Comments on: Tent City 4 will return in January http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/11/24/tent-city-4-will-return-in-january/ The Issaquah Press Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:33:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Issaquah Press receives more than 25 journalism, service honors : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds in Issaquah, WA http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/11/24/tent-city-4-will-return-in-january/comment-page-1/#comment-102357 The Issaquah Press receives more than 25 journalism, service honors : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds in Issaquah, WA Sat, 02 Oct 2010 13:01:54 +0000 http://www.issaquahpress.com/?p=15692#comment-102357 [...] paper documented the camp from the relocation announcement in November 2009 to the day residents settled at Community Church of Issaquah in January until Tent [...] [...] paper documented the camp from the relocation announcement in November 2009 to the day residents settled at Community Church of Issaquah in January until Tent [...]

]]> By: Dick Birdsall http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/11/24/tent-city-4-will-return-in-january/comment-page-1/#comment-32213 Dick Birdsall Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:24:34 +0000 http://www.issaquahpress.com/?p=15692#comment-32213 I want to thank you for bringing this issue to our attention so that we might have a better understanding of the policies of TC4. I am the interim minister at the Community Church of Issaquah. The policies are actually established by TC4, not by the church. TC4 does not allow the use of alcohol or drugs, and as I understand it, does not accept anyone who has an outstanding warrant. So there are many guidlines that they have chosen to keep their community safe and secure. Sex offenders are included, but not exclusivly. TC4 has restrictions that seem to work for them. I agree sex offenders are people too and there are programs that offer help to people who are living with that kind of stigma. If TC4 allowed sex offenders or dropped some of the other policies, I cannot think of one community that would give them a permit and it would mean the the homeless program of TC4 would cease to exist. I am under the impression that sex offenders cannot live within a certain distance of schools etc. We have a Co-op preschool on our premisies and the Catholic church across the street houses an elementary school as well. TC4 also has to be concerned about those who live close to their encampment, and try to overcome the stigma often associated with homless people. I want to be clear about our stance, everyone is welcome in our church, we are all just trying the best we can to get through this life and we are all novices at it. It is not my role as a minister to stand in judgement on any person, I strive to live out a life of compassion, forgiveness, grace and love, Sometimes I don't do it very well so I do plead guilty to being a hypocrite. I do not always live up to my expectiations, I know I can do better but like eveyone else from time to time something comes along that hooks me and I fail miserably. Like most people, I can talk a better life than I can live. But the church does not have a corner on hypocracy, it permiates our society. We do not pretend to be perfect or claim that we are, we do stive to be followers of Jesus and try, and sometiemss fail, to live out our mission but we keep on working at it. We all need compassion and forgiveness, we all need acceptance and understanding. I also realize that some people have been damaged by the church, but not all churches are the same, we all need forgiveness. I am willing to sit down with anyone so that we might have a better understanding of isssues. I would do that if we could meet as human beings trying to gain understanding, but if you want to meet as adversaries trying to win an argument, I am not interested. What would Jesus do? That is not an easy question to answer. Different churches and different christian people would give you a variety of answers. Somehwere in that answer you would find the words acceptance, grace, love, compassion and forgiveness. Thanks again for brining this isssue to our attention. Rev. Dick Birdsall, pastor at Community Church of Issaquah I want to thank you for bringing this issue to our attention so that we might have a better understanding of the policies of TC4. I am the interim minister at the Community Church of Issaquah. The policies are actually established by TC4, not by the church. TC4 does not allow the use of alcohol or drugs, and as I understand it, does not accept anyone who has an outstanding warrant. So there are many guidlines that they have chosen to keep their community safe and secure. Sex offenders are included, but not exclusivly. TC4 has restrictions that seem to work for them. I agree sex offenders are people too and there are programs that offer help to people who are living with that kind of stigma. If TC4 allowed sex offenders or dropped some of the other policies, I cannot think of one community that would give them a permit and it would mean the the homeless program of TC4 would cease to exist. I am under the impression that sex offenders cannot live within a certain distance of schools etc. We have a Co-op preschool on our premisies and the Catholic church across the street houses an elementary school as well. TC4 also has to be concerned about those who live close to their encampment, and try to overcome the stigma often associated with homless people.

I want to be clear about our stance, everyone is welcome in our church, we are all just trying the best we can to get through this life and we are all novices at it. It is not my role as a minister to stand in judgement on any person, I strive to live out a life of compassion, forgiveness, grace and love, Sometimes I don’t do it very well so I do plead guilty to being a hypocrite. I do not always live up to my expectiations, I know I can do better but like eveyone else from time to time something comes along that hooks me and I fail miserably. Like most people, I can talk a better life than I can live. But the church does not have a corner on hypocracy, it permiates our society. We do not pretend to be perfect or claim that we are, we do stive to be followers of Jesus and try, and sometiemss fail, to live out our mission but we keep on working at it. We all need compassion and forgiveness, we all need acceptance and understanding. I also realize that some people have been damaged by the church, but not all churches are the same, we all need forgiveness.

I am willing to sit down with anyone so that we might have a better understanding of isssues. I would do that if we could meet as human beings trying to gain understanding, but if you want to meet as adversaries trying to win an argument, I am not interested. What would Jesus do? That is not an easy question to answer. Different churches and different christian people would give you a variety of answers. Somehwere in that answer you would find the words acceptance, grace, love, compassion and forgiveness.

