If you’d’ve asked me at 4pm what I was going to do this evening, I would have said “I’ll go to Curves and then have left over lasagna and watch one of my DVD rentals. Then probably watch some Tomorrow People.” What I would *not* have said was “Go down south to Kettering and watch dad teach a class on homosexuality and the Bible.” I would not have said that because, until 4:30, neither of us even knew that was a possibility…
Before I headed off to Curves, I stopped by dad’s place to show him a computer print that I did of Leo (turned out as nice as a real photograph) and Judi’s birthday gift which arrived today (she’s gonna love it! Even dad was impressed). Mom was off at a baby shower for a co-worker. While I was there, dad gets a phone call from a lady who was supposed to be teaching the 4th (and final) course on Homosexuality and the Bible at a UCC church down in Kettering (part of south Dayton, basically). Dad didn’t really have any plans for the night other than heating up a frozen pizza and watching a movie (hmmm, similar night to my original plan, I see). So he said yes. Now he’d never met this lady before, but she’d first called a mutual friend who couldn’t do it (another retired pastor who’s very gay friendly) but he’d suggested dad.
Once dad gets off the phone and explains to me the situation, I asked if I can go along with him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look more relieved. He doesn’t care much for driving and he especially doesn’t like driving in south Dayton. It’s not the other drivers he fears, he assures me, it’s just that he doesn’t trust riding when he’s driving… Or somesuch. I volunteered to join him for that reason and because I simply enjoy A Grand Adventure. You have no idea when you set out what’s going to happen, but you do it anyhoo.
We agreed to do supper on the way down, so dad and I got in the truck and headed doon sooth. He even took the Interstate. (My sister, who’s probably reading this, is now VERY surprised.) Well, when we arrived at the church, the only restaurant nearby was an MCL Cafeteria, so we decided since there was less than an hour to the class, we’d eat afterwards. We entered the modern offices of the church and I was impressed – it reminded me of university offices more than church offices. I’m used to smaller churches, I guess. A fellow there showed us to the copier so dad could copy his “clobber passage” info sheet that he brings to similar workshops. Then he invited us upstairs for supper. The church was doing a series of Lenten courses on Wednesday nights – supper at 6 followed by a series of courses at 7. Dad and I are never ones to pass up a free meal, so we headed upstairs.
Once again, I was impressed with the size of the church. I never did see the sanctuary, but I’m sure it was impressive too. There were some friends of dad there from other pro-GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered) gatherings that we’ve been to and we sat with them while we ate. Supper was a casserole consisting of chicken, rice, water chestnuts, cream of chicken, cornflakes, and cheese – and it was damn good. There were also the best cooked carrots I’ve ever had – and I’m not very fond of cooked carrots, usually. Applesauce and cookies followed.
After dinner, we went back downstairs into the classroom and dad did his best to discuss Authority. My dad’s a bit anti-authoritarian, so it was funny to think of him talking about authority. A heckler was there as well, and he even asked me a question – he wanted to know who, despite dad saying he wasn’t much for authority, had the authority when I was growing up. Um, well, of all the kids in all the world, he had to ask me? I assured him that, as far as I was concerned, I was in charge of myself growing up. 😉 The folks in the course had a lot of good things to say and good questions to ask. Dad answered things as best he could, but, as I figured would happen, he managed to get parables into things again. “When your only tool is a hammer,” he admitted “every problem starts looking like a nail.” So just about anytime dad talks about Biblical scholarship, he has to talk about parables.
I found the folks in the class to be very well educated and most seemed to want to be there for more information and more perspectives. It’s a shame dad only had an hour for the class – and didn’t have as much time to prepare as he usually does. Even the heckler was kept under control (though I saw a lot of head shaking going on anytime he got the floor again). So I had a good time and talked dad’s ear off the entire way home. We talked about the issues in the discussion and then got onto talking about the problem of taking an oral tradition and cementing it with the written word. As dad said, just like on the Internet, you miss out on the wink and the nudge when you read the oral story instead of seeing and hearing it for yourself. I could probably go on with my thoughts on written tradition vs oral tradition (cuz I did yammer on for some length in the car – it takes nearly an hour to get back from there), but I’ll spare y’all (this time – bwa ha ha ha!)
