I’ve just returned from a two week holiday in the USA and had a fabulous time – sun, swimming and bird watching in Florida, then visiting friends in Pennsylvania. They live not far from the home of American chocolate – the Hershey’s factory. The founder, Milton Hershey and his wife Catherine set up a school in 1909 to home and educate orphan boys. The school exists today and still focuses on children from poor and deprived backgrounds.
Some of you will know that the Milton Hershey School has hit the headlines for refusing to admit a teenage boy who is HIV+. There is concern that if the boy becomes sexually active, he will be a danger to other pupils.
Imagine what this public statement will have done to that
boy and all the other children and teenagers like him.
Milton and Catherine Hershey founded their school from a
great desire to do good – prompted no doubt by their Christian upbringing. It is profoundly sad that Christian care and compassion has not been extended to this teenager.
This Sunday, we reflect on our bedrock belief that:
Church should be a safe home for all people. We
welcome diversity and believe it brings strength. We believe that ministry is open to everyone and through it, people develop their gifts.
It may seem so obvious that church should a home
for all, that we may might wonder why we even need to state it. However, every day, there is someone, like the boy who has been rejected from the Milton Hershey School, who thinks that there is no place for them.
Every month, hundreds of people visit our website. Every
week I receive comments from people who have read what we believe in, what we value, what our mission is. We are needed; we are each called to make a difference.
I invite you to keep all those affected by HIV in your prayers this week.
God bless,
Cecilia
Some of you will know that the Milton Hershey School has hit the headlines for refusing to admit a teenage boy who is HIV+. There is concern that if the boy becomes sexually active, he will be a danger to other pupils.
Imagine what this public statement will have done to that
boy and all the other children and teenagers like him.
Milton and Catherine Hershey founded their school from a
great desire to do good – prompted no doubt by their Christian upbringing. It is profoundly sad that Christian care and compassion has not been extended to this teenager.
This Sunday, we reflect on our bedrock belief that:
Church should be a safe home for all people. We
welcome diversity and believe it brings strength. We believe that ministry is open to everyone and through it, people develop their gifts.
It may seem so obvious that church should a home
for all, that we may might wonder why we even need to state it. However, every day, there is someone, like the boy who has been rejected from the Milton Hershey School, who thinks that there is no place for them.
Every month, hundreds of people visit our website. Every
week I receive comments from people who have read what we believe in, what we value, what our mission is. We are needed; we are each called to make a difference.
I invite you to keep all those affected by HIV in your prayers this week.
God bless,
Cecilia
RSS Feed