The local rag printed a letter from a resident who is a coordinator of his church's efforts hosting PADS. The writer bemoans the fact that he often has difficulty rounding up enough volunteers to help them run the shelter. Says even his calls to other churches often go unanswered.

Gee, why might this be? Let's think hard here... Could it possibly be that the community does not support your efforts, and does not appreciate the blight you choose to invite to our town?

The writer says he works at home, and describes folks waiting for the shelter to open as simply trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Here's a solution! Since you're at home anyway, why not invite your friends over to hang at your house? And as long as they are kicking back at your crib waiting for the shelter to open, why not let them sleep over as well?

Sounds like a win/win to me. You will be able to care for whomever you choose to invite to town, and the rest of us will not need to put up with what we consider the undesirable and considerable external costs you choose to impose on us.

Dins-I read the same article and thought the same thing. This guy lives in a Pollyanna world and just because he doesn't see a problem, doesn't mean that others don't. I do think that the difficulties they have had recruiting volunteers is related to the communities concerns. My guess is that church leaders are hearing from their congregations that helping the homeless is fine, but GE seems to be doing much more than it's fair share when it comes to PADS nights.

All I really want from PADS is to engage the community and understand the concerns people have. To ignore the repeated attempts that GE community members have made to discuss concerns about PADS business model appears to be arrogance to me. If PADS wants the community to buy into what they are doing, ignoring peoples concerns seems counter productive.

PADS is a dead end. Bridge Communities, and other more professional programs and government services are much more effective. PADS simply enables the professional vagrants, drug addicts and recently released inmates to hang out together.

Regrettably, as PADS is an ace lobbying group and receives significant state and federal funding we're unlikely to see the paid managers cut their own jobs - expect more PR and other well funded efforts to justify their government funded positions.

The letter writer signed it in the capacity of his business. Google reveals that he seems to be a headhunter. Maybe if he were any good at his chosen profession PADS might not have so many clients!

(Contact info at his site also lists what appears to be a home address in town, just in case PADS clients need somewhere to kick back and perhaps shower while waiting for the church doors to open.)

Maybe is busy working and doesn't get out of the house. He lives close to me and I wondered how he could MISS what I have seen.

Jombl-You are spot on, as I've always said-Follow the money. Imagine if PADS managers actually had to measure their perfomance and be held accountable.

Dins-LMAO, so true.

A competent recruiter might also have more luck finding churches willing to participate in the program.

Also, no offense to Mr. Whiting, but I have been working in the Loop for nearly 25 years. In that time I have never..... never.....seen a rat. Dead or alive. Nobody I tell that to believes me. Yet I know that rats exist in the Loop. I admire his work with the homeless, but his powers of observation are either weak or fraught with denial.

He did take a swipe at the now-silent anti-GE Homeless group...so he can't be all bad.

Our Pastor, at First Congregational had a few words to say about PADS.

Feel free to read it here.

Or, you can go to this link and scroll down to the sermon title, "Would You Pick Up the Basket?" and listen or watch the sermon.

Happy listening/watching/reading!

What an unbiased perspective.

Leaders lead by example, not by enabling those habitual vagrants who choose their lifestyle.

Feel guilty for my lifestyle-not one bit. I think of the people who are employed as a result of my lifestyle. Nice try.

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
Our Pastor, at First Congregational had a few words to say about PADS.

Do you believe her characterization of the message board comments is accurate/fair/complete?

quote:

Is it true that there is a group of people who loiter? Who are rude? Who use the “F” word? Who blow smoke in your face? Who walk deliberately slowly in front of cars? Who create a nuisance in our town? Absolutely. They are our teenagers, and we are raising them.

This is clever... though weak.

I see that she didn't include "Who rape 10-year-old girls", but then she couldn't have used the "teenagers" analogy.

Also, find it very interesting that this is another example of someone who doesn't live near the churches chiming in. Pretty conveinent!

Somewhere, right now my friend BitterBoy's head is about to explode.

BB-We should meet for drings this evening and discuss how we should help PADS, we are such heathens.

As long as lemmings continue to sit in pews on Sundays and nod approvingly of messages that they do not agree with in fear of stepping out from what is expected of them as part of a congregation (a la Obama), churches, pastors and the minority will continue to control the message and dictate policy upon all of us.

You wouldn't believe how many people said that they supported the letter written to PADS and the Village re: the behavior of vagrants in our community (Get that Pastor Lillian - we were writing about behavior of vagrants...not the presence of them....but you've noticeably buried your head in the sand as to that message as it isn't as shaming and doesn't have the same effect) but would not sign it as their congregation hosted PADS and they didn't want to rock the boat.

Politics, shame and manipulation from the pulpit.

I wish I never read this - as I was looking forward to visiting this congregation this fall. I guess I'll just continue to enjoy my Sunday mornings at my two churches - the golf course and the kitchen with my kids.

Lemming? Hardly in my case and I'm sure few others in this Congregation of leaders, not followers.

I was involved with PADS on some level long before I took the time and energy to get my lazy a** over to FCC-GE and hear one of the most intelligent, insightful Pastors in the Midwest, if not our Country.

Lillian has inspired me in so many ways, has showed me different angles on tough subjects, helped me to appreciate and respect who I was as a person. She, and the good people of this Congregation are the reasons I decided to be baptized into this faith community just a little over a year ago and become an active member.

Fan, truly you are going to be missing out. For you to say that this one sermon that you don't agree with is the reason you wouldn't give this church a try is just a cop-out. Do I agree with every word that comes out of this fine Pastor's mouth? No. The reason I enjoy Lillian's sermons is because they are more than just Bible quotes and 'follow-the-leader' mantra, as I found too often 'shopping' many different churches and faiths in our area. Her sermons are cerebral and make me think and explore.

Why take this opportunity away from your family/children just because you feel slighted? This is really just selfish reasoning on your part, Fan.

I made the mistake yesterday afternoon in taking junior IMJ to the library to check out a book, now that he is an active reader.

It was homeless city as they were all escaping the rain before PADS sight opened up. As they were all blocking the door, they looked at me like I was crazy for saying excuse me to get in the library.

People changing clothes, laying on the ground, smoking, and one panhandler. I said to the librarian as I was checking out a book, "kind of makes me feel like I was at a greyhound bus station." She was like, try working her on Thursdays....

GERing - I knew that comment would bring you back out of hiding. Re-read what I wrote, I didn't call you a lemming....I called those who sit there and nod approvingly to messages that they clearly disagree with and who are then too scared to speak out against those words or act contrary to a Pastor's thoughts or words in fear of public shame lemmings.

And yes, it is likely selfish....and likely something I will not follow through with. My wife calls the shots...I'm merely a lemming at home...so what? Okay, go ahead and judge me.

Nod Approvingly . . . Then Jump!

Guns really do kill people!

Hiding??? I did recently try to help Clam get rid of his bag worms. Sheesh! Hardly been hiding, just too busy these days.

I did re-read your message, and my response was to highlight that this particular Congregation really doesn't have too many of the 'Lemming' type of worshiper. That's another reason I chose it.

All right, so I need to get a message to Mrs. Fan to get your a** over to hear Lillian some Sunday. Remember, you did enjoy her The Outlaw sermon I posted on here several months ago.

GEM - I prefer this - WARNING Explicit Lyrics

GERIng - we'll be there...I'll likely have little choice...that is, if I'm not deemed a leper and banished from the congregation.