In planting a church called Open Table, the Rev. Ellen Sims welcomes unchurched of all backgrounds

[rug]

MOBILE, Alabama -- For the Rev. Ellen Sims, pastor of the fledgling congregation, Open Table: A Community of Faith, her own faith journey has been what she terms "a continuum."

Raised a Southern Baptist in Mobile, ordained as an American Baptist in Ohio, and now a pastor with the United Church of Christ — not to be confused with the Church of Christ – Sims has spent her life exploring spirituality in different ways.

Open Table — she admits it might sound "like a restaurant" — gets its name from what she says is an openness to communion by all who arrive at its door.

That inclusiveness, she says — black, white, gay, straight, disabled, liberal, conservative — is a key part of Open Table’s outreach. She says that Open Table is not unique in this outreach, but it’s the church’s emphasis.

http://blog.al.com/living-press-register/2011/08/in_planting_a_church_the_rev_e.html

[frazzled]

1. Open Table is a restaurant reservation and review web site ...

that's been around for years.

That's where a lot of people go for their wine and bread recommendations. (Not holy.)

[Jester Messiah]

2. Faith is the problem with this country.

We need more REASON and EVIDENCE, things that do not require "belief." We have enough churches in this country, far more than enough. More hokey bullshit is not going to solve our problems; if faith was the answer we'd be in great shape. Obviously, we are not.