The Sactus1 video has made me think about an issue that's been rolling around in my head for a while: is it possible to be both progressive and emerging? In other words is it possible to be radical in content as well as in style?
Look at someone like John Shelby Spong: pretty radical in what he says, yet he still wears the dog-colar and purple shirt of a bishop. He looks entirely like a bishop.
Similarly in Unitarian congregations: the theology might be off the wall, heresy of heresy, yet the minister may will still be in a black preaching robe looking terribly formal, there is much resistance if you don't wear a suit (I've experienced it, though it's always been in good humour), we have hymns and organs and pews and everything about our form is terriblly formal and traditional.
But go to the congregation where the preacher is in jeans and a T shirt, where there is a jolly informality, or even where there are people with nose-rings and green hair, then the theology, the message is usually conservative, or at least orthodox. The emerging church, for all its radicalism, is still orthodox in its theology (as Ben is at pains to point out).
Is it possible then to be radical in both form and content? Is it possible to have a christology influenced by Marcus Borg and a ecclesiology influenced by Dan Kimball? I hope so, because ultimately that is the kind of church I'd want to belong to. More than that I think its the kind of church that would have the power to become a dynamic religious force in this country. I would hope it would be the church of the future. Yet where is it? Perhaps it is up to me and you (if you agree with me) to create it.
Look at someone like John Shelby Spong: pretty radical in what he says, yet he still wears the dog-colar and purple shirt of a bishop. He looks entirely like a bishop.
Similarly in Unitarian congregations: the theology might be off the wall, heresy of heresy, yet the minister may will still be in a black preaching robe looking terribly formal, there is much resistance if you don't wear a suit (I've experienced it, though it's always been in good humour), we have hymns and organs and pews and everything about our form is terriblly formal and traditional.
But go to the congregation where the preacher is in jeans and a T shirt, where there is a jolly informality, or even where there are people with nose-rings and green hair, then the theology, the message is usually conservative, or at least orthodox. The emerging church, for all its radicalism, is still orthodox in its theology (as Ben is at pains to point out).
Is it possible then to be radical in both form and content? Is it possible to have a christology influenced by Marcus Borg and a ecclesiology influenced by Dan Kimball? I hope so, because ultimately that is the kind of church I'd want to belong to. More than that I think its the kind of church that would have the power to become a dynamic religious force in this country. I would hope it would be the church of the future. Yet where is it? Perhaps it is up to me and you (if you agree with me) to create it.
Comments
I'm under the distinct impression, that most Unitarian congregations are quite old, and traditional. Most emergent church congregations are young. I think if that's the sort of church you want (at least in spirit) you're going to have to recruit it yourself.
It's not minister's role to drag people to places that they don't want to go. Gentle pressure over a long period of time might be possible though.
However, I'm a big style iconoclast regarding buildings, and I know you won't agree with me Stephen!
Mel, I want to come to something where you start a small fire! I've seen you start a metaphorical one, now I want to see an actual one.