Quiet thinker,
It is more than evident why SG would be considered someone almost no church, or ANY organization for that matter, would want around...… But, how did you make yourself persona non grata?
Several reasons I think Willie, although I was never told directly.
I was holding bible studies at home without the permission/sanction of the leadership; they were invited but never came. That was one reason. Secondly, the ministry they claimed for broken or street people didn't find that many in the Church although there were three or four. I noticed these folk were on the outer and befriended them with conversation after the main service. The minister approached me one day as I was doing renovations on their Church, he said, I notice you are talking to such and such after the services, I said yes, he said, I would prefer if you left that to me. I asked him if he was curtailing my right to speak to whoever. He never answered but did say my approach was too Christological. The story continues with parishioners being threatened with discipline if they had anything to do with me and so on.
I coined this poem at that time:
SOUTH MELBOURNE
The pressure's on, don't come back here
cold shoulders flying spittle
you unrepentant devils child
my heart it's oh so brittle
Pickets placed, Police are called
just get him out of here
and anyone that interacts
the discipline they fear
That precious pearl that once was held
aloft for all to see
down it was cast and painted glass
was treasured more than he
Forgive them Lord, those final words
before he fell asleep
while in the crowd a watching man
would lead the future sheep
Clear, insightful, focus sharp
with passion now he meets us
there's only one consuming urge
to introduce his Jesus
Let's listen well, unplug our ears
it's worth a second look
this understated gift we're given
revealed within the book.
July 2002