Oh, if you’re wondering about Curves? I’ll go tomorrow instead. 🙂
(Hmmm, to go on with my Biblical studies post I need a Biblical studies-ish icon. Wish I had a decent screen capture of Sylv as Kev the Rev…)
Color me parochial, but I always thought of UCC as a New England church. During the one regular chuch-going period in my life, I attended a UCC/Congregational church. Although I’m an atheist now, I still have warm, fuzzy associations with the church, and I’m glad to know the denomination spread to other parts of the country. Also, Tomorrow People – yay!
I’ve always been the opposite – I just figure denominations are all over. There’s a UCC in town that I grew up in and where dad began his trek to becoming the Biblical scholar that he’s, um, becoming. When I went to a Quaker church once in the Cincinnati area, some of the ladies there told me to go to one in London, England while I was visiting. I didn’t know there were any Quakers there! So now I just figure churches get in the darndest places. 😉 Also, Tomorrow People – yay! YAY! Seasons 5 & 6 showed up in the mail yesterday – woohoo! (Christmas present from a friend in the UK – nice of MVC to finally get them to me.)
Lucky you! I just got the Tomorrow People Season 3 boxset off of Ebay. I borrowed seasons 1 and 2 from someone, but would eventually like to get my own copies, as well as the later seasons. Which season had Hitler? And the jumpsuits that controlled people?
Which season had Hitler? Season 6. And the jumpsuits that controlled people? Season 7. I’ve really been enjoying the DVDs. Brings back a LOT of memories. 🙂
Oh, yeah, and I got the season 4 & 5 boxset, not 5 & 6… Too many numbers to keep track of. 🙂
Sounds like an interesting topic. I can’t stand sitting in on Dad teaching a class- it feels all wrong. Even though he’s sure he doesn’t, he slips into a teacher mode and I’m so used to him in Dad mode it doesn’t work. Glad the class was nice though 😀
You think that’s wrong, try sitting in on a class taught by your brother.
If I had a brother, I would probably shudder right now.
I should probably clarify that I was never taught by my brother (we were too close in age for that), but I did observe him teaching on a couple of occasions. He was in his early twenties at the time, and I still hadn’t entirely adjusted to the idea of him being an adult.
My dad is in his late fifties and I don’t think he’s come to terms with being an adult 😀
You think that’s wrong, try sitting in on a class taught by your brother. I taught my cousin and her friends chemisty and physics. They tried their best to call me “Miss Short” but within weeks just ended up calling me Trina. I’ve got 5 other cousins coming through the school which I’ll probably get to teach one of these days, too.
I can’t stand sitting in on Dad teaching a class I had dad as my science teacher all four years in high school… Introductory physical science, biology, chemistry, and finally physics. (He’s the primary reason I’m a science teacher now.) I loved it because my dad’s the best (now retired) science teacher in Ohio. I also enjoy his Westar/Jesus Seminar/Parable workshops that he does – so this was a fun experience.
I’d like my dad’s teaching style if it were anyone but him. Tis odd, but I really can’t stand being in his class…
Sounds like a very informative and interesting evening. I haven’t been to a church class like that in about five years.
I haven’t been to a church class like that in about five years. I was impressed with the open-mindedness of the folks in the course – all of varying ages. There were 23 folks in the class that night. And one lady asked if dad might consider teaching a 4 week weekend course for them later. He, of course, said yes. That means the poor guy will have to drive in Dayton again. 😉
As its me we have to bring it down to another level and talk about food!! “Supper was a casserole consisting of chicken, rice, water chestnuts, cream of chicken, cornflakes, and cheese – and it was damn good. There were also the best cooked carrots I’ve ever had – and I’m not very fond of cooked carrots, usually. Applesauce and cookies followed. ” To my poor boring scottish brain this is almost the wierdest meal ive ever heard of…and you KNOW weve talked about wierd meals before Trina!Arent the cornflakes soggy…or are we talking about something other then kellogs?? caz
As its me we have to bring it down to another level and talk about food!! Heh – I’ve no problem with that. I’m all for food. 🙂 Arent the cornflakes soggy…or are we talking about something other then kellogs?? They were probably Kelloggs Corn Flakes. They were on the top of the casserole, so they were crunchy. The American Casserole is in a class by itself. You throw a bunch of meat and veggies together along with some sort of cream soup, then top with something crunchy and bake for 30 minutes or so. This particular one had an odd combo (certainly not one that I would have figured to be together) but it worked very well. Hope that makes more sense to you! 🙂