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Progressive Christianity (Part Two) by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy In a recent issue of Ebb and Flow, I indicated that I would like very much to facilitate a conversation around Identity. Over the last few years, a number of Christians across a broad spectrum of denominations and traditions have chosen to define themselves as "progressive." In an era when the term "Christian" has been co-opted by the so called "Christian Right" to be used almost interchangeably with "conservative," it is critical that those with a different theological perspective begin to reclaim the language. At one time, the word "fundamentalist" meant "holding to the fundamentals of religion, the basics." Today, it means much more. At one time, "evangelical" meant "one who emphasized the gospel imperative to share the good news with others who have not heard it." Today it means much more. At one time, the description "born again" meant something about a person who has had a certain sort of religious experience available to all open to receive it. Today, it means much more. "Traditional" meant "one who honors the past", not the state of being closed to the future. And so, we need new language and a new identity which fits comfortably within the broad scope of biblical Christianity but which self-consciously places itself in a context of progressive, as opposed to "liberal," American political and social tradition. To struggle with the language and commitments of "progressive Christianity" is to seek new wineskins for the radical wine of the Gospel. The Center for Progressive Christianity, on the forefront of this movement, has as its stated goal: "...to help searching Christians reclaim the symbols for our faith and to find ways to make Christianity a transformative, life-changing force in their lives and in the world. Another is to make our faith relevant to our lives." (visit: www.tcpc.org.) To better understand the perspective of "progressive Christianity," visit our website and review the article entitled "And you call yourself Christian" in the June issue of Ebb and Flow. There you will see the "Eight Points" articulated by TCPC. Beginning Sept. 14, I invite those interested in this question to join me in a conversation about the 8 Points and toward determining whether or not St. Augustine's should move towards a formal declaration of itself as being, in fact, a "progressive church." Sign up on the Patio in August. (Block One Adult Education: Sundays at 10 a.m., Sept. 14, 21; Oct. 12, 19, 26; Nov. 2) "You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodist ... Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist."
Copyright © 2003 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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