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split are communication and compromise. Too bad that, often in a church division like this one, religious organizations mask the conflict and pretend that other, smaller issues, such as the cost of a new roof, the color of new carpeting, or when the elements in communion should be taken, are the basic divisive issues. If the real truth ever were known, should surface, they think the congregation might end up the laughing stock of the entire community. It might well, too.
Thus, they refuse to openly discuss the conflict, bearing the hostility in silence, when it would be so much, much better to heal such rifts and move forward with a common purpose. All of which begins with a little honest talk and the willingness to compromise. That's what was then needed to heal the racial and political differences that divided the nation so that the South might be a full partner again in the country's political and economic mainstream. It was just as much needed at 114 Ulman Avenue, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
In order to further move this situation along, Ingrid Ling finally asked a number of her church friends to meet at her and Ed's home on the beach in Waveland. Most if not all who attended this meeting had been Elders in other Presbyterian churches and were sorely disappointed to be denied an opportunity to so serve the Lord in such a fashion here.
Everyone there agreed that this sentiment should be expressed at a congregational meeting soon to be held. Despite his protestations, primarily around his argument that he had not been a very good churchgoer for some time, because of the rigid, dictatorial methods of the Session, as he saw it, Ed Ling was chosen to be the spokesperson for the group, primarily since he was a lawyer and better versed at such things.
He did so reluctantly, yet forcefully, requesting solicitously that the ruling body seriously consider electing replacements for several vacancies which hadn't been filled and/or by enlarging its membership. He noted that, since the members of the ruling body (only men at the time were considered eligible) were elected for life, some new blood might be in order. Better