You can’t keep everyone happy
With all the controversy going on about the article on the infamous "CoH Trio" ("Trio takes on Cathedral," Dallas Voice, March 20), I just wanted to thank Dallas Voice for the nice write-up in the Metro section of the Readers Voice Awards.
I find it ironic that we are hailed as the "Best Place of Worship" by Voice readers in the same issue as the article about the three unhappy men. But hey, I guess that is a classic example of how you can’t keep everyone happy all the time! Thanks again for including us and giving Voice readers a nice bit of CoH history.
Paul W. Taylor, director of communications
Cathedral of Hope UCC
‘Trio’ hurting Body of Christ
I have been a member of the Cathedral of Hope since 2001. I lived through the 2003 schism cited in the Dallas Voice article ("Trio takes on Cathedral," Dallas Voice, March 20). Blake Ashlock’s comment that, "This has nothing to do with the congregation," is yet another illogical statement that attests to the wrong-headed thinking exhibited by these three men in the way they handled their perceived grievances.
In point of fact, spreading rumors and lies about the CoH leadership, and then taking those grievances to the media in attempt to undermine those same church leaders when you don’t get your way does unequivocal harm to the congregation.
Those of us who support CoH looked on in dismay in 2003 as tens of thousands of dollars in church funds were diverted to pay for unnecessary legal and accounting fees to refute illogical and spiteful charges brought by a few disgruntled church members. This did in fact damage the congregation, which is the Body of Christ, and they also damaged the community as a whole by usurping money that could have been used to support the good work for which CoH is known locally and nationally.
If I had concerns about the fitness of church leadership that were not addressed to my satisfaction, I would take my time and my money to another church. To use these resources to mount an ill-thought-out attempt to further damage the church is neither loving nor supporting of the congregation, despite Mr. Ashlock’s contention to the contrary. I commend our board and church leadership for protecting our church home against yet another spiteful attack.
Dallas
‘Trio’ just making things worse
When will it all end ("Trio takes on Cathedral," Dallas Voice, March 20)? While I am sure the three men making these accusations truly believe they are trying to save their church, the only thing they are doing is making things worse — worse for them, for our church leaders, for our church community of faith and our community at large.
I do not doubt their passion for their convictions, but I disagree wholeheartedly with how they are going about this. I am a very faithful member of Cathedral of Hope and quite proud of this. I attend every Sunday, beginning my week with words of inspiration and hope that carry me forth.
Just about every friend I have in my life at this time, I have met at CoH. My story is not different from others in our congregation. I arrived angry and broken, but in time came to see that God does still love me and always has, just as I am. No other church in my years has ever told me this. CoH has always given me hope, fellowship and support. Never was I promised a perfect relationship with God or with anyone for that matter. That is not the world we live in.
One of my favorite moments in church, and I have lots of them, is when I am sitting in my pew after communion. At that moment, I look around the room and see I am part of something greater than myself. I am part of a community that longs to make this world a better place — better than what we had in our own childhoods and better for the children of future generations. We do not strive for this as a lofty goal. We do it now. Today! Isn’t that what we are really trying to do in praising God? I will continue to try, and to do!
Dallas
CoH leaders make good things happen
Say what you wish about the clergy and staff of Cathedral of Hope. But without the drive and vision of the leaders many good things would not happen.
Hundreds of homeless would not be fed every Saturday morning through BACH (Breakfast At Cathedral of Hope). Thousands of area families would not have had meals to celebrate Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving over the past several years. Hundreds, possibly thousands of children would not have Christmas. There are other programs and services that would not exist without those leaders, like the food wall at CoH that has assisted hundreds who are looking for their next meal. Hundreds have benefited from the annual health fairs the church sponsors and many who are suffering and in need of spiritual guidance would have gone without the support of those leaders, who spent countless hours with them.
Say what you wish. But I would put the great deeds of CoH up against any church in the area.
Dallas
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 27, 2009.
How many people that read this magazine actually wake up in time for church…or even gay church for that matter?
Citizen –
come to Cathedral of Hope on Sunday and find out, you will be pleasantly surprised! Hope to see you Sunday. 🙂
The best approach I think to have with people is if you have a grievance, invite them out for a cup of coffee. There you can talk about your feeling that you have. Then you should give the other party time to respond. This is a much better approach then using a public forum and playing the name game.
I find this entire situation extremely sad; however, having said that, I find the actions of Cathedral of Hope absolutely deplorable. To go to the extreme of revoking the membership of these individuals, regardless of what any by-law states, is small ‘c’ christianity.
