From BBC News:
A Methodist minister has been sent hate mail because he has allowed his church in Greater Manchester to be used by a group helping refugees.
Reverend Phil Mason, from The Victoria Hall in Bolton, said he was concerned for his family after receiving the notes in the last few months.
But despite their abusive nature, he said he had forgiven the authors.
The hall supports the Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers group, which runs a weekly drop-in session.“It’s very hard when you open a letter and you see some of the aggressive language that’s put in there,” Mr Mason told BBC Radio Manchester.
“Your stomach turns and your immediate thought is concern about the safety of the family and yourself.
“But then you begin to see beyond the language and just realise that people’s perceptions of asylum seekers and refugees are very distorted.”
Mr Mason has not reported the incidents to Greater Manchester Police, despite the offensive content of the letters.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Tim Chesterton 11.20.09 at 4:49 pm
John 15:15-21 seems appropriate.
Swan 11.22.09 at 2:06 pm
I find the first scntence of the news excerpt a bit strange.
Anyway, our church supports illegal immigrants, homeless people, and other disadvantaged people in our neighborhood and I’m sure some of our pastors have gotten negative and possibly hate mail because of it.
Tony Buglass 11.22.09 at 4:32 pm
Swan - why is it so strange? It happened. Fact.
I’m sure he isn’t the only one to receive hate-mail; you’re probably right about your pastors. I have written letters in our regional paper about various issues, and written articles for them at their request - every time, I’ve received anonymous hate-mail from people who disagree with me, but have neither the skill to argue their case nor the courage to put a name to it.
As Tim said, Jn.15:15f fits the bill. If we stand for Christ, we will necessarily be standing against those who stand against him or Kingdom values. Fair enough.
Swan 11.23.09 at 5:05 pm
“A Methodist minister has been sent hate mail because he has allowed his church in Greater Manchester to be used by a group helping refugees.”
Well, what I found strange is that it says he allowed his church to be used by the group. As if he was somehow distanced from it. Like they were only using the building. But in fact this seems like a cause that should probably be supported by the church.