Speaking to hearing others out, I attended a ba'hai temple with Dr. Tony Richie and Dr. Robb blackaby years ago in knoxville. Many different faith beliefs was there. It was an ecumenical gathering. It was very liberating. I listened to them and they listened to my testimony of how Christ changed my life.
This hits home for me and my denomination. In the past month I, and about a quarter of pastors and elders in the denomination, have been placed under “limited suspension” over the acceptance of same-sex married baptized Christians into full membership. It all began with a study committee open only to those who regarded anyone in a same- sex relationship as sinful. Then came a Synodical decision making this position “confessional.” Congregations who welcome same- sex married Christians now have a year to disaffiliate or be taken over. We are named schismatic in this situation. I am grieved in being summarily suspended after over 50 years of faithful ordained service, and even more so for ministers and whole congregations, who were able to live with differing opinions on this subject, are now thrown into distrust, division, and separation. I understand the deep feelings here, and the long tradition regarding same-sex relations in the church, but what about the years, centuries, of abuse and outright rejection of same-sex Christians? And what about the power play that forces everyone to conform to the traditional view? Who is schismatic here? Is schism sometimes necessary, on the one side to guard against heresy, and on the other side, to stand with the suffering, rejected, and abused?
oh friend, that breaks my heart—and makes me angry for you; power plays are always, always, always a sign of our enemy's mind at work; when will we learn?
Lord, make us a little less foolish by giving us enough light to see that we hardly see anything at all and nothing as you see it. And make us a little less poor by making us a little more aware of how utterly dependent we on your mercy and patience—especially in those moments we think we're doing our best.
One of the roots of toxic polarisation is a conviction that conflict is ‘irreconcilable’. Once we believe this we will dig in against our enemies. Putting aside for a moment the lack of confidence that God can and does reconcile all things, we can track this dilemma (in part) to an over reliance on ‘debating’ as a default problem solving mechanism - from Synods to Parliaments. These processes frequently compound conflict and drive us into Polarisation (there can only be one ‘winner’ in a synod debate - and Jesus, i think, weeps when people clap the winner). Fortunately we now now that there are better ways of dialogue around complexity, such as participatory democracy, circle work, restorative practices - proven, demonstrable, evidence based and….theologically grounded….many of which have origins in the peace churches. These practices are teachable and learnable. But do we actually want to DO it? If not, why not?
We need to have more consideration for our enemies than our friends....excellent!
yes, that was the key line I agree
Speaking to hearing others out, I attended a ba'hai temple with Dr. Tony Richie and Dr. Robb blackaby years ago in knoxville. Many different faith beliefs was there. It was an ecumenical gathering. It was very liberating. I listened to them and they listened to my testimony of how Christ changed my life.
This hits home for me and my denomination. In the past month I, and about a quarter of pastors and elders in the denomination, have been placed under “limited suspension” over the acceptance of same-sex married baptized Christians into full membership. It all began with a study committee open only to those who regarded anyone in a same- sex relationship as sinful. Then came a Synodical decision making this position “confessional.” Congregations who welcome same- sex married Christians now have a year to disaffiliate or be taken over. We are named schismatic in this situation. I am grieved in being summarily suspended after over 50 years of faithful ordained service, and even more so for ministers and whole congregations, who were able to live with differing opinions on this subject, are now thrown into distrust, division, and separation. I understand the deep feelings here, and the long tradition regarding same-sex relations in the church, but what about the years, centuries, of abuse and outright rejection of same-sex Christians? And what about the power play that forces everyone to conform to the traditional view? Who is schismatic here? Is schism sometimes necessary, on the one side to guard against heresy, and on the other side, to stand with the suffering, rejected, and abused?
oh friend, that breaks my heart—and makes me angry for you; power plays are always, always, always a sign of our enemy's mind at work; when will we learn?
I sent this to our vicar. I then turned to my morning prayers… been incorporating Rahners’s prayers into my morning ritual….
“God have mercy on us poor, short-sighted, and foolish sinners, we who form the body of Your Church.” -Rahner (Prayers for a Lifetime, p116).
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. amen&amen.
Thanks Chris.
Lord, make us a little less foolish by giving us enough light to see that we hardly see anything at all and nothing as you see it. And make us a little less poor by making us a little more aware of how utterly dependent we on your mercy and patience—especially in those moments we think we're doing our best.
One of the roots of toxic polarisation is a conviction that conflict is ‘irreconcilable’. Once we believe this we will dig in against our enemies. Putting aside for a moment the lack of confidence that God can and does reconcile all things, we can track this dilemma (in part) to an over reliance on ‘debating’ as a default problem solving mechanism - from Synods to Parliaments. These processes frequently compound conflict and drive us into Polarisation (there can only be one ‘winner’ in a synod debate - and Jesus, i think, weeps when people clap the winner). Fortunately we now now that there are better ways of dialogue around complexity, such as participatory democracy, circle work, restorative practices - proven, demonstrable, evidence based and….theologically grounded….many of which have origins in the peace churches. These practices are teachable and learnable. But do we actually want to DO it? If not, why not?