I would like to point out that the “2003 Controversy” did not ‘prompt the churh to leave its former denomination’ as written in the article. Allow me to remind the audience that Michael Piazza secretly set out on a mission for CoH to leave the MCC denomination years prior to 2003. His action(s) were discovered and were shared with other members of the church – much to their surprise. When contacted by a church member regarding the news, the Rev. Troy Perry, then founder/leader of MCC, knew nothing of Mr. Piazza’s actions and had to fly in to confront Mr. Piazza with the issue. The issue was put to rest – for a time. The reason why Mr. Piazza wanted to leave the MCC denomination came down to a single issue: money.
Mr. Piazza has always been a man of perpetual conflicting actions and words. Why, the 5th paragraph of the article is a perfect example of this: ‘Christ teaches unending, relentless forgiveness, and that’s absolutely what’s got to be extended…However….’ Make no mistake: the actions taken against these 3 men had nothing to do with harming the church and everything to do with Mr. Piazza exacting his revenge and his larger-than-Dallas sized ego. He sized it up nicely when he was quoted as saying, ‘It pushes a lot of those buttons.’ You see, as always, it is about him – not about the church.
Many, many members of CoH know that if you are not among the $uper Giver$ you are nothing to Mr. Piazza. They also know that you do not dare cross or question him because you will be targeted.
I had high hopes for CoH when Jo Hudson came on board. It is clear that she is exactly what Mr. Piazza wanted: a puppet.
– A COH Member
I too think the COH actions are unfortunate. The Reverend Jo Hudson invited questions during services and yet when i emailed a pastor as she asked, I was emailed back with a rather unprofessional response. I also gave a sizable gift for the new peace chapel and i have yet to see anything go up??
I think this church does do good work, but
unfortunately the senior pastors seem too clandestine and don’t have anything to say to me.
I would like to thank SH and person for their comments. I has been very disheartening to hear people tell us that if we didn’t like what the church leadership was doing, we should have just left. I think that the knife cuts both ways. I heard the CoH leadership condemn the Bush Administration for everything they did. Their reasoning suggests that if they didn’t like what Bush was doing, they should have just found another country to live in and not ask questions or comment on anything This is hypocrisy at it’s worst!
In the article, the pastor of CoH said that the church had a “stellar” audit report. Well, so did Enron and AIG; right before they collapsed.
I have attended the CoH since 2005 and have had both positive and negative experiences.
On the plus side, most of my friends and social life grew out of my membership class and small group involvement at the CoH. I had attended another affirming church in the area before the CoH, and found it extremely difficult to break into the GLBT crowd there.
On the negative side, I took the brunt of several people’s anger about my sight-reading ability when I subbed in for someone in the CoH orchestra. When I discussed my feelings about that situation in another small group, I received a lot of dismissive responses like, “you’re doing this for God” or “I think it’s childish to complain.”
What turned out best for me was to withdraw from any activities at the CoH relating to the staging of the worship service (including music) or anything to do with finances. That has allowed me to experience the positives of the CoH without the drama and abrasiveness that others have mentioned.
I hope that, in the future, there is some substantial cultural change at the CoH, where the same spirit of welcoming and compassion displayed to Sunday attendees and the community is also extended to everyone involved with the church, including dissenters.
I find it somewhat comical that a ‘We Support Jo Hudson’ group has started on Facebook. Are some members feeling the need to display such a public outpouring of support for Jo Hudson? If so, why?
There are many members of CoH who continue to support the church and its leadership simply because it is their only social outlet. Fine; but that does not give these members the right to stand behind & support out-and-out lies, deception, untruths, and the expulsion of members who dared to demand answers. For many of these members, Bozo The Clown could be behind the pulpit and it wouldn’t make one bit of difference. These type of people are dangerous in large numbers because they will follow and go with the flow, rally, and cry – simply because everyone else is doing it.
Someone posted on Facebook that The Dallas Voice should be sued for printing a unfavorable article toward CoH. Seriously? You want to take away Freedom of The Press, one of our fundamental Rights, simply because someone actually dared to question what is going on behind the scenes? Is this the kind of mentality we want speaking out in favor of the Church? You want to challenge under the same Rights that gives Americans the Right to worship without persecution? There’s some Christianity for you; or shall I say, small ‘c’ christianity.
As for Politics – I will not hesitate one minute to report CoH to the IRS if they so much as even hint (again) toward throwing support to a politician, and giving that politician the platform to speak. They’ve done this before; but now CoH has set the rules by engaging by-laws to revoke memberships. That knife works both ways. Let’s see how long CoH can survive without its Tax Exempt status.