"By Whose Values"

Players

DELIGHT (BARBARA): Good Morning and welcome to "Talk of Volusia" from WUUC. This is Delight Bruehl, your host. Our guests today are Roberta Mitchell, the newly called minister to Growing Church in Port Orange; Michael Smith, a milk delivery man in DeLand; Jeffrey Thompson, a linesman for Southern Bell; and Madeline Baker, a student and basketball player at Beach High School in Daytona Beach. Each of our guests is a member of Growing Church. They have agreed to talk with us today to illustrate one example of the way a church can grow. When we talk about growth, we usually think about growth in numbers. Today Roberta, Michael, Jeffrey and Madeline will help us demonstrate another way to measure growth by the spiritual maturity of its members.

Each of our four guests is on a spiritual path. Roberta follows the Path of Unity; Michael follows the Path of Devotion; Jeffrey follows the Path of Works and Madeline follows the Path of Harmony. All members of Growing Church believe something slightly different about God. Some dont believe in God. Some do. Those that dont have different reasons for believing what they do, and those who do have different reasons for believing what they do. Therefore, Growing Church doesn't have a creed. They tried to have a creed back in the 19th century, and it took almost fifty years of debate before they dropped the whole idea. Today they have a set of seven principles guides to behavior, rather than a statement of belief. Those of you who are listening to our broadcast with your program guides in front of you will note that the principles are printed on the inside front cover. Our focus for this program will be the second principle. "As members of Growing Church we covenant to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations." Also, another listening aid is a chart we prepared and have distributed over the last three weeks. If you have never seen this chart and would like to see one, please raise your hand. By the miracle of super telecommunication we will discern your raised hand and transport a copy of the chart to you. We ask that only those new to our program raise their hands. The rest of you can dig your charts out of the garbage can, or the desk, or the drawer of your night stand. Its time now to talk with our guests. Lets first talk with Roberta Mitchell, as I mentioned, the newly called minister of Growing Church in Port Orange. Good morning Reverend Mitchell.

ROBERTA (BETSY): Good morning, Delight. Thank you for inviting me to be on your program.

DELIGHT: Rev. Mitchell, I understand that you've only recently arrived in Port Orange from Nova Scotia. Is that right?

ROBERTA: Yes, That's right. I'm having difficulty adjusting to your climate. Right now in Nova Scotia its very cold. Your weather seems tropical by comparison.

DELIGHT: Rev. Mitchell, I wonder if you would tell me what spiritual path you follow.

ROBERTA: Delight, please call me Roberta. Now, you ask me about my spiritual path. I am a follower of the Path of Unity.

DELIGHT: Rev. Mitchell, I mean Roberta, can you tell me a story about how you honor the second principle of Growing Church. What issues of justice, equity and compassion have you encountered this week?

ROBERTA: Let me tell you about an incident in my life which I think will illustrate how I walk my path. I read in the paper a week ago last Friday that an author, Bettye Collier- Thomas would be signing copies of her new book at Bethune-Cookman College. The book is titled Daughters of Thunder, Black Women Preachers and Their Sermons, 1850-1979. I was thrilled to read about this event. As a woman minister I am always interested to read about those women
who helped make it possible for me to be a minister. You know, it wasn't until the 19th century that any woman was ordained. The first white woman was ordained in 1853 and the first black woman was ordained in 1895. I had never heard of Dr. Collier-Thomas before, but I had a hunch her book would be terrific. I decided Id like to meet her and see her book. Also, I was wanted to visit Bethune-Cookman College. As I have only recently arrived in Port Orange, I had not yet been there. Now, the next part I want to tell you is a little embarrassing. As I drove through Bethune Village, a public housing project, on my way to the college I found myself feeling superior. I found myself thinking how lucky Dr. Collier-Thomas was that I had read that little, tiny squib in the paper and that I was taking the time to come look at her book and perhaps buy a copy. Now I wasn't proud of my feelings, but That's my confession. As the fates would have it, I was the one to feel lucky. Not only was Dr. Collier-Thomas a warm, inviting and encouraging person, so were all the other scholars I met in the first ten minutes I was in the room. And all of these people were women, all of them were African Americans, and all of them were PhDs! I realized then that I still have work to do to rearrange my thinking in order to work our second principle. I also decided to go to the anti-racism workshop were having at our church in March. I think it will help me.

