Newsletter # 35- The Church of Spiritual Humanism
August 24, 2016 – Philadelphia www.SpiritualHumanism.org
For me the waning days of summer have always been bitter-sweet. The blaze of August has subsided letting my heat induced lethargy dissipate. But September is on the near horizon and with it returns responsibility. I suppose it is that this is the end of vacation season, and for many it means getting yourself or your kids back to school. We should savor these last few days of summer and enjoy them while we can.
There is an atmosphere of expectation this time of year. Even more so considering this is a Presidential election year and the twilight of the Obama administration. Things are going to change. Inevitably some things will not turn out as we would like, but other opportunities to make the world a better place will appear within our grasp.
These are the openings you need to keep a sharp eye out for. If each of us makes use of the available prospects set before us the positive impact we create will be exponential. It is very important for you spend some time cultivate hope and thinking about how you might create any change that will bear the fruit of public good. In this way we can all be prepared to seize the moment and act decisively when presented with the occasion to be a positive force in the world. https://spiritualhumanism.org/ordination/
IN THE NEWS
Thousands Leave Norwegian Church as Online Registration Backfires 15,035 people have “unsubscribed” from the church since Monday.
by Cara Giaimo August 22, 2016
… they also provided the option to unenroll-which proved far and away the most popular feature. According to the church’s website, the first day the page was up, 10,854 people clicked the let-me-out button. By Friday, that number had climbed to 15,035.
… the church wasn’t surprised by the mass exit. As spokesperson Kristin Gunleiksrud said in a statement, “No one should be a member against his will.”
see full story at see full story at http://www.atlasobscura.com/
EDITOR’S NOTE:
I applaud the Lutheran Church of Norway’s open-minded attitude towards allowing folks to easily leave. Many Christian denominations and other branches of traditional religions make it very difficult or even outright claim that their members can never actually quit. Every person has the inalienable right to break from whichever religion that has been pushed on them, and make an individual spiritual connection to the cosmos. That’s what Spiritual Humanism is all about.
READERS WRITE IN
It’s been years since becoming an Ordained Clergy https://spiritualhumanism.org/ordained/ through the Church of Spiritual Humanism and I just wanted to refresh my memory…am I LEGALLY able to perform a marriage ceremony? I mean, I don’t want anyone getting upset with me because they discover at some point it was not a legally recognized service. Please refresh my memory.
Justin
REPLY
Yes Justin you are ordained for life, (or until you contact us and tell us you no longer want to be a member!). Of course be sure to research the marriage laws in the jurisdiction that the wedding is to take place in. These can vary greatly. If you ever have questions about your ordination status or other religious matters feel free to contact us at info@spiritualhumanism.org.
CONCLUSION
As most of you are aware Clergy Packages are available in our online store http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/shop/ The Ordination Certificates http://spiritualhumanism.org/shop/ocert/ we provide are printed on acid free paper for extra long life, and Clergy Wallet ID Cards are really cool to own. The Officiant’s Manual includes information on celebrating the solstices, sample ceremonies, etc., and the companion CD has marriage laws for all 50 states. The fees charged for these packs are our only income and help defer the cost of the promoting Spiritual Humanism.
RA Zorger
President, The Church of Spiritual Humanism