Rev Dr Michael Blair

[BetteTheRed]

Upon the retirement of Nora Sanders, the new-ish General Secretary of General Council is Rev Dr Michael Blair. He spoke at our anniversary service (61 years) today.

Born in Jamaica, raised in the Anglican Church, emigrated to Canada at 20 with his family, ordained in the Baptist Church, kicked out of the Baptist church when he came out as gay, so another welcome refugee from anti-LGBTQ bias.

Really engaging speaker. Based his sermon on a Jeremiah text, called it "Yes, And" (versus using the "but" word), very uplifting, very encouraging.

Anyone else met him? Great choice for General Secretary in my opinion.

 

[Mrs.Anteater]

I met him years ago in Tatamagouche. Yes, I would say, he was the highlight of the whole course.

 

[BetteTheRed]

I reflected how much the UCCan has benefited from its early Affirming stance. We have, collectively, been the grateful recipients of much "brain-drain" from the wider Christian church. It has also, paradoxically (and fortunately, in my opinion, strangely enough) been responsible for injecting/retaining an element of orthodoxy that we might otherwise be missing. (People who have been disenfranchised by one denom of the church, yet cling to their faith, tend to have less amorphous feelings of faith than others.)

 

[Luce NDs]

I reflected how much the UCCan has benefited from its early Affirming stance. We have, collectively, been the grateful recipients of much "brain-drain" from the wider Christian church. It has also, paradoxically (and fortunately, in my opinion, strangely enough) been responsible for injecting/retaining an element of orthodoxy that we might otherwise be missing. (People who have been disenfranchised by one denom of the church, yet cling to their faith, tend to have less amorphous feelings of faith than others.)

Amorphous; like immaterial creeping us as essence? That parallel world as beside us? Often unseen as we block lines of communion and communication in desire for individuation and anonymity ... wood nymph s tuff ... there's a myth inere!

 

[Delightful Life]

Upon the retirement of Nora Sanders, the new-ish General Secretary of General Council is Rev Dr Michael Blair. He spoke at our anniversary service (61 years) today.

Born in Jamaica, raised in the Anglican Church, emigrated to Canada at 20 with his family, ordained in the Baptist Church, kicked out of the Baptist church when he came out as gay, so another welcome refugee from anti-LGBTQ bias.

Really engaging speaker. Based his sermon on a Jeremiah text, called it "Yes, And" (versus using the "but" word), very uplifting, very encouraging.

Anyone else met him? Great choice for General Secretary in my opinion.

"Yes, And?"

Ah HA!

I see someone else is using it

Such a wonderful concept

Good for what ails ya


Even activism :3


Or Politics!


Yes, And!
(Which is why I prefer Chloe Valdary's Theory of Enchantment rather than the Orthodox version of Intersectionality...more fun as well)
Fie to No, but!

I'm glad to hear it is catching

@BetteTheRed
Do you know if his talk is available to read or hear anywhere?
I would like to experience it

 

[Delightful Life]

"I love to help people expand their imagination”

"In order to change somebody’s behavior, you have to change their imagination.”

I like this guy :3

I'm biased--imagination has always been a BIG part of my reality

 

[Carolla]

@Delightful Life - I think this is the recording of the service. An interview with Michael starts at about 22 min mark - he's talking about his childhood & early life in church; I think his address may come later.

I've not met Michael, but I have heard him speak on a few occasions - always interesting & thouoght provoking - especially on issues of anti-racism & LGBTQ issues.

 

[Delightful Life]

@Delightful Life - I think this is the recording of the service. An interview with Michael starts at about 22 min mark - he's talking about his childhood & early life in church; I think his address may come later.

I've not met Michael, but I have heard him speak on a few occasions - always interesting & thouoght provoking - especially on issues of anti-racism & LGBTQ issues.

Tytyty HUG!!!

I got those two quotes of his from a Christian response to Racism talk to the Henri Nouwen org

(Man is that Rev so pretty)

 

[Delightful Life]

"We are called to live fully in this time of uncertainty"

Wow
What a speaker :3 Good rhythm.
I enjoyed it a lot.

With people like him, that Church must be very popular

 

[Waterfall]

@Delightful Life - I think this is the recording of the service. An interview with Michael starts at about 22 min mark - he's talking about his childhood & early life in church; I think his address may come later.

I've not met Michael, but I have heard him speak on a few occasions - always interesting & thouoght provoking - especially on issues of anti-racism & LGBTQ issues.

Thanks for that...I enjoyed the service very much.