Hi Lindsay, But! (Don't you just love that word?!)
My thought is if the only thing we have left of Wesley are some old hymns then this highlights what we have lost from the original genius, accountability, spirit, authenticity, of the Christian walk that supported a reformation of the church in England? If the only thing that gives us a sense of who we are (on the Wesleyan side of things) is our attitude to alcohol then we most certainly have lost the original charism. I guess I have had in my mind that the decline in denominationalism is a good thing (and perhaps it still is) but now I realise it may well be for the sad reason that we have not been faithful to where we started. This (again) focuses on us in our failure rather than them out there having a new set of idiosyncrasies that we the faithful long suffering Christians have to discern and do something about. Sure we should do something about it. We should rediscover what made our denominations so potent at the beginning and start all over again (naturally appropriating to suit the situation, but not to take out the "too hard" bits). I've noticed that many "revivals" include something rediscovered that was at some time lost to the church in the church's journey. If we rediscovered our past we then WOULD offer something unique, therefore it would be an alternative, an alternative to the world out there from which, at the moment, we are all but indistinguishable. Also it would give people a reason why they choose the UCA - or go to another denomination (that also offers something unique) - each denomination offering something of the diversity of the Christian heritage. They then may choose my church for reasons other than having a great cr�che. Maybe they would join despite the lack of a cr�che. Then they might themselves start a cr�che. I sound like I'm suggesting we should get all denomination again. I don't think I am. I guess I'm discovering in here somewhere that we must not lose our diversity (uniqueness) in our ecumenism ... that as the UCA endeavours to do, we should affirm the diversity of authentic expressions of the Christian faith. Now I'm worried that diversity could amount to choosing the option that is easiest for me. Me thinks all this stuff is not that easy! Tom I'm not entirely convinced by that argument Tom. While no doubt it's true that people in the pews mightn't have a deep knowledge of the theology of Calvin or John Wesley, they do know the difference between a Charles Wesley hymn and any of the other rubbish I persist in trying to foist upon them! And the old-time Methodists know that "their church" is agin' drinking and gambling; the newer Uniting folk know that "their church" is socially progressive, supports aboriginal rights and refugees. So there is still a denominational linkage but it's more cultural than theological. Which leads to *my* theory which is that the decline of denominationalism is not because the denominations have strayed from their beginnings, but rather two factors: firstly, that while denominations have (by in large) formed based on theological differences, people are no longer either so theologically literate or so theologically motivated as they were in the past, so instead factors such as style of worship, child-care facilities, age range etc, become far more important for most people than theological differences, and these differences are not as denominationally based so people move around to whatever church has the things they want. The second factor of course is simply the pick-and-choose, consumer mentality which is prevalent in generations from the boomers down. Cheers Linz On 09/09/2004, at 0:18, Tom Stuart wrote: > I�m reading a book at the moment that suggests that a large part of > the decline of denominational allegiance is due to the fact that most > denominations have moved so far, or lost altogether, the original > charism (for the sake of a better word) that brought that denomination > into being. > > � > > That seems to suggest that all denominations have become > indistinguishable in their nominalism. > > � > > I wonder how many people who go to the churches where I worship know > of Wesley and Calvin.� While I think many would not even know these > characters names I am certain that no one could articulate the unique > contribution these made giving birth to Methodism and the Presbyterian > church. > > � > > I�d never thought of it that way before. > > � > > Tom > > � > > � > > � > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > www.milman.uniting.com.au > > Ph: 6862 5502� Mobile: 0427 625 502 > > 14 Bushman St > > Parkes NSW 2870 > > � > > 'Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable'. > > I prefer to die living than to live dying! > > "War is a poor chisel with which to carve out the future." - Martin > Luther King, Jr > > "There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: Make the best > quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the > highest wages possible."� Henry Ford > > � ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------ __________ NOD32 1.865 (20040908) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.nod32.com ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------
