Church struggle reveals its soul

Christ’s Church of New Beginnings in Sisters is suffering a crisis in the wake of allegations against its pastor, Shane Hall, who faces charges of sex abuse.

All of the roiling human emotions such a crisis arouses were present on Sunday when parishioners learned that the organization may actually have been incorporated as a non-profit evangelical business by Hall’s family, rather than a church.

There was anger. There was fear. Yet there was also something much more powerful present.

There was a deep and abiding desire to preserve a church family. Many members of that family have known each other for years. They are among Sisters’ oldest families. They strive to live the teachings of their faith, giving to each other, their church, the community of Sisters.

Some wished to exclude members of the family who had fallen away, disaffected with Hall’s leadership. But those were thwarted by others who desired to hold the body of the church together, who sought to find a path forward into a new year that promises to be fraught with turmoil. Many in Sunday’s congregation see something too valuable in their community, their family, to simply walk away.

It takes courage and fortitude to hold a family together when strife threatens to tear it apart. The congregation of Christ’s Church of New Beginnings is to be admired for its spirit.

Jim Cornelius, News Editor

Eric Dolson, Publisher