Oct 4: Addendum to CCH Report: Statement from Rev. Richard Wiedler

 “The heart of justice is compassion.”

-Marcus Borg

Injustice: failing to treat your “neighbor” with love, respect, compassion (see Luke 10: 25ff); not showing hospitality/welcome/love to strangers (Deut.10:19ff-Hebrews 13:1ff) or to a returning brother.(Luke 15:11ff)

“Injustices I Experienced”

Howard Carl in Hospice – Because Howard was a father to me, I had a profound need to visit and say“good bye.” Conference Minister Davis counseled me to call Pastor Miller. I did. She denied my request even though I begged. I was asking for a very small thing. I couldn’t understand WHY she denied my request? I was heart-broken.

Howard’s Funeral – I was in deep grief and needed to be with others who loved Howard as I did. Dr./ Davis instructed me “not to ask permission but simply to go, giving the pastor a head’s-up.” I emailed Pastor Miller but she replied “I want you to be clear that I am not inviting you…” Meaning if I attended, she would file a Boundary Violation against me with the UCC/COM. WHY this hurtful response? I was deeply upset and continue to grieve Howard.

HRM Protocol – This was a complete surprise and horrible assault to my spirit. I told the presenters tha it’s discrimination. It negates ONA and unconditional welcome. This Protocol also negated my vision of one day returning to FCC as a pew-sitter. I was shocked when Phil told me, “Karla wanted to use the UCC/COM to bring this about, but we convinced her it’s easier to do in-house.” What had I done to deserve a life-long ban? Why not include other FCC pastors (Kelly, Rathbun)? Banning pastors violates past FCC/UCC Protocol. WHY?

2020 has been a deeply traumatic year for me, congregants, and I suspect Pastor Miller. Such a tragedy. Such deep individual and communal trauma will require an equally deep, thorough, public, healing process for everyone to come together and for the congregation to move from division to unity, which I desire. Even if invited back, I would not return to FCC without such a healing process. Even though I have emotionally/spiritually let go of FCC, I would like to help and would participate in a healing process if requested.

A good first step might be for Pastor Miller and me to meet/talk assisted by Dr. Cheuk that we might see the humanity in each other. This could potentially lead to a congregational “truth and reconciliation” process.

Richard Weidler