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| "Consider this an invitation. I invite you on my pilgrimage to some very different kinds of churches, old Protestant churches that have found new life in the face of change. They reminded me that Christianity is a sacred pathway to someplace better, a journey of transforming our selves, our faith communities, and our world." ... from the Introduction. |
| Index | Chapter Summary |
| Summary Notes - Ch 10 - Diversity - Making Community | |
| Within society there are "haves" and "have nots". These
develop due to the vagaries of history in a place. Bass points to the great
diversity in California, within which Goleta Presbyterian church has lived.
At Goleta, Bass observed their changes in response. 3/4 of the congregation
were not raised Presbyterian, even the pastor. This means a variety of
views when interpreting scripture, music, relations to other faiths, to
politics and key social issues - what the pastor calls "complex wisdom"
and "a polyculture of the Spirit". Such diversity is stronger
since it yields gracefully when needed, for example revitalizing mission
statements in constructive ways. Within this diversity, the members feel led to this church. They maintain a "creative tension" theologically and musically - full of difference not division. Difference is often brought to the bar of Presbyterian traditions to settle. Theological diversity is as characteristic of these renewed mainline churches as theological uniformity is a characteristic of the evangelical communities. Yet this diversity is "not secular relativism" but rather "a boundary-crossing community, a family bound not by blood but by love". Bass is reminded of the "sundry folk" of Chaucer's Cantebury Tales, and God saying of Eden, it was "very good". She traces tolerance through the scriptures and reminds us of Jesus community of inclusion not exclusion, that "love would open the way for people who were different to be reconciled". As a historian Bass notes the repeated "theological mistake" of history with it's elevation of uniformity over diversity and the consequent shunning, excommunications, heresy trials, inquisitions, schisms, crusades, and war. The truer theology is love in action that should characterize christians. The "ubuntu" of South Africa is such a thing and combined with christian action to end apartheid. Bishop Tutu says "a person is a person through other persons", and "In God's family, there are no outsiders. All are insiders." |
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St. David's United Church.Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sep 2007