Ship of Fools: The Bridge Church, Glendale, Arizona, USA
The Mystery Worshipper
Shipmate
Ship of Fools: The Bridge Church, Glendale, Arizona, USA
Zero points for deafening rock worship, plus a never-ending sermon that crashed the service into the next service
Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here
Comments
What is the religious significance of the mist produced by a fog machine?
This is nothing against Miss Amanda as a person, and I have no idea what is happening in their life that might perhaps make them more sensitive right now (sorry, don't know Miss Amanda's pronouns) - there are lots of things that might prompt such behaviour, but it still doesn't make them a good fit for Mystery Worship imo. Likewise leaving an entire forum just because some people found a limerick funny indicates to me that a role involving critique is perhaps not for them.
I may, of course, be wrong, and am happy (if so) to be corrected. Perhaps @Spike or another Host could throw some light?
My post upthread about the report was posted as a shipmate and not in any official capacity.
That said, it would be good to see a few more MW Reports - alas! I'm unable to oblige, as the spirit is willing, but the flesh is not so much weak as incapable.
I wonder if perhaps the Report @Terry Tee mentions has somehow got lost in the post, so to speak? There are Reports on the board from less than 6 months ago...
Terry Tee -- I believe Simon himself is the MW editor now. But if truth be told, I find the delay between submission and publication somewhat upsetting.
As for my fitness to write reports, Pomona, I believe the considerable volume of reports that I have submitted speak for themselves. I have always tried to present a fair picture of exactly what I experienced at the service, which is what I believe we reporters are supposed to do. At any rate, I don't believe this is the proper venue for questioning my prowess at critique.
And drudging up ancient history, the limerick in question was highly offensive and spoke of a certain part of the female anatomy in a mocking, degrading way. Granted, some may have found it funny, but I don't believe the Ship sees itself as a vehicle for denigrating women. If it does, then it is a vessel upon which I don't care to sail.
More Reports soon, please, Miss Amanda. Keep up the good work!
I'm sorry if there is perhaps something going on in your personal life which is causing you pain or a need to focus on irl issues. I can certainly understand that sometimes real life takes priority. But I am baffled by the hypocrisy in your response here - why are you allowed to point out others' apparent discourtesy, but others cannot comment on your discourtesy in your MW reports? What if the people whose appearance you mocked read your MW report and felt hurt by it? They're real people with real feelings just like you are.
As much as churches should be mindful of how they come across to newcomers (whether MWing or not), let's remember that people running and attending the churches being MWed are also people with feelings and not there simply to cater to our own preferences. If you make a big deal about what jokes Jesus would or wouldn't tell, perhaps also make a big deal about how Jesus would talk about others in the congregation and their appearance. You can be honest without being unkind.
Given the openness with which you've discussed your own mental health, I am surprised and saddened to see endorsement of making fun of others' appearance. Do you honestly think it's OK to talk about the appearance of other people that way? Especially since they were not even leading the service but were just in the congregation minding their own business. How would you like to be talked about in that way by a stranger?
Perhaps you'd like to start a separate thread, in Purgatory, to discuss an issue which clearly concerns you?
Enough, please. Personal comments belong in Hell. A thread about mental health would be Epiphanies.
Nenya - Mystery Worshipper Host
[Doffs Hostly Mitre]
And what about comments about the appropriateness (or otherwise) of personal comments being made within MW reports? Criticism of the appearance of members of the congregation (as opposed to those leading a service) should imo be off-limits - this is not a personal comment and would apply to any MW report.
Surely part of the point of having this part of the Ship open to comment is to be able to offer criticism of the reports themselves and not just of the churches involved?
Nenya - Mystery Worshipper Host