Comments on: Ought a theological center be the goal?

By: Jaume

Jaume — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:50:51 +0000

For me, the issue is neither a “center” nor a “heart”. The issue is “identity”. What will be the identity and the distinctive personality for the result of the merging of the classical Unitarian and Universalist religious traditions in the religious landscape of the 21st century? An interfaith movement with syncretistic worship and no personality of its own? A liberal Christian church that welcomes non-Christians without requiring conversion? Or the possibility of overcoming old-fashioned, reactive religions of the past to foster a renewed spirituality valid and meaningful for post-industrial, post-postmodern societies? Those are the questions that we need to answer, and we will need to do it globally: national churches will be even more obsolete than nations themselves in the coming global society.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 12:47:42 +0000

-I had never thought about the power issue before, but it strikes me as very important. Every now and then I’ve wondered if we in the UUA would have been better off (and more honest) by stating that we have no theological center. Would we be more honest in saying that we as an Association are simply an interfaith federation of independent churches, connected in many ways by history, but not by theology (with common theology being something worked out locally as each church’s covenant allows)?

But if we admit this, then we need to reconsider many issues of Association government, function, and purpose. On going efforts to centralize identity, mission, voice, and outreach via the Beacon Street office would need to be abandoned. More efforts would need to be placed into grass roots congregational services, and voluntary associations that uphold the missions of our various independent churches.

By: Chalicechick

Chalicechick — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:25:24 +0000

Ooops! Just found this.

Please know that a certain screed on a certain blog was not directed at you…

By: Peregrinato

Peregrinato — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:01:58 +0000

I was deeply impressed with what he said. This is a man who doesn’t just use theological lingo, but actually knows theology and speaks with insight and understanding.

The readings and the discussion did help to lay to rest (for me, at least) any concept of UCC = Unitarians Considering Christ. Certainly many members of the UCC may self-identify with that phrase, but as a church and a faith community, Christ is not “considered,” simply a subject of idle reflection.