When the war was winding down and George Washington had returned to Mount Vernon his friend Marquis de Lafayette, who hated the practice of slavery, sent a letter suggesting a process by which slavery could be abolished. His suggestion was Washington would purchase an estate, free the Negroes and use them as tenants. If it was successful at Mount Vernon the practice could spread and eliminate slavery.
At the time Washington's economic well-being depended on slavery so whatever his theoretical sympathy with Lafayette's idea he could not have been thrilled with the timing. Not wanting to disillusion his friend Washington replied:
"The scheme, my dear Marquis which you propose as a precedent to encourage the emancipation of the black people of this country…is striking evidence of the benevolence of your heart. I shall be happy to join you in so laudable a work, but will defer going into detail of the business till I have the pleasure of seeing you."
This was Washington's canny way of crediting Lafayette's noble project while also sidestepping any specific commitment to it.
Look back at the actions the men have undertaken to address the subjet of elders. A period of prayer followed by a delay of about a month waiting for Al to present his lesson on church leadership, followed by a period of prayer to permit the team to meet and formulate a plan to be presented at a future Men's meeting followed by a period of time to allow the congregation to submit names of possible candidates followed by a period of weeks or so to allow the team to vet the candidates followed by a period of more weeks to allow the candidates to be considered by the congregation followed by a men's meeting to decide how to tell the congregation there are no viable candidates or how the candidates will be anointed followed by a period of time to permit Al to develop an anointing ceremony.
The leaders lack of attending the assemblies is a hindrance to GSMCOC men attempting to move forward on such issues other than via the monthly Men's Meeting. I believe the initial period of prayer began in January it will easily be August or later before we know how things turn out. Eight months, are we men of action or what? What'd you think of the PFJ meeting? George Washington is not the only one who can credit an idea as well as sidestep commitment to it.
Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
"People do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions. Conclusions are not always pleasant." Helen Keller
"The questions you ask set limits on the answers you get." Temple Grandin
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