The Scunthorpe problem...

We've had some major changes at church recently, and even though our family is directly affected, it wasn't significant enough (in my opinion) to run right home and post about it. But it's become a bit of a problem for a lot of people.

Barton is situated conveniently between three cities--Scunthorpe, Hull, and Grimsby. We are closest to Hull, but because of the Humber Bridge and the extortionate toll they charge to cross it (£2.70 each way) we very rarely go there. We are about 17 miles from Scunthorpe and about 25 miles from Grimsby.

Martin and I were quite surprised to learn that the ward boundary for church was the A15, the road just to the south of us, and that we were assigned to the Grimsby ward (you may recall that I had Dylan in Scunthorpe because it is quite a bit closer to us than Grimsby). But we have been dilligently driving the 27 miles one way to the Grimsby 1st Ward building twice a week since we moved here--once for church on Sunday and again for choir on Thursdays. The location of the chapel meant a drive of approximately 40 minutes each way as we had to drive through town and traffic to get there. To be perfectly honest, with the cost of petrol soaring it was getting a little bit cost prohibitive to drive there so often. But we endured.

So imagine our surprise and delight when we had a visit from the Stake President last week. He informed us that the boundaries were changing and from now on the residents of Barton and a few of the surrounding villages would be attending the Scunthorpe ward! Church starts a half an hour later, the building is quite a bit closer, and it takes us less time to get there. Plus, the church there is absolutely gorgeous. We were thrilled!

Obviously we will miss some of our friends that live in Grimsby, but this is such a good move for our family. Martin and I are both really pleased about it, and are looking forward to making new friends and receiving new callings. It's a challenge and an adventure.

Unfortunately, some people don't see it that way.

The Munday family live in Wootton and will be moving to Scunthorpe ward with us (hooray!) and Emma posted to her blog that she was thrilled about it. She made a comment about how their family had never felt very welcome in Grimsby and since Scunthorpe is where she was baptized and married she couldn't wait to go back (I know exactly how she feels. The people in Grimsby aren't unwelcoming, but they are all very much involved in their own lives and already have their own groups of friends. They are nice enough, but for the most part not overly friendly with newcomers. I felt the same way when we first came. Over the last three years I have made a few close friends, but it has been due to a tremendous effort on my part).

Well, a few people have thrown fits about that comment. I spoke to her a few moments ago, and she said that she has been "censored." I won't go into too many details, but basically, the new bishop has asked her to refrain from commenting, on her blog and on Facebook, about the move. He has apparently had a few complaints about her comments.

I was shocked and appalled to hear this. Emma uses her blog and her facebook account to express her opinion, and NOBODY has the right to censor that--not even, and maybe especially not, a religious leader! And I can't believe that there are people who are petty and vindictive and immature enough to ask their religious leader to do so. They've infringed on Emma's rights and put the poor bishop in an awkward position.

There are people who don't want to move--I understand that. But they are blowing this way out of proportion! We are attending worship services at a different location, not cutting all ties and never speaking to old friends again! Although they are certainly entitled to be sad about the move, they are not entitled to try to make other people miserable over it. And they are certainly not entitled to try to keep anyone else's feelings about it from being expressed!

If they have such a problem with the move, perhaps they should examine the reason they are attending church in the first place? It's obviously not to worship God, but to hang out with all their friends!

OK, pregnant rant is finished now. I love having raging hormones!