Thanks again for brining this isssue to our attention. Rev. Dick Birdsall, pastor at Community Church of Issaquah

]]> By: Konner Smith http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/11/24/tent-city-4-will-return-in-january/comment-page-1/#comment-29302 Konner Smith Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:11:17 +0000 http://www.issaquahpress.com/?p=15692#comment-29302 The premise here is to ensure the communities that are welcoming these homeless camps into their neighborhoods that these people are not going to negatively impact their neighborhoods. There is most certainly a negative sterotype that surrounds homeless people in general and I think this is a very smart approach to change people's views and also get them involved in helping some of these people get back on their feel. In addition to that, I think people have a right to be concerned about their own safely and above all the safety of their children. The rules associated with sex offenders are put there for a reason and statistics show that most are repeat offenders. And as Christians we believe that only God is a perfect being. It is human to have prejudices against those who are different than us. And if you were to claim you didn't, just by your statement of "i hate Christians in general" you would be calling yourself out. Don't try to ruin other people's goodwill and kindness towards others. I can assure you that if you were in this position, you would be more than happy to have someone show the same compassion towards you...Christian or not. In closing, I would encourage you to get involved and maybe volunteer in working with some of these groups that need help...maybe something to do with sex offenders since you seem to be concerned that they are being overlooked. Once you do, I think all of us would be happy to hear your comments about how you feel about helping others. But if the only thing you have time for is to knock other people down for trying to do something good...how are you not a hypocrite? The premise here is to ensure the communities that are welcoming these homeless camps into their neighborhoods that these people are not going to negatively impact their neighborhoods. There is most certainly a negative sterotype that surrounds homeless people in general and I think this is a very smart approach to change people’s views and also get them involved in helping some of these people get back on their feel.
In addition to that, I think people have a right to be concerned about their own safely and above all the safety of their children. The rules associated with sex offenders are put there for a reason and statistics show that most are repeat offenders.
And as Christians we believe that only God is a perfect being. It is human to have prejudices against those who are different than us. And if you were to claim you didn’t, just by your statement of “i hate Christians in general” you would be calling yourself out.
Don’t try to ruin other people’s goodwill and kindness towards others. I can assure you that if you were in this position, you would be more than happy to have someone show the same compassion towards you…Christian or not.
In closing, I would encourage you to get involved and maybe volunteer in working with some of these groups that need help…maybe something to do with sex offenders since you seem to be concerned that they are being overlooked. Once you do, I think all of us would be happy to hear your comments about how you feel about helping others. But if the only thing you have time for is to knock other people down for trying to do something good…how are you not a hypocrite?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/11/24/tent-city-4-will-return-in-january/comment-page-1/#comment-29292 Anonymous Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:18:44 +0000 http://www.issaquahpress.com/?p=15692#comment-29292 The Issaquah Cooperative Preschool is housed on the campus of the Community Church of Issaquah, and runs almost daily throughout the stay of Tent City. How could they not run sex offender and background checks with preschoolers on site? While I understand that people are trying to get on with their lives, I don't believe that sex offenders should be welcomed to a place where children could be in danger. That would be irresponsible and naive of community and religious leaders. The Issaquah Cooperative Preschool is housed on the campus of the Community Church of Issaquah, and runs almost daily throughout the stay of Tent City. How could they not run sex offender and background checks with preschoolers on site? While I understand that people are trying to get on with their lives, I don’t believe that sex offenders should be welcomed to a place where children could be in danger. That would be irresponsible and naive of community and religious leaders.

]]> By: Ron Carter http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/11/24/tent-city-4-will-return-in-january/comment-page-1/#comment-28527 Ron Carter Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:45:13 +0000 http://www.issaquahpress.com/?p=15692#comment-28527 I agree with the previous. What a bunch of hypocrites. You are part of the reason I hate christians in general. I agree with the previous. What a bunch of hypocrites. You are part of the reason I hate christians in general.

]]> By: Sex Offender Issues http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/11/24/tent-city-4-will-return-in-january/comment-page-1/#comment-28500 Sex Offender Issues Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:51:00 +0000 http://www.issaquahpress.com/?p=15692#comment-28500 http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com And I noticed you do sex offender and warrant checks. I have just one question, "What would Jesus do?" You claim to be a church ministry, yet I do not think Jesus would turn ANYBODY a way. A majority of sex offenders are trying everything in their power to get on with their lives, yet society continually knocks them back down again, and I find it appauling that a "Church Ministry" is also doing this. I thank it's wonderful to help people in need, but sex offenders are people as well. So, are you a true religious person, or a hypocrite? I think the latter. http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com

And I noticed you do sex offender and warrant checks.

I have just one question, “What would Jesus do?”

You claim to be a church ministry, yet I do not think Jesus would turn ANYBODY a way.

A majority of sex offenders are trying everything in their power to get on with their lives, yet society continually knocks them back down again, and I find it appauling that a “Church Ministry” is also doing this.

I thank it’s wonderful to help people in need, but sex offenders are people as well.

So, are you a true religious person, or a hypocrite? I think the latter.

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