Twice now I’ve tried to register our church with the group “The Center for Progressive Christianity”, twice now the online system has booted me out. The second time, however, they accepted my money before the disconnect. I’m fearful of the third try.
Regardless, whether or not we are listed on the pseudo-official roster of “Progressive Christian” churches, the word is out. We, at the Other Evangelical, are a progressive community. How do I know this? Because I had the pleasure of being interviewed this week by an Eden student from the “Pastoral Care in the Progressive Christian Church”. She had been referred to me (and us) by her professor (thank you, Mike!) as we are a local exemplar of what he is talking about. I think that is about as official as we can get in a movement that eschews formality, operates on a shoestring, and spans the continent.
As I chatted with the student, hearing her story and sharing mine, seeing the connections and divergences, I heard myself verbalizing an irony that we see in the American religious scene. The religious movements that have embraced contemporary culture (technology, musical styles, and communication venues) have been largely theologically conservative. Conversely, the culturally careful traditions (maintaining more so-called traditional worship styles and organizational structures) have been privy to the more expansive theological frames. Unfortunately, as some writers are beginning to note, the institutional wings that held the manna of inquiry have in many cases atrophied in their protected environments. Meanwhile, the culturally accessible traditions offer a theological message that is often irrelevant to the 21st century seeker; here too the atrophy is inescapable. Since the progressive message comes in traditional garb and the traditional message dons the progressive wrapper, both have missed the mark.
Which brings me to the crux of my own inquiry.
If we were to don a progressive style that matched our theological expansiveness, what might our gathering look like?
Although we’ve moved some furniture in the sanctuary, rewritten the prayers with more inclusive imagery, and added contemporary and multicultural sounds to our musical repertoire, our worship follows a very similar format to that of the 1960’s. As I look at our church budget, I’m struck that we still budget for the pastor to do home visits but have no funds for web design. Although I would proffer that our thinking is quite post modern, both our building and our community structure are still rooted in 20th century assumptions. Is that by choice, circumstance or default? More to the point, is that how we want it to be?
If, for instance, our message of compassion and our experience of inclusive community could be heard more effectively if we removed all the pews in the sanctuary, would we do so? Why or why not? Likewise if we become persuaded that written prayers are a detraction from an encounter with the sacred, are we prepared to shift course? And what of our assumptions about what is and isn’t worshipful musically?
The other irony of which I am keenly aware is that even as I type these words, there are many within our community who depend on the church for stability in a world that is changing much too rapidly. Can the church be at once the anchor of tradition and also a dynamic progressive presence? Thus far we have held the two needs in dynamic tension, but I feel the pull and hear the echo of the student’s question, “What makes your church progressive?”
Meanwhile, it is time to try once more at the site of the Progressive Christians. The third try is said to be the charm, unless of course it is the third strike. Maybe I’ll pick up the phone.
I love the question, “What makes us progressive?”
Inasmuch as we desire to be inclusive and welcoming (and we are), many of us hold to the traditions of our past. For many of us who were raised in church or as I like to say, “I cut my teeth on the back of a church pew.”, there is a familiar ring and pleasant remembrances in the “old church” of my past. Yet, ringing simultaneously are remembrances of pain when thoughts of “old church” enters my mind. For some, it may mean being ousted for being “one of those_______ people”. It may mean that, regardless of how hard we tried, we just couldn’t make ourselves fit the mold of perfection that was expected to be accepted.
No matter what we have endured under the guise of “church”, there is a longing inside and a deep seated belief that the Creator meant ‘me’ when the words “whosover will” were penned. Though churches may try to push those with differences or rough edges away from the “perfect world” of “their” church, God calls to all humankind and though, hushed to a whisper at times by the bigoted, self-righteous and pious, God’s voice echos over the angry mobs and the still, small voice of God still speaks to every heart. God IS still speaking!
Bottom line, we can call ourselves whatever we desire. We can dress it up in whatever fashion we desire. We can strip tradition and formality from our services. We can bring in drums and instruments and “rock” the place. We can dance in the aisles or sit quietly in meditation. No matter how we serve it and no matter how pretty the platter is upon which it is served, our message MUST be that God loves ALL of us.
I will never forget the first time I visited a “welcoming and affirming” church. The words spoken prior to communion moved me like no amount of “hellfire and brimstone” preaching ever had. The words were- “This is God’s table. All are welcome here. You don’t have to belong to this church or any church. Come as you are, believing as you do, come, children of God!”
No matter what the “label” says, whether progressive or traditional, our actions will always outweigh any brand or tag line we give ourselves. If we say we are inclusive, we can’t exclude. If we say we are accepting, we can’t reject. If we are affirming, we can’t criticize. We must live God’s love outloud. A little song we sang as kids simply said, over and over, “They will know we are Christians, by our love, by our love”.
Order of service, responsive readings or not, written prayers or free-lanced ones, sermons spoken softly or preached loudly, music from hymnals or choruses on a big screen- none of this defines us.
The root of progressive is progress. Have we progressed? Are we progressing? Willing to? Not willing to? Our answers to these questions will tell us if we are progressive of if we are just “saying we are”.
May it be in each of our hearts to ever progress, to ever reach for the unreachable and to love the unloveable. Therein lies progress.
“our message MUST be that God loves ALL of us” – yes, yes, and yes!