I would love to hear a whole conversation on this expanded in a particular direction (which might also be perilous). In my context, what is tearing apart churches apart across many denominations is on questions where the pastoral rubber hits the road...where a denomination needs to make decisions are a ‘zero sum game’. That is, do we marry or ordain particular ‘types’ of people. And regardless of which way we go, some people are going to be deeply wounded. So the ‘truth’ here is deeply relational, rather than just disputes about the meaning of words or the representation of historical facts. We might talk to the cows come home about ‘what the bible says’ and in the meantime leave a trail of pastoral wreckage. This is where I find myself at a loss. And as a Bishop I am sure you think about this a lot!
If Jesus is who he says he is, he is truth. Which means a longing for truth is a longing for the very presence of God.
I would love to hear a whole conversation on this expanded in a particular direction (which might also be perilous). In my context, what is tearing apart churches apart across many denominations is on questions where the pastoral rubber hits the road...where a denomination needs to make decisions are a ‘zero sum game’. That is, do we marry or ordain particular ‘types’ of people. And regardless of which way we go, some people are going to be deeply wounded. So the ‘truth’ here is deeply relational, rather than just disputes about the meaning of words or the representation of historical facts. We might talk to the cows come home about ‘what the bible says’ and in the meantime leave a trail of pastoral wreckage. This is where I find myself at a loss. And as a Bishop I am sure you think about this a lot!