For various reasons, I’ve recently decided to permanently leave the church I’ve been attending for some time. Soon (August 28!), I’ll be starting college at Yale, and I’ll be searching for a new community of faith in the New Haven area. Here’s what I’m looking for.
- I’m not limiting myself to a specific denomination, but I’m attracted to Methodist and Episcopal churches. My theology is very anabaptist in flavor on many points, and so I’d love the opportunity to explore one of those traditions. Any of the historic peace churches attract me, for obvious reasons (this overlaps with the anabaptist category).
- I desperately need a congregation that will affirm me as a member of the community even where I openly differ with the majority opinion on an issue: a community that doesn’t make me afraid to disagree, that respects me as the role of “faithful dissenter” where necessary. This isn’t something I’ve encountered yet.
- An emphasis on social justice and poverty work would be great to be around. I’d love the opportunity to grow in my faith in an environment that recognizes the importance of poverty within Jesus’ message and that struggles in solidarity with the oppressed.
- Theological depth in the life of the community would be really encouraging, rather than the all-too-common self-help-style sermon with a Scripture thrown in for good measure.
- I’d like to finally go to a church that spends more time speaking against materialism than against homosexuality.
- A church composed of more than just upper/middle-class white people would be nice; the Body of Christ is so diverse, but our American churches often do not reflect that.
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11 August 2009 at 22:51
Anonymous
Your list includes many of my own desired qualities, and much of the vision that became the PCA. I believe you will find much of what you seek in an Episcopal, UCC or progressive Methodist church; although I have found few that truly respect those “faithful dissenters”. Oftentimes church becomes a community where only the prevailing views are given a public voice. I however think it very important to have dissenting voices, and to hold those opposing viewpoints as a part of the identity of the body, so that everyone can grow and learn. Evolutionary theory states that in order for a body to change, it must be acted on by forces both internal and external. Perhaps the reason that the institutional church is often so slow to change is because those internal voices for change are often silenced by the majority….
I pray that you find what you seek.
6 September 2009 at 22:57
the theology of being at yale « sword and cross
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