First Presbyterian Provides a Safe Harbor for All
Despite a recent split in the congregation, the historic church has stuck to its all-inclusive beliefs.
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Ginny Ellis understands that a church congregation, like any other segment of society, is going to experience differences in opinions that cause people to make tough decisions.
But Ellis, head pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Safety Harbor, believes that sticking by your principles is more important than bowing to pressure or abandoning your beliefs.
That’s how the downtown church, which was founded in 1918, has survived a recent split in the congregation that stemmed from the inclusion of people of all races and nationalities, regardless of sexual orientation.
“We’re smaller now because the church split a few years ago because some members were against our policy of openness,” said Ellis, who came to the church two years ago.
“I see Jesus as accepting of all people. I don’t see any other way to do ministry.”
The history of the Presbyterian religion has always been inclusive, according to Ellis. She says Presbyterians have always been forward thinkers, avid readers and people who were in tune with the situations of the times.
But like all religions and society in general, the church has been grappling with issues of sexuality and acceptance, among other polarizing topics, in recent years.
She also believes it's important to deal with such issues in a way that doesn’t compromise your core beliefs.
“The reality is the Presbyterian Church, like many others, is struggling with issues of sexuality,” she says. “A year and a half ago, our denomination decided to remove restrictions for gays to be ordained. So it affected us here in Safety Harbor.”
While Ellis, who was brought in in part to help the church recover from the split, says many members did leave, she also says many others have come to join the church.
And even though the congregation might be smaller because of the split, those who remained and those who have joined since have made the church stronger thanks to their solidarity.
“It’s a struggle to be in the position,” Ellis admits. “In my lifetime, the world has dealt with divorce, integration, roles of women in the community, the way children are treated, birth control ... all of these issues have made us think about how we live.”
“But this church has a rich history ... and this is a great community for a Presbyterian Church,” she adds. “We are now a safe harbor for all people on life’s journey.”
What do you think of the church's policy of inclusion? Post a comment below.
Owen Linder, MD FACP
8:04 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Safety Harbor has lacked a local forum for opinions since the Tropical Breeze closed. I look forward to seeing local issues aired in an open and nonjudgemental ethos.
The issue of gays in the Presbyterian Church is by itself a micro issue. The larger issue is one for a reporter to cover. For instance how gay friendly is Safety Harbor? What does it do for HIV positive persons?
That will probably take more than one reporter's three phone calls to cover.
Perhaps the problems with the diverse commercial papers which litter the corners of convenience stores is that their relative scarcity of advertising prevents them from being strong enough to cover issues city wide. Can Patch do better?
So far after belonging one week I see a dilettante's nougat fest not a real voice nor forum. What is the purpose of Patch? Does it have a goal?
Can I expect to see exposure of political cronyism, neighborhood fascism ,insanity, public decency, or is this a feel good rag like the remaining others? What is your goal?
Jeffrey Rosenfield
12:28 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Dr. Linder, thank you so much for commenting and sharing your thoughts. In answer to your question, the purpose of Safety Harbor Patch is to provide coverage of all the news and events that affect the citizens in town. We are not here to do in depth investigative reporting or exposes on cronyism or fascism. We are non-judgmental and we try to cover a wide variety of topics; in doing so we will report stories that deal with such issues. I would love to meet with you and hear your thoughts about the issues you feel are affecting the town. Thanks again for your support.
Michael Rusch
10:08 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
This church will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the first church that welcomed me and my family when we first moved to these United States. (That's right... I was not born in the USA, but I am indeed a proud American BY CHOICE). Pastor Frank Preston was the pastor those days. Truly a superior man. I performed my first 50 shows in front of people at this church. I got married in this church. My brother Roy got married there as well. I laid sod all around that church. Mary and I planted plants all around the church grounds, many times. I watched the fellowship hall get build, and helped paint it, several times. Had many family dinners there. I climbed that freaky oak tree 1000 times. I ushered there. I could go on. This church has always welcomed me. Has always helped the community. Has always been a treasure.
PS
...and Dr. Linder has always been a bit grumpy and/or testy, although I do believe him to be a fine upstanding man.
PPS
... LOVE the Patch!
Jeffrey Rosenfield
12:28 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Thanks for the information, Michael!
Gary Moos
3:07 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
I'm not a big believer in organized religion but I'm a huge believer in love and it sounds like this church knows that love is all encompassing. Thank you for being the kind of organized religion that those like me do not see as being hypocritical. We applaud you.
Jeffrey Rosenfield
7:11 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Well said Gary.
