Progressive Christian Elevator Speeches
Since The Center for Progressive Christianity came into being in 1994, it has succeeded in widely spreading the term "progressive Christian" around the world. It embraces a non-literalistic approach to the Bible, a pluralistic understanding of the faith in relation to other religions, openness to metaphorical and non-supernaturalistic interpretations of Christian tradition, and commitment to practicing the faith to make the world a better place.
But now it can be said that there are two kinds of progressive Christianity in America. In the last few years, the term "progressive Christian" has begun to be used by evangelical Christians who are disaffected from right-wing politics. Their definition of "progressive Christian" is mostly a political one; they tend to have orthodox, traditional views about religion while standing for economic justice and peace.
By contrast, The Center for Progressive Christianity does not define progressive