let me say that I am not adverse to prayer at all. I think you guys know that by now. But what galled me was that they disregarded the rules that had been established and still used this "volunteer" opportunity to spread their leaflets, etc... That said, I pulled them aside, reiterated what I had said when first meeting and explained that I couldn't allow them back to volunteer any longer. They apologized and assured me it was just that one instance. They seemed so genuine, I decided to give them another opportunity but I asked the Program Manager at that particular site to call me if she noticed anything amiss.
By the time I got back to the office, there was a message and, you guessed it, they were at it again. I called them and asked that they come down to the office and told them they weren't welcome back.
Sorry for the LONG story but I wanted to make sure I got the full essence of what they did and my actions.
Flame me if you must. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
, church and God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have always been in my life, from childhood, my teen years, through college and into adulthood. However, because questioning is in my nature, I did question the existence of all of the above from time to time. That questioning did lead me to stop going to church but it never stopped me from my faith and belief. I guess, by those definitions described on this thread by some very patient DIS'ers, I have accepted Jesus into my life. Nevertheless, because of the "gay thing" (sorry to bring it back to that), I still have a feeling that there are a lot of you, if not most, that think that I'm going to burn for all eternity. But I don't feel that way at all.
I was very thankful to leave with all my fingers. LOL
