Another Life Decision

[edders]

I've accepted the decision to switch out of my home church where I grew up and have served the past year and a half and move into a much more nearby church by the seminary here. It's a pretty serious shift in tradition, and a noticeable shift in theology, though a little less drastic than some might think

Comments

[twilightfugue]

<3Anglicans

[stuckinidle]

Is there really something inherently wrong with fracturing and splitting? I think that the ability for an organization to evolve and grow and change with the needs of its members very rapidly can be important for sustaining that organization. you may not have, on the surface one great and unified body, but I think the best metaphor is that of a tree with many branches (and ever growing) all coming from one trunk (and drawing their vitality from that trunk) rather than - implicitly - a cup or glass.

[stuckinidle]

That is not to argue with your change and movement, I'm sure that it will suit you well and help you to thrive.

[edders]

That's true, there is a degree to which that level of dialogue is helpful and healthy for the whole. The problem with the level of division we've got today, though, is that we've made it painfully difficult for people (including ourselves) to understand what the actual definition of a Christian is. Ideally, one body should be flexible enough to hold together the various legitimate expressions of the the biblical faith, yet tight enough to retain a coherent message. The Roman Catholic Church is too tight to allow for much range of interpretation. Most Protestant denominations are the same in terms of defining what's right.

You're right, though, the many branches-from-one-tree model does have a positive contribution, but it's not the model I want to follow and propagate :-)

[becky_kitty]

You're welcome.

*~*~*~*~*

Best of luck with the shift. I'd be interested to hear more.

[adufiniel]

This was really interesting to read and got me thinking. My fiance grew up Catholic, I grew up Presbyterian, and now we attend a Baptist church that sort of functions as non-denominational...long story short, when we get married, I have no idea what we'll pick because each one has something different. I'm glad I'm not the only one pondering the differences between denominations, and it was very nice to read your thoughts.

I hope things are going alright! It's not too long before you're married, right? You must be excited!