Sometimes people mock American people for being parochial. Sometimes, to my shame, I have mocked American people for being parochial. Well this is how parochial I am. Until recently I didn't realise that some of the Bishops of Dioceses in The Episcopal Church (American Anglican Church) had declared themselves not in The Episcopal Church and had taken the buildings and the funds with them. The video above is a story of the Diocese of Fort Worth and the events that happened after they no longer had buildings or paid ministers.
Good inspiring, pioneering stuff, with tremendous opportunities being taken. It makes me wonder whether the time, energy and money spent in litigation might not be spent better elsewhere.
It makes me wonder whether the time, energy and money spent in litigation might not be spent better elsewhere.¨
No doubt about it. After the demonizers of fellow Anglicans take over Westminster Abbey and/or St. Pauls Cathedral you can make the same judgement (if you´re allowed to by the British Government).
We might actually be better off and better equipped for our primary task if our congregations were not saddled with the responsibilities of maintaining large historic buildings, wonderful as they may be.
We love our churches but don't love the effort and resources needed to maintain them.
I sometimes think of small services, run in lounges, cafes and schools, which are done without all of the trappings of the church and just feel more intimate and communal.
I suppose that is part of the attraction of church plants and fresh expressions - but existing churches can do it just as well.
Perhaps it's time we abandoned the buildings and returned to early church days, praying and worshiping in homes and small communities.
Of course, we would not need so many bishops and diocesan offices either - deanery based would work.
Both sides in church disputes are making a lot of lawyers very rich and then claiming that "We're only preserving our heritage/resources left to us by our fathers and mothers in the faith once handed down by the saints. This isn't about turf wars or who gets what. This is about stealing/Biblical faithfulness." All so pitiful and transparent and petty and another reason I'm glad to be an atheist. Religion gets stupider and more bizarre by the hour.
6 comments:
Good inspiring, pioneering stuff, with tremendous opportunities being taken. It makes me wonder whether the time, energy and money spent in litigation might not be spent better elsewhere.
It makes me wonder whether the time, energy and money spent in litigation might not be spent better elsewhere.¨
No doubt about it. After the demonizers of fellow Anglicans take over Westminster Abbey and/or St. Pauls Cathedral you can make the same judgement (if you´re allowed to by the British Government).
We might actually be better off and better equipped for our primary task if our congregations were not saddled with the responsibilities of maintaining large historic buildings, wonderful as they may be.
What a fantastically encouraging video. Thank you for sharing this with us.
We love our churches but don't love the effort and resources needed to maintain them.
I sometimes think of small services, run in lounges, cafes and schools, which are done without all of the trappings of the church and just feel more intimate and communal.
I suppose that is part of the attraction of church plants and fresh expressions - but existing churches can do it just as well.
Perhaps it's time we abandoned the buildings and returned to early church days, praying and worshiping in homes and small communities.
Of course, we would not need so many bishops and diocesan offices either - deanery based would work.
Is anyone listening?
Both sides in church disputes are making a lot of lawyers very rich and then claiming that "We're only preserving our heritage/resources left to us by our fathers and mothers in the faith once handed down by the saints. This isn't about turf wars or who gets what. This is about stealing/Biblical faithfulness."
All so pitiful and transparent and petty and another reason I'm glad to be an atheist.
Religion gets stupider and more bizarre by the hour.
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