Church and Transparency

There is nothing hidden that will not be found. There is no secret that will not be well known.

Luke 8:17


Many churhes here in the United States, even beyond the United Methodist Church, proudly publicize the dates of coming events, and give proper notice to activities and meetings crucial to the growth of the faith and upbringing of its members.

Apostle Paul showed that transparency is crucial to the mission of the gospel, as he poured his personal life as a testament to his Christian belief: his sufferings and joys contained in the letters addressed to the churches he had visited (and had not...to the dismay of its members), all for the sake of furthering the Gospel of Christ.

Our Lord and Savior did not turn away those who came to him, who sought his help and grace, and even allowed himself to be scrutinized by the very same Pharisees that saw to his eventual triumph in the cross. He revealed to us Himself: the message that would, for all time, be the everlasting salvation of our souls from the very destruction that awaits those who do not acknowledge Him.

Indeed, transparency is in the nature of Christian living.

If that is the case, why do I not see the by-laws and the articles of incorporation of the Angono United Methodist Church? You have a website with pictures, names, titles, positions, events and activities.

But where and why are these information critical to the function of the church so elusive and hard to access?

I am sure we are not following the path of the Roman Catholic Church, which, as an institution, did not encourage its members, for a thousand and five hundred years, from accessing the holy scriptures.

Transparency, you say?