Peter Batarseh+ was deacon-in-training at our church, St. Philip’s Episcopal in Donelson, TN a couple of years ago. He is solidly orthodox and has a zeal for outreach and evangelism. I have no doubt we will continue to watch CGS’s growth in numbers and ministry. Way to go 2nd Peter! (his nickname from our rector at the time also being named Peter 🙂 )
It you wish to see the very paradigm of TEC pablum-English, read his description of the church’s purpose. This is puffy, pretentious American at its most vapid and politically correct. WE can guess only too well just how far left this parish will be. Larry
Regardless of how orthodox or leftist this particular new church may be (time will tell), it’s safe to say that vigorous church planting is essential for any diocese or group of churches that wishes to grow and reach more people for Christ. That’s one reason why I’m enthusiastic about the CCP and the Network. These groups have committed themselves to becoming Christian communities where “disciples make disciples and churches plant churches.” And though the initial efforts have been relativly slow in getting off the ground, with the visionary and capable Fr. Tom Herrick leading the church planting efforts, I think the future prospects for church planting in the CCP are bright.
As Fuller Seminary’s former church growth guru, Peter Wagner aptly said on many occasions, “It’s easier to have babies than to raise the dead, and a lot more fun!”
But to paraphrase the Master: “The harvest is plentiful, but the church planters are few…”
#1 looks to me like the growth leveled off after 2003
#2 & #3 so is 2nd Peter a lefty or a righty?
#5 on the other hand, Jesus never delivered any babies, but he did raise the dead. It is harder to do, but would it not be a sign of the power of God?
Bishop Herlong was an energetic planter of churches, averaging almost one a year while he was in office. This church is to a large extent a replacement for one which failed for reasons unrelated to anything except purely local issues and some simple bad luck. The rest have been largely successful, in a couple of cases so successful at spreading the gospel that they departed TEC, either partly or as a whole. Bishop Bauerschidt is continuing both traditions of planting and departures.
The Tennessean writer’s article was written/edited to a mere 5 paragraphs or so, not much to judge by, but here are Batarseh+’s own words:
[blockquote]Good Samaritan is the Episcopal Middle Tennessee Diocese’s 50th congregation, said the church’s pastor, the Rev. Peter Batarseh, a recently commissioned priest.
“Our clergy and congregations display a vigilant commitment to our primary purpose of reaching through conflict that divides and connecting, valued person to valued person, in order to make a relevant and lasting contribution to each place we have a worshiping community gathered,” Batarseh said.
The church name was chosen intentionally to describe its mission, he said.
“Everywhere you see the name Church of the Good Samaritan, you will see four words: aware (of the needs around us), prepared (to meet those needs), willing (to do whatever it takes), serving (for the common good). This is the recurring theme of the church’s common life together and will continue to shape the future,” Batarseh said.[/blockquote]
You will find the church’s website here: http://www.beagoodsamaritan.com/home.htm
Some quotes from the website:
[blockquote]Christ will be the head of this church! Each person in this church are front line ministers who serve Christ in one another and in the world. The bishop of the diocese is the chief pastor to the churches in Middle Tennessee. The priest of the church is the lead servant and supporter of each minister, serving so that each reaches God’s full purpose and potential for their lives.[/blockquote]
[blockquote]What are the simple essentials of living that will bring us fulfillment and joy in this life and the next? A religious attorney asked Jesus a similar question, “What must we do to gain eternal life?”
In typical fashion, Jesus tossed the question back into the attorney’s court for an answer, and then confirmed his was correct, Jesus tells him, “You should love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. And you should love your neighbor as yourself.”….
Our first step toward healing and wholeness is to Love God with All that we have and All that we are.
We are then called to Love the Person that we happen to be interacting with at any given moment for THEY are our neighbor.[/blockquote]
Larry and Eugene, Peter Batarseh is anything but “far left” either politically or theologically. Politically, just my speculative and educated guess, centrist. Theologically, no question about it, “righty” in the best sense. No, not British, actually a Lebanese. If you want to hear first-hand rather than stereotype him from a distance, why not e-mail him yourself? From the church website: church@goodsamaritan-tn.org
The Diocese of Tennessee is actually [url=http://12.0.101.92/reports/PR_ChartsDemo/exports/ParishRPT_4142008114759AM.pdf]growing[/url].