DELIGHT: What workshop is that?

ROBERTA: The workshop is titled "Creating A Jubilee World"; it will be held March 13th and 14th at our church.

DELIGHT: Where can our listeners get more information about the workshop.

ROBERTA: If they will phone or fax Charley Barcelo, 767-4189 hell gladly respond.

DELIGHT: That number again?

ROBERTA: 767-4189.

DELIGHT: Well, thank you Rev. Mitchell. We appreciate your very personal and honest testimony to the difficulty of living the second principle of Growing Church. Our next guest is Michael Smith, a milkman in DeLand. Michael, I Didn't think there was such a thing as a milkman anymore.

MICHAEL (GORDON): Well, Delight, there isn't. We are milk truck drivers, and we are both men and women. Although I admit it takes a mighty strong woman to heft full racks of fill milk bottles.

DELIGHT: And mighty strong men, too, no doubt. Michael, you follow the Path of Devotion. What exactly does that mean?

MICHAEL: Its hard for me to talk about. I'm better at doing it.

DELIGHT: Can you give me an example of how you live the second principle of Growing Church, Michael?

MICHAEL: Well I can tell you about something that happened to me the other day. I've been having trouble with my heart. My doctor told me he wanted me to go up to the Nuclear Medicine department of one of your big hospitals over there in East Volusia, and take some special tests. I Didn't want to do it. I'm afraid that Ill have to quit my job because of my heart, and I like my job. Well, my wife and I drove over to your side of the county and went to the hospital and we were
told to sit in this very boring small room with five chairs in it. And they Didn't tell us how long wed have to wait there. There were no windows, nothing to look at. The longer we had to wait, the more anxious I got, both because I was worried and because I had nothing to do. And then the door burst open and this guy and a woman, I guess his wife, came in. Now Lottie and me That's my wife, Lottie we were like little mice in the corner of the barn compared to this guy. He was like a bull, not mean or anything, just big and taking up a lot of space, a lot of space. He and his wife were laughing and talking with each other like they were on their way to a party. And then he started trying to talk to Lottie and me. Now, if there's anything I dont like to do when I'm waiting for God knows what kind of a heart test, its talk to strangers. But this guy was persistent. "Why are you here?" he asked. Trying to give as little information as possible, I mumbled something about my heart. Well, even that little bit was like a feast for him. He looked so happy and pleased. "Why, I Didn't know they did that here!" he exclaimed, and then a big smile spread over his face and he told me how glad he was to hear that they were doing this for the heart. I just grunted in response, and started counting the flecks of brown in the floor tiles. But something had happened in that room. I could feel it. Lottie could feel it, too, I know. So I changed my position in the chair, leaning back instead of hunched over, and he started asking me questions. I found myself telling him all sorts of personal stuff. He laughed a lot. Not at me, but with me, like he knew how difficult it was to put up with the medical establishment. Finally, I asked him why he was there. He told me he had cancer. He told me easy, like the way he walked into the room, without hesitation. I told me the cancer was metastasizing all over his body. He said he had come to let the "machine" tell him how far things had advanced. I couldnt believe my ears. I took a really good look at this man. I noticed his big, watery eyes, and his brown shoes and his gray slacks and his wash and wear shirt that must have been thirty years old, and I thought, "This guy is down to basics!" He started talking again, "Cancer has not been all bad. We have two sons. It has given us time. I could not have gone before. Its all ready now." When he said that last part, I noticed the loving expression on his wifes face. So you ask me how I live with justice, equity and compassion in my life. I squirm at the injustice that I get to have my heart looked at by a fancy machine and a child who needs an ear infection looked at doesn't get it looked at because her family is so poor they cant afford to leave work half a day or more to take her to the doctor and they don't have any money to pay the doctor anyways, and she goes deaf. I feel proud that our dairy pays men and women the same pay for the same work. Its one of the reasons why I love my job. I like working for an employer who treats people fairly. And as for compassion, well I have a ways to go on that one. At least expressing it. My latest teacher wears brown shoes and gray slacks, has watery eyes, a big smile and a hearty laugh. He came to reassure Lottie and me that we can bear anything. Maybe he is one of Gods angels. That's about all I have to say, Delight.

