Hello,
This is a blog for Countryside Community Church members in Omaha, NE, in regards to the tri-faith project possibility. Many people have felt that the process as presented by the Tri Faith Committee and the pastors has been extremely one-sided. There have been very few options for anyone to bring up topics which haven’t appeared on the agenda of that committee. This has been followed by almost no option to dispute the material being fed to us. The opportunity to seriously discuss any other possibilities but the singular decision to move/sell all of Countryside’s assets to a new location has not been allowed.
There are many facts which have been ignored. Many questions which have not been answered, and some questions which were even guffawed at when asked. Many accusations and assumptions made without any truths to back them up. The leadership has presented us with only two options and have colored them with completely different boxes of crayons. This blog is meant to be a place for people to express their thoughts that may be different. It is meant to be a place for questions. And hopefully some answers. I hope that many people who have been spoon-fed information from the leadership with exactly what they want you to know, will look afresh from a different perspective. Our leaders have plenty of places to express their opinions (and what they see as facts) without anyone questioning them. Countryside has multitudes of smart thinking people with history galore and tons of new ideas and this is a place to question and express these thoughts. .
Just as the leadership has had complete control over what they tell us, the owner of this blog (ACountrysider) will have complete control over what is published. I welcome all opinions and questions and facts. Please do not bother posting if your intent is to criticize a singular person. I won’t publish your post. Criticizing the process that has been allowed to occur is acceptable but hating on people is not.
If you choose to post a stand-alone letter, you may email it directly to me at ACountrysider@gmail.com. I will post it on its own and others may choose to comment on it. Or, you may choose to comment on someone else’s post. You will be asked to type your email address. However, your email address will not be posted on the blog. It will stay private. You will also be prompted to type your name. You may use your given name, or you may post using an anonymous nickname or username. The name you choose will show on your post.
Regarding my decision to post anonymous input: this tri-faith “opportunity” has been a very difficult pill to swallow for so many. And the presentation by the leadership immediately put those not in favor of the idea in a negative light. It has not been pleasant or popular to think it a better idea to stay where we are and whole-heartedly support the other world’s peaceful religions as we have always done. Questioning the leadership’s intent to move us has been tantamount to defying God’s one and only call. It hasn’t been simply a difference of opinion to want to stay where we are. Those in that camp have been made to feel like backwards thinkers, cruel sinners stuck in the past. Many people who have contacted our leadership about their opinions have been brushed off. So it has not been easy to stand up against a move to the Tri-faith campus. Because of that, some people have adjusted their pledges and/or just quit coming. In an effort to allow a forum to express opinions without being called names from the pulpit, I have decided to allow posting under anonymous names.
So, check the blog as often as you like. Postings will occur as often as people are moved to participate. Pass along this email freely. Maybe it will awaken a sleeping giant.
God is still speaking,
A. Countrysider
acountrysider 
Thank you. I feel you speak for SO MANY of us.
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HI-
I am certainly pleased that someone is taking comments. I have been wondering with the vote coming up where those against the proposal have been. Unfortunately I was out of town for the bylaws change vote (it failed) and will be out of town for the 4/12 vote (a planned for a year family vacation). I have thought a lot about the situation and wondered if no one would stand up. The Selma celebration drove home the feeling of disenfranchisement. Stock owners vote absentee, political voters vote absentee, certainly a vote of such magnitude for the church should have absentee voting!
The whole process has been one sided and opponents have been ignored or denigrated. I wrote the enclosed letter but received no response from anyone at the church. The plan for the existing building is in the booklet but those of us who want to stay don’t feel the existing church needs over $5 million of work. A study supported by the trustees within the last 3 years has repairs being made and the kitchen remodeled for $1.3 million…a much more palatable amount than $25 million. And who will pay for the yearly upkeep once the new church is built? After all, our attendance is down and pledging is difficult. After more that 30 years of membership I remember holidays when folding chairs filled the narthex…when was the last time we saw that?!
Many people are afraid of not being “PC” and I have even been told that I wouldn’t have problems with the other religions if I would just go and find out about them…my Jewish friends find that humorous; they didn’t realize I was a bigot as implied by many in favor of moving.
Feel free to edit and remove names but you are welcome to use my name. I feel like the story that ends “and when they came for me there was no one remaining to speak up for me.” We need to speak up, put our names in the open and not be afraid that we are known.
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Well said. To acountrysider, thank you for putting together this blog. I am so glad to see that more people than I knew about are questioning the sense of a Tri faith move. You did a wonderful job of this. We needed a place to expound and talk about our frustrations.
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