Having trouble conceiving?
The Eleven7 church in Southlake, TX has a potential solution for you!
Fill out the application (PDF) by next week. (My favorite part? All the fine print on page 4.)
The church will randomly choose 10 eligible couples from the batch.
Then, about a week later, on Father’s Day, the church will randomly choose one couple as the winner!
The winning couple will get a medical evaluation and, depending on what’s needed, will be directed to the Center for Assisted Reproduction in Bedford or the North DFW Urology practice in Grapevine, which have agreed to donate their services.
The value of the service could reach $40,000, said the Rev. Keith Luttrell, pastor of eleven7. In vitro fertilization is among the covered options.
…
There’s no income threshold, but the application does have some background questions and asks for a $25 application fee. Couples applying need not belong to the church.
…
… Names will probably be picked out of a hat, said Steve Brannon, the church’s executive pastor.
Pregnancy is not promised.
“We as a church will be in fervent prayer for the couple chosen and know that God’s will is always perfect,” the application materials say.
Nice that the in-kind donation might help a couple who want a baby but can’t conceive one — or afford the fertility treatment.
Sad that the church has made this into such a spectacle and media frenzy.
I just keep thinking about the side issues…
- How would you feel if you’re one of the nine losing couples?
- What if the treatment works but the baby is miscarried?
- What if the “Blessing” eventually becomes an atheist? Or is gay?
Oh, right. “God’s will is perfect.”
Got it.
Maybe this will help set a precedent.
Next year, another church will just adopt a child from a Third World country and auction it off at a Sunday service.
Or several babies will be up for grabs, and you’ll spin a wheel to see which one you get!
The possibilities are endless…
Speaking of babies, time for lunch.
[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]