DELIGHT: Michael, That's a lot. I hope everything turns out ok for you and Lottie. Thanks for being with us on "Talk of Volusia". Our next guest is Jeffrey Thompson, a linesman for Southern Bell. Good morning, Jeffrey or is it Jeff?

JEFFREY (MARK): Jeff is fine. Good morning to you, too, Delight.

DELIGHT: I'm told that you follow the Path of Works, Jeff. What is it like to follow this path?

JEFFREY: You know, a lot of people can have experiences like Reverend Mitchell and Michael did, which help them understand their spiritual path better. I guess I'm not different. But instead of just an experience, I have to have work to do.

DELIGHT: What kind of work?

JEFFREY: Well, my whole family goes to Growing Church, and my daughter is active in our youth program. We have a really terrific youth program. These kids have started an Amnesty International community chapter, not just a student chapter, but a community chapter. I'm not entirely clear about the difference, but I know part of their job is to involve and educate the larger east Volusia County community.

DELIGHT: How does what your daughter does connect with your path?

JEFFREY: Well, this community chapter has taken on a very complex issue. Instead of just trying to get one political prisoner released, they're going to try to improve conditions in the Kigali prison in Rwanda. I'm sure you've heard all about the tragic circumstances in Rwanda and genocide. First it was Hutu extremists attacking and slaughtering Tutsi civilians in various regions. Later the Hutu extremists killed moderate Hutus as well, especially if they chose not to take part in the genocide or who tried to stop the genocide. It was a bloodbath. In three months one third of the entire Tutsi population in the world had been slaughtered. After the genocide, more than half of the entire Hutu population either went into exile, fearing retaliation, or were internally displaced in the border areas. Tens of thousands of these refugees died. New fighting broke out, as refugee Hutus attacked indigenous Tutsi in Zaire. That's how war started in Zaire in early 1997.

DELIGHT: Jeff, how will your daugher's youth group be involved in trying to change the tragic situation in Rwanda and how does it help you follow the Path of Works?

JEFFREY: Delight, thanks for helping me get back on track. I'm just so glad to have the handouts that Amnesty has provided. They help me to have a better understanding of what has happened in Rwanda in post-colonial era. What I really want to talk about is Kigali prison, because That's where my daughters Amnesty chapter is going to focus their attention. There are all kinds of people in Kigali prison. Some are murderers. Some have been accused of being murderers for various reasons, some personal and some political, but are really victims. And they are just warehoused there in the most inhuman conditions men and women AND children. No justice is being meted out. The situation is very inequitable victims and murders all have the same gruesome experience. And there seems to be no compassion by any government which could have a positive influence on the situation. My daughter and her friends will be advocating for humane and just conditions in the Kigali prison. In order to be informed advocates, they will study the history and present situation. I'm very proud that
they have undertaken this project.

DELIGHT: And what about you, Jeff. How does this project help you follow the Path of Works.

JEFFREY: There I go again. I just work all the time, Delight telling people the story of the Kigali prison, encouraging them to come to Amnesty meetings. We have another one next Tuesday night. You could come if you wanted to, Delight. Six o'clock to see a great video on the Rwandan situation, seven o'clock for the meeting.

DELIGHT: And what has this to do with the second principle?

JEFFREY: This group is affirming and promoting justice, equity and compassion in this very human and difficult situation in Africa. I'm just riding on their coat tails. As my daughter learns, I will be learning, too. Didn't Jesus say, "a child shall lead them" Well, my daughter is leading me, I'm proud to say. You should have had her on your program instead of me.

