The only place we can count on not changing is the church! Right?

      Not if we want to be open and welcoming of ALL people, that is.

      Because, in the end, which is more important: to spread the Good News of God's salvation to all people, regardless of their norms, or to maintain a culture we want to keep against all changes that are happening in the world?

      This doesn't mean allowing unsafe and destructive behavior. We need to set boundaries that ensure that we can provide that message of Good News to everyone. And as much as that new clothing style or the shoes the acolyte is wearing may be distracting you, they AREN'T keeping the Gospel from being proclaimed.

      Bishop Franklin said at his annual visitation Sunday that the church MUST do everything possible to reach the next generations, in order for there to be a future for the church. What this may mean is relaxing our expectations of how everyone dresses, including the acolytes, the ushers, and the choir members. They represent us, and if a visitor's first impression is that they must be dressed in a suit to fit in here, and they don't own a suit, they may not come back.

      We have to keep calling ourselves to a faithful reality check. In the long run, in that person's relationship with God (and hopefully with the Church), does what they are wearing really matter?

                                                ~ Madre Liz