David Ewart

Good Gossip, Bad Gossip

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At its best, good gossip is important for emotional health and growth. Good gossip is the place where we can fully express whatever is on our minds or in our hearts. Good gossip is a sign that we have a relationship that is trustworthy and safe. There is nothing like a no-holds barred gossip with a good friend.

In fact, when I went and looked up “gossip” in a dictionary, I discovered that it comes from combining the words “god + sibb” – a god-sibling, crony, or companion. In other words, a good friend, a soul mate.

However, as we all know bad gossip, especially in social networks like work or church, can be highly toxic and destructive. Sometimes organizations try to ban or discourage gossip. But that is impossible. We all need good friends, and good friends – by definition – gossip. What every organization needs is clarity about the differences between good gossip and bad gossip, and commitment to encouraging good gossip and discouraging bad gossip.

To help start that conversation, here is my list of the differences between good gossip and bad gossip.

Synopsis of Charles Taylor's, "A Secular Age"

Published by: Belknap Harvard , 2007

Retired McGill Philosopher Dr. Charles Taylor has written a major new work which is on the best-seller list. At 800+ pages, it is a month-long read. What follows is a few pages of my notes, which provides a synopsis of this significant work.- James Murray, Nov 25 2007.

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We all know we live in an age of secularism. Few of us have a philosophical and theological vocabulary which helps us to describe what it means to live in such an age. Naming one’s context is the first step in learning how to deal with it. The future direction of the Christian Church depends upon how we will react to this current age. Being able to accurately describe what this age consists of affects what are the possible future directions which are open to us.

Taylor notes there are three kinds of secularism.

United Church of Canada Trends - How We Got Here

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This article has been featured on the United Church of Canada's national website, Emerging Spirit.

1965 was the peak of Membership in the United Church of Canada.

Between 1945 to 1965, UCCan Membership increased by 42% from 750,000 to 1,064,000.

If we had been able to maintain the 1945-1965 rate (see Foot Note 1) of growth from 1966 to 2005, our Membership would have been 1,789,000 by 2005. Our reported Membership for 2005 was 573,000 a decline of 46%.

Compared to where we thought we’d thought be in the 1960’s, we are missing 1,200,000 members. Or, to put it another way, our congregations should have 3 times more members and attendance than we currently have.