DELIGHT: Well, it sounds as if you are a good student, Jeff. Good luck to you and your daughter in your efforts. Our final guest this morning is Madeline Baker, a member of the Beach High School basketball team which recently played in the state semifinals in Lakeland. How was that experience, Madeline?

MADELINE (MIMI): Really exciting. We Didn't get to play on the court until we went in to warm up. We were blown away by how big the place was. We've never played anywhere like that before!

DELIGHT: How did you do?

MADELINE: We lost. We were just overwhelmed by the other team.

DELIGHT: I understand even your star player, Stephanie Stephenapolus couldn't hit her stride.

MADELINE: That's right, Delight. Usually she makes 50% of her field goal shots. Thursday night only 32% of her attempts scored.

DELIGHT: How did you feel when Stephanie joined the team? I understand she played for a small private school before this year. Were you glad to have her join the team, or did you have some misgivings?

MADELINE: Well, at first I was angry that Beach High School would recruit this big star to play on our team. In fact, it was one of our players who is her friend who recruited her. Were a brand new team. Our school only opened a few years ago. All of our starters are seniors this year, but when we started the team, we didn't have any seniors. We were sophomores and juniors playing against seasoned players and we got slaughtered.

DELIGHT: Are you saying that Stephanie helped make it possible for your team to be the first Volusia County girls basketball team to go to the semi finals in fourteen years?

MADELINE: Stephanie was part of the reason. Another part is that we have a really good coach who doesn't give up. And another part is like I said, our starters were all seniors this year. They were smarter, and stronger, and more seasoned this year.

DELIGHT: I want to ask you how this situation challenged you as a member of Growing Church to honor your second principle.

MADELINE: I've given that some thought, Delight. At first I Didn't think it was just or equitable at all for Stephanie to join our team. And then I got to thinking about how its a free country, and as a resident of Volusia County she had just as much a right to go to Beach as I did. And then I began to see deeper into the situation. She's a really good player. If she had continued at her old school, there's no way she would have gone to the semi-finals. But because she did switch schools and she did go to the semi-finals, she has a chance now for a basketball scholarship.

DELIGHT: And how does that possibility fit with the second principle?

MADELINE: You know what, I feel happy for her that she might get a basketball scholarship. I guess that's compassion isn't it?

DELIGHT: Id definitely say so. And it sounds as if you are definitely following the Path of Harmony, viewing the world in positive terms. What about your future Madeline?

MADELINE: Well, I wasn't a starter this season, and I have another year to go at Beach before I graduate. Now that We've played on that big Lakeland court, we know what That's all about. So now I'm going to train really hard so I can have a chance to be a starter next year. Who knows, I might even break Stephanie's season average of scoring 20% of her field goal attempts. I'm sure going to try.

DELIGHT: We wish you well, Madeline. Thanks for joining us today. And that about wraps it up. We've been talking with members of Growing Church in Daytona Beach about their commitment to affirm and promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations. This is your host, Delight Bruehl speaking to you from WUUC. Good morning.

POSTSCRIPT What's real and what isn't: "Talk of Volusia" modeled after "Talk of the Nation", a mid-day public radio program Delight modeled after Ray Suarez, the host of "Talk of the Nation" Roberta Betsy Johnson character real -- me
incident she described real, happened to me Bettye Collier-Thomas -- real Daughter of Thunder real (hold up) Creating a Jubilee World -- real Charley -- real Michael Gordon Hart character not real incident he described real happened to Marv Hiles, editor of the Daybook Ê Jeffrey Mark Lane character -- fictitious Amnesty project very real wonderful youth group very real situation in Rwanda and Kigali prison very real Madeline Mimi Ghosh character fictitious\ Beach High School
really Atlantic situation real Atlantic was the first girls basketball team to go to state semi-finals in 14 years, thanks to new starting player with Greek name