1 /5 Robert Rister: Not the church for me. Probably not the church for you.
I moved to Temple six months ago. Within the first week, I was in ICU for infection that the doctors thought had gone to bone. Since then, it takes me 90 miunutes or so just to get dressed in the morning.
But I resolved I would start going to church. Unfortunately, this is where I decided to start going to church.
The first week I didnt get in at all (for a Wednesday Bible class) because the door was locked and nobody answered the buzzer. So $40 on Uber down the drain.
But I tried again, and the next time they let me in. I go to the class. I anwere a question about St. Dominic in the service after the class. The rector invites me to a class luncheon at the end of the month.
I was looking forward to it. I havent eaten a meal with anyone since I got to Temple. That same week I had tests for pancreatic cancer. I share this with the rector and the deacon. No reaction at all.
Then the week for the lunch roles around. Two things happen. It was clear that others in the class were going to lunch, and I was not part of the club. And the deacon pulls me aside on the way to the noonday service and tells me I am not "white enough" to participate in a class on race relations to which I had been asked to come.
Later, the deacon tried to gaslight me on the lunch invitation but pancreatic cancer and having a slave in your famiy tree apparently arent issues with this church.
If you are a part of the frozen chosen of this church, you might like it. Or not. I do wish they were some denomination Im not, like Snootyterian. Thesee are awfull sad excuses for Christians, but maybe church is where they are supposed to be. They dont want me there.
