Hello,
I am looking around this forum for one reason only, basically. To see if there's any discussion here of Swedenborgian theology. Haven't found it yet.
I am an ordained minister in that denomination. However, I got fired when I apparently took it all too seriously. Long story.
Today I am not so sure if I'd still call myself a Swedenborgian. Just like the bible his books have been twisted out of recognition.
I joined the Swedenborgian New Church organization as an innocent new member, a seeker for truth. I was welcomed with open arms. The old folks shared their stories with me, what people had done, what ministers had said, why someone had left, or died.
When I expressed an interest in the priesthood, older ministers began to share their own stories. This time from the inside of the organization. I was after all a new soldier, carrying the hope of the future. In the theological seminary we were instructed how to interpret doctrine. The old ladies of Bryn Athyn gossiped about neighbors. College students talked about growing up here. In a men’s group I witnessed tales of in-family pain and abuse, shared in confidence. I sat in on board meetings and heard about land deals, donations, and powerful families that had their own agenda for the church. From the bishop we got the background on hirings and firings, divorces, rogue ministers who had not toed the party line. We listened to, but did not believe, reports from African congregations. There was the occasional suicide.
I got ordained and sent to Sweden. Now I had insight into the paperwork, the contracts, the long term plans. I had the keys to the doors and the passwords to the computers. I got copies of the financial records. My job required it. In the library I read ancient New Church magazines with some very strangely slanted articles in Swedish or Norwegian. Photos of men in uniforms.
I collected it all. This would make a good book some day, I thought.
Well, I got kicked out and that's all water under the bridge now. I did write the book, though, and have recently published it. It's called 'Ordained - a novel.'
Originally I was looking for people who had an attitude of searching, of wanting to understand and enact and apply. I was fooled. Of course.
My website is: https://muires.wordpress.com/
What else should I say by way of introduction? :wave2:
Oh and I hope that searching the forum will be enabled for me at some point. How do I add a signature?
I am looking around this forum for one reason only, basically. To see if there's any discussion here of Swedenborgian theology. Haven't found it yet.
I am an ordained minister in that denomination. However, I got fired when I apparently took it all too seriously. Long story.
Today I am not so sure if I'd still call myself a Swedenborgian. Just like the bible his books have been twisted out of recognition.
I joined the Swedenborgian New Church organization as an innocent new member, a seeker for truth. I was welcomed with open arms. The old folks shared their stories with me, what people had done, what ministers had said, why someone had left, or died.
When I expressed an interest in the priesthood, older ministers began to share their own stories. This time from the inside of the organization. I was after all a new soldier, carrying the hope of the future. In the theological seminary we were instructed how to interpret doctrine. The old ladies of Bryn Athyn gossiped about neighbors. College students talked about growing up here. In a men’s group I witnessed tales of in-family pain and abuse, shared in confidence. I sat in on board meetings and heard about land deals, donations, and powerful families that had their own agenda for the church. From the bishop we got the background on hirings and firings, divorces, rogue ministers who had not toed the party line. We listened to, but did not believe, reports from African congregations. There was the occasional suicide.
I got ordained and sent to Sweden. Now I had insight into the paperwork, the contracts, the long term plans. I had the keys to the doors and the passwords to the computers. I got copies of the financial records. My job required it. In the library I read ancient New Church magazines with some very strangely slanted articles in Swedish or Norwegian. Photos of men in uniforms.
I collected it all. This would make a good book some day, I thought.
Well, I got kicked out and that's all water under the bridge now. I did write the book, though, and have recently published it. It's called 'Ordained - a novel.'
Originally I was looking for people who had an attitude of searching, of wanting to understand and enact and apply. I was fooled. Of course.
My website is: https://muires.wordpress.com/
What else should I say by way of introduction? :wave2:
Oh and I hope that searching the forum will be enabled for me at some point. How do I add a signature?
