The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that I pastor, is struggling with the issue of "living with tares." We are a conservative church in the midst of a liberal denomination. What do we do? I found this article insightful. Here's a quote:
Living with Tares - Christianity Today Magazine
Living with Tares - Christianity Today Magazine
Why do I not join those who have left or are leaving? Why do I stay? Serving a broken and divided church is a hard calling, and I do not minimize the difficulty of the task or the inevitable disappointments that I will encounter on the journey. But the Lord, for his good purpose, has (I humbly believe) thrown into one church Christians of radically different and sometimes theologically incompatible perspectives. Is it possible that in the midst of this painful discontinuity, he may do a work that none of us can foresee? It is in that hope and in remembering that he is Lord of the church and in charge of the big picture that I follow Jesus in the Episcopal Church.
So what do you think? Should conservative, evangelical churches and pastor's stay in liberal denominations?
6 comments:
At the time I read the article you quote, it occurred to me that an Episcopal bishop has too much at stake (as in a six-figure salary) to leave the Episcopal church and go to work at Wal-Mart. Under those circumstances one can find a way to stay with one's comfortable salary despite the apostasy of one's denomination.
Maybe the financial stakes aren't so high for Disciples (since there is, after all, a thriving network of independent Christian churches of the North American Christian Convention variety).
On one hand, there is no way to change a denomination except from the inside. But on the other hand it can exact an incredible price on those who strive for that change.
Should one stay? I think yes, but be prepared for the consequences.
I am not so sure about staying. I am a pastor in the PCUSA. This June our General Assembly will likely vote to allow local ordaining bodies to determine which of our ordination standards are actually standards. Let's see... gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transgender persons will be able to be ordained as elders, deacons and pastors if the local governing body says our national standard of fidelity in the covenant of marriage between a man and woman or chastity in singleness are not really essential. We could also ordain a practicing theif if the local ordaining body thought that stealing was not really an essential. The list of possibilities goes on and on and on.
On the other hand, two very good friends (who are ordained pastors) had a very difficult time being called to churches in very liberal presbyteries. In both cases the presbytery required the churches to interview additional candidates. Each church had already interviewed more candidates than were required.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to stay.
Steve,
I tried to email you a few weeks back but I just got word from my ISP that the emails I sent bounced. I wanted to let you know about a gathering of Colorado Emergent folks. I am sorry you did not get them. At any rate, we started a google group that you can check out here:
http://groups.google.com/group/Emergent-Colorado-Cohort?lnk=li
Thanks.
James
Steve,
As a center-left Disciples Pastor, I just want to say -- hey, the defining principles of the Disciples is one of unity. It is not a unity of uniformity, but of a centered faith in Jesus. Obviously, there is a great divergence of views in the Disciples, and the Disciples trend to the left. But there is room for all -- even if we're not always comfortable. So, by all means, stay!
I see it from the lens of endorsement. If we stay within an organization (as all denominations are then we are affirming and endorsing that organization by our membership within it.
The Church catholic is wider than any human franchise or instituition, right? You and I are both ministers in the Church! You are within one branch and I am in another, but our particular 'branches' can become corrupt.
So, I ask myself: Is my staying here an endorsement of any thing that is contrary to God's Word? Individuals can and do fall short of being in line with God's Word,(myself included from time to time!) but that is not the issue. For me it must be a question of the institution (in which membership is optional). Is my staying an endorsement of unbiblical teachings that will lead some of God's children astray?
I don't have an answer to the above question. But I think that each of us must ask it and be willing to go where the Spirit leads!
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