Kel Redmon
8:35 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
As just another gay man, having grown up in the church, I understand the dynamics of hiding my true identity, and what it feels like to be treated as different and under suspicion by those who I'd been taught to respect. God loves each and all of us, just the way he created us. It has taken me years to understand this fully, along my journey's way, with the Golden Rule to hold as standard. Most important though, is my position in this silent revolution, in terms of my journey. Most households know a gay member, a loved one they would not want harmed emotionally or otherwise. This fact has gradually helped us all to rise above what is otherwise damaging to our combined goals as a community. Praise God for this process! We can all learn to be better as part of our life's experience, rising above escape goat-isms such as racism and bigotry. Every one of us has something special to bring to God's table.
Dan Pressler
11:36 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Kel - to love some one & not wish any harm come to them is FAR FAR different from endorsing their lifestyles. Yes God does love each of us - but he condemns ALL sin & Leviticus is unequivocal about homosexual behavior being sinful. Sinful tendencies are our burdens to carry & temptations to defeat with His help & His forgiveness when we fail.
Ginny Simmons Ellis
2:53 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Dan doesn't speak for me or for the church I serve. Jesus ate with tax collectors. He shared his theology and even his identity with a Samaritan woman of low repute (three strikes against her: woman, Samaritan, living with a man she wasn't married to). Clearly Jesus did not withhold himself, his presence or his truth from those his religious community had come to call sinful. I believe Jesus welcomes all people and so do I. So do we.
Dan Pressler
10:00 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Ginny - No Jesus did not withhold his presence from sinners - He said a doctor does not minister to the well but the sick. However He did say "Go & sin no more" (see also the adulteress). Leviticus is clear about homosexual activity - any man who lies with a man as with a woman is an abomination. His truth is that all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God on their own merits but that thru the Grace & Mercy of our Savior We are forgiven. Further Paul says "Does this mean that we should go & sin all the more that grace may abound?" & he answers his own question with "no". Anyone who has homosexual tendencies & continues to act on them is continuing to sin. Jesus will forgive them as his mercy & boundless but He will continually tell them go & sin no more.
Gary Moos
10:10 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Dan - Leviticus is also unequivocal about who may be bought or sold as slaves. Leviticus is also unequivocal about adulterers being put to death, but that having sex with a slave is OK unless she is promised to another.
I find it completely disingenuous for people to reference only the parts of the bible that make their case, and ignore the parts that make them look hypocritical. I don't claim to know what god wants, but I'm pretty sure that cherry picking from the bible is it.
Gary Moos
10:12 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
but I'm pretty sure that cherry picking from the bible is NOT it.
Dan Pressler
11:09 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Cherry picking is not on Gods list of what to do - but everyone is missing my point: We may forgive what God declares wrong but we should not condone it. Neither does he prohibit us from showing mercy by NOT stoning people & by NOT selling anyone in to slavery - just as He has shown His mercy by not condemning we who believe, yet still sin, to hell. We are forgiven but we still sin. He would prefer we do not sin. I am not saying we should condemn homosexuals (sinners) just homosexual (sinful) activities.
Harborite
8:45 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
The facts are that Jesus never once condemned homosexuality. We have 4 Gospels filled with all of Jesus' moral teachings. If Jesus had a problem with homosexuality, then I'm sure he would have stated that it was morally wrong. Just using the Old Testament's Book of Leviticus to condemn homosexuality shows a moral misunderstanding of Jesus' teachings. His teachings focused on love and acceptance, not on the ancient Old Testament rules and laws. Jesus never condemned gays and I think that you and others need to follow Jesus' example.
Gary Moos
11:46 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
I think you are missing my point. Gods message is beyond any of us to comprehend. Saying that he does not prohibit us from showing mercy by not selling someone into slavery or not stoning someone to death misses the point that those acts are condoned and not condemned.
All any of us can do is our best not to hurt others, and to love the best we can. But if you say the bible is the last word and the only word, and the exact word then you have to ask yourself which translation. And which books count and which don't. We know there are texts that are left out of some versions of the bible. And many of the texts of the new testament were first written well after Jesus's death. And for most if not all of the texts we have no proof that they were actualy written by the purported authors. So to claim that you know the word of god and another does not is, well, in my opinion, arrogant and blasphemous. I'm pretty sure that we are not going to agree, and not going to sway one another. This truly comes down to faith. And I have faith that the men who wrote the words in both the old and the new testaments did the best they could. But alas they are men, and bound to make mistakes. Your faith, I assume tells you differently.
Susan Willett Coughlin
3:49 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
I have found this discourse to be very interesting. I am an elder and the Faith Community Nurse (a project sponsored locally by Baycare Health Systems) at First Presbyterian Church of SH. As a lifelong Presbyterian, my belief system is that man (ALL men and women ) deserves to be cared for and loved unequivocally and without judgement. My parishioners and other healthcare consumers with whom I come in contact with as an advanced practice RN know that I practice totally unprejudiced physical, mental-psychological and spiritual loving medicine to all.
A a follower of God and His Son, Jesus, what else could I be or do?