Letters to the editor

UM churches don’t join in, seem to have high walls
I was an active member of the Southwest Texas Conference for 25 years. I left the church in 1982 for a variety of reasons.
It was with great interest that I read about the attendance decline many UM churches were experiencing (“Statewide UM membership rebounds in ’04,” July 8). I thought I might make a suggestion or two about why that’s happening.
The nondenominational church I now attend (Hope Chapel, Austin) has cooperated with mainline churches on several events. We’ve done youth events with St. Matthews Episcopal, a classical music concert with First Baptist, and many arts events with First Evangelical Free Church.
I have made attempts to do similar events with local UMCs but to no avail. My experience has been that the Methodist church walls are very high.
I don’t see much going on between Methodist churches, much less with “outside” denominations or even the dread nondenominational church.
We are all Christians first, and we must celebrate that together. In as much as a charismatic church can learn from a liturgical one, the opposite is also true.
If the UMC would look outside its four walls, many things could be learned and ideas shared. Everyone would be blessed.
I still have many fond memories of the UMC. Seeing the decline has burdened my heart, and I felt I had to say something about it, maybe get some dialog going.
Steven M. Allen
Austin

Ten Commandments facts might influence viewpoints
My research on the Ten Commandments leads me to the following conclusions:
1. Freedom of religion must include freedom from religion for those who don’t want themselves or their children exposed to religious symbols or material. That applies also to adherents of religions that don’t have the Ten Commandments and oppose their display in public places. This is plain justice in our pluralistic society.
2. Advocates for public display of the Ten Commandments have missed that the ancient Hebrew had no numbered verses. That means the Ten Commandments are variously designated by different religious groups. Some churches separate the often designated second into two parts. Others divide the tenth. Jews have a different first commandment from Christians. Consequently, any display represents a public acknowledgment of some religious tradition.
3. The Hebrew word translated “commandment” in English (Exodus 34:28) is more accurately translated “word” or “saying.” We were given the word “commandment” thanks to the King James Bible and its English predecessors.
The New English Bible translates the passage as “Ten Words” with a footnote: “Ten Commandments.” The Revised Standard and New Revised Standard Bible versions translate the same passage as “Ten Commandments” with a footnote: “Ten Words.”
Think about these points as you consider your position about the Ten Commandments.
George W. Ricker
Austin

Austin Girl Scout earns Gold Award, not ‘Star’
We were happy to see Girl Scout Claire Whisenhunt, a member of Covenant UMC, Austin, featured in the July 8 Witness (“More youth ministries needed, bishop says”).
There is, however, no such thing as a Star rank among Girl Scouts. Claire won the Gold Award, the highest achievement for a Girl Scout.
I wanted to make this correction.
Billy Malamon
Lone Star Girl Scout Council