[JosephM]

If you do not plan on participating by at least introducing yourself and posting now and then. please remain an unregistered guest and you will still have privileges of using most of our post databases for your study or research. However, you will no longer be able to access our member profiles or post unless you are willing to participate now and then. Registered guests without any posts in a reasonable time viewing profiles will be considered Lurkers and deleted from those privileges.

Our members profiles are for participating members only.
Thanks for your understanding...

IMPORTANT ---- If you are having problems validating please PM me. (Instructions below)

ATTN those with AOL email addresses. You will have to provide us with an alternate email address to register so we can reach you to validate communications. AOL, at this time treats validation emails as unsolicited spam.

I usually check multiple times each day for new members awaiting validation.
Please insure you have given us your correct email as we use it for automatic email validation confirmation by sending out a validation code to the email you registered and after you return the validation code you will be placed on hold for a cursory admin check for approval of your account for full privileges. The Process should not take longer than 2 day if you check your emails regularly. If you need a user validation email resent contact me by PM . Many AOL users seem to fail to get their validating emails. I send them out at least twice. PLEASE be sure to check you are not blocking mail from our domain @TCPC.org

PM Instructions --- Log on with the user name and password that you registered with even though you haven't yet been approved by admin. (you have temporary PM validation privileges with the name and password you set up) and come back to this message. Click on my name 'JosephM' above my Avatar at the top left of this post for a drop down box and then click on 'Send Message'. This will take you to your personal messenger addressed to me.

Alternate method ---
Log in as above and Go to the bottom of the main Message Board page where it says Board Statistics and click on the words 'The moderating team'. When the list comes up Click on the PM button to the far right of my name (JosephM) which will bring you to your personal messenger screen. You can PM me from there. I will get back with you as soon as possible. Since I am at this time the most active user with full Moderator and some admin privileges I suggest you always PM me before trying to PM another administrator.

Looking forward to your participation on this board.

Love in Christ,
JosephM (Moderator/admin2)

PS AGAIN .... Please insure you are not blocking our email validation with your email filter. You must have a valid email address that we can send your admin validation key to so we can complete your enrollment. Please insure you are allowing messages that come from @tcpc.org

[JosephM]

THIS IS OUR MISSION AND PUBLIC STATEMENT ABOUT US. Note point 4 that ALL are welcome including Agnostics and those of different orientations. Also note that point 5 is more concerned with how we behave toward one another than what we say we believe. Please at all times be courteous to other members and treat them as you would expect to be treated with respect and sensitivity to differing beliefs.

The mission of The Center for Progressive Christianity is:

» To reach out to those for whom organized religion has proved ineffectual, irrelevant, or repressive, as well as to those who have given up on or are unacquainted with it.

» To uphold evangelism as an agent of justice and peace.

» To give a strong voice both in the churches and the public arena to the advocates of progressive Christianity .

» To support those who embrace the search, not certainty.

About Us: The 8 Points

By calling ourselves progressive, we mean we are Christians who...

1. Have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus.

2. Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us.

3. Understand the sharing of bread and wine in Jesus's name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God's feast for all peoples.

4. Invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable (including but not limited to):
believers and agnostics,
conventional Christians and questioning skeptics,
women and men,
those of all sexual orientations and gender identities,
those of all races and cultures,
those of all classes and abilities,
those who hope for a better world and those who have lost hope

5. Know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe.

6. Find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty - more value in questioning than in absolutes.

7. Form ourselves into communities dedicated to equipping one another for the work we feel called to do: striving for peace and justice among all people, protecting and restoring the integrity of all God's creation, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers.

8. Recognize that being followers of Jesus is costly, and entails selfless love, conscientious resistance to evil, and renunciation of privilege.

[JosephM]

To All,

I think it would be fair to say here, that TCPC supports the journey of all who come here, and at the same time, leaves the transformation process of ones journey in the hands of God, Absolute Reality, our source, All that Is, no Name or whatever name a member here would apply.

Agreement or disagreement is never required of one. No one has to become like one of us to be acceptable. If someones post speaks to you, that is good. If not, that is also good. Perhaps you have something to add that will speak to others or that they can consider. Yet in all cases, behavior speaks louder than words. I repeat, we are not here to convert people, or require them to agree with a posted view regardless of any credentials one might have.

Our mission is primarily one of outreach and support (full mission can be read here) Lets be supportive of others right to decide for themselves what they shall believe while demonstrating by our behavior and respect that love for one another is always a top priority. Views as long as they are respectful of others will never get you warnings, suspensions, or banned from this site as long as I am moderator and have agreement by those who service I am under as a team member. On the other hand, insults, personal demeaning remarks, name calling, putting down others with differing views as somehow less intelligent, and in general being disrespectful of others will bring on all of the above. Everyone can make a mistake but, please try to recognize any you may make and apologize while it is yet day so I need not get involved.

I realize other sites may be more tolerant of behavior than I have been here. However, I am not trying to be other sites. Many here have written and indicated they are in support of my moderation and some even thanked me for bringing things to their attention. Some are not happy with me and have not been afraid to say so. I accept their right to be as such. My actions may not always be in line with what some may believe is 'right'. I accept that as their legitimate view and to me, they are welcome here as much as I am. Yet it is important to remember I have a responsibility to fulfill and must be guided by our mission and 8 points of TCPC as i am led. Please try to work with me to keep discipline to a minimum and try not to take it too personal if you are cautioned in any of your posts. There is always growth possible for all of us where choices are presented.

Joseph (Moderator/Admin2)