Peter Batarseh+ was deacon-in-training at our church, St. Philip’s Episcopal in Donelson, TN a couple of years ago. He is solidly orthodox and has a zeal for outreach and evangelism. I have no doubt we will continue to watch CGS’s growth in numbers and ministry. Way to go 2nd Peter! (his nickname from our rector at the time also being named Peter 🙂 )
It you wish to see the very paradigm of TEC pablum-English, read his description of the church’s purpose. This is puffy, pretentious American at its most vapid and politically correct. WE can guess only too well just how far left this parish will be. Larry
So Peter Batarseh+ is solidly orthodox (#2) and “far left (#3). Sounds like an English Evangelical to me! May God bless the work in Tenn.
Regardless of how orthodox or leftist this particular new church may be (time will tell), it’s safe to say that vigorous church planting is essential for any diocese or group of churches that wishes to grow and reach more people for Christ. That’s one reason why I’m enthusiastic about the CCP and the Network. These groups have committed themselves to becoming Christian communities where “disciples make disciples and churches plant churches.” And though the initial efforts have been relativly slow in getting off the ground, with the visionary and capable Fr. Tom Herrick leading the church planting efforts, I think the future prospects for church planting in the CCP are bright.
As Fuller Seminary’s former church growth guru, Peter Wagner aptly said on many occasions, “It’s easier to have babies than to raise the dead, and a lot more fun!”
But to paraphrase the Master: “The harvest is plentiful, but the church planters are few…”
David Handy+
#1 looks to me like the growth leveled off after 2003
#2 & #3 so is 2nd Peter a lefty or a righty?
#5 on the other hand, Jesus never delivered any babies, but he did raise the dead. It is harder to do, but would it not be a sign of the power of God?
Bishop Herlong was an energetic planter of churches, averaging almost one a year while he was in office. This church is to a large extent a replacement for one which failed for reasons unrelated to anything except purely local issues and some simple bad luck. The rest have been largely successful, in a couple of cases so successful at spreading the gospel that they departed TEC, either partly or as a whole. Bishop Bauerschidt is continuing both traditions of planting and departures.
The Tennessean writer’s article was written/edited to a mere 5 paragraphs or so, not much to judge by, but here are Batarseh+’s own words:
[blockquote]Good Samaritan is the Episcopal Middle Tennessee Diocese’s 50th congregation, said the church’s pastor, the Rev. Peter Batarseh, a recently commissioned priest.
“Our clergy and congregations display a vigilant commitment to our primary purpose of reaching through conflict that divides and connecting, valued person to valued person, in order to make a relevant and lasting contribution to each place we have a worshiping community gathered,” Batarseh said.
The church name was chosen intentionally to describe its mission, he said.
“Everywhere you see the name Church of the Good Samaritan, you will see four words: aware (of the needs around us), prepared (to meet those needs), willing (to do whatever it takes), serving (for the common good). This is the recurring theme of the church’s common life together and will continue to shape the future,” Batarseh said.[/blockquote]
You will find the church’s website here:
http://www.beagoodsamaritan.com/home.htm
Some quotes from the website:
[blockquote]Christ will be the head of this church! Each person in this church are front line ministers who serve Christ in one another and in the world. The bishop of the diocese is the chief pastor to the churches in Middle Tennessee. The priest of the church is the lead servant and supporter of each minister, serving so that each reaches God’s full purpose and potential for their lives.[/blockquote]
[blockquote]What are the simple essentials of living that will bring us fulfillment and joy in this life and the next? A religious attorney asked Jesus a similar question, “What must we do to gain eternal life?”
In typical fashion, Jesus tossed the question back into the attorney’s court for an answer, and then confirmed his was correct, Jesus tells him, “You should love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. And you should love your neighbor as yourself.”….
Our first step toward healing and wholeness is to Love God with All that we have and All that we are.
We are then called to Love the Person that we happen to be interacting with at any given moment for THEY are our neighbor.[/blockquote]
Larry and Eugene, Peter Batarseh is anything but “far left” either politically or theologically. Politically, just my speculative and educated guess, centrist. Theologically, no question about it, “righty” in the best sense. No, not British, actually a Lebanese. If you want to hear first-hand rather than stereotype him from a distance, why not e-mail him yourself? From the church website:
church@goodsamaritan-tn.org