One stream of consciousness thought... Just now · When I moved to Greene County NY after marrying David Tipple, (8/8/98) he as a pastor and I as a student pastor joined the Catskill Ecumenical Group. While it initially began for only clergy members, we extended the invitation to the laity - baptized members of a Christian congregation who are also imbued with gifts of the Spirit for ministry - living out Christ's call to us. I don't remember when it started but shortly thereafter, 3 congregations decided to meet during the summer, sharing pastors and pulpits. The 3 congregations who did this were the AME Zion Church on Water Str., in Catskill, The United Methodist Church on Woodland Avenue and The First Reformed Church, Catskill, 310 Main St. We'd decide before June where we'd meet and who would preach. Over the next few years, it grew into a full communion of believers, brothers and sisters in Christ, who worshiped, prayed and sang together. I don't think I need to point out why this was a truly moving and faithful experience. If you know anything about church denominations and separations, you know that for at least 3 months, there was a reprieve of Sunday a.m. worship being an example of the most segregated times of the week. The summer worship gatherings continue these days but only between Catskill UMC and First Reformed. After the previous and much beloved pastor, Rev Moses Carter left, the Bishop of that conference told the congregation they could no longer continue to engage in worship together. It wasn't racist - he would not be in a position of power w/in the whole system although he could be biased or prejudiced against the white congregations. I don't know and we've never heard. I think it was one of the worst things to happen to our community. The Ecumenical Council still works together, with white, black and occasionally the Hispanic congregation present but we should still be coming together to worship. Especially after a week such as this.