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2eclipsei just came back from speaking with bryce (the senior pastor at my church).
we have had an on-going debate about his use of an "if" clause in opening communion. he has a very christ-centered theology, which i respect. hell, i just plain respect him. he is a beloved pastor in a big progressive church. he is smart and gives sermons that are often thought-provoking. he is a good listener and a fine singer and he wants to love his congregation well.
but i decided not to ignore my problem with how he invites people to communion.
educated lay people are always in a tricky position when it comes to churches. we are not pastors and so do not automaticaly get treated as equals, but we know christianity at about the same level as the pastors do. Bryce Johnson knows how to run a church a hell of a lot better than i ever will and i give him full credit for his experience with how to talk to a congregation and meet their needs. but i know that my education in theology is at least as good as his, maybe better. seminary educations have changed a lot in the last few decades and i went to a damn good one. it is tough to present yourself to the top dog with such qualifications and not be seen as a threat. i want Bryce to see me as a resource and a thoughtful person, not as an annoyance and a threat. i was very careful in the letter i wrote to him. i was very careful in how i spoke to him on the phone and very careful at our meeting this morning. i did my very best to present myself and my argument in persuasive, non-judging, theologically sound ways. i am very proud of myself.
moreover, i convinced him. he said that when he looks into his heart to se what he really believes, he agrees with me. "if"s are not necessary or helpful. God's welcome is to everyone and people can choose what they want to do about it without any extra conditions.
we have had an on-going debate about his use of an "if" clause in opening communion. he has a very christ-centered theology, which i respect. hell, i just plain respect him. he is a beloved pastor in a big progressive church. he is smart and gives sermons that are often thought-provoking. he is a good listener and a fine singer and he wants to love his congregation well.
but i decided not to ignore my problem with how he invites people to communion.
educated lay people are always in a tricky position when it comes to churches. we are not pastors and so do not automaticaly get treated as equals, but we know christianity at about the same level as the pastors do. Bryce Johnson knows how to run a church a hell of a lot better than i ever will and i give him full credit for his experience with how to talk to a congregation and meet their needs. but i know that my education in theology is at least as good as his, maybe better. seminary educations have changed a lot in the last few decades and i went to a damn good one. it is tough to present yourself to the top dog with such qualifications and not be seen as a threat. i want Bryce to see me as a resource and a thoughtful person, not as an annoyance and a threat. i was very careful in the letter i wrote to him. i was very careful in how i spoke to him on the phone and very careful at our meeting this morning. i did my very best to present myself and my argument in persuasive, non-judging, theologically sound ways. i am very proud of myself.
moreover, i convinced him. he said that when he looks into his heart to se what he really believes, he agrees with me. "if"s are not necessary or helpful. God's welcome is to everyone and people can choose what they want to do about it without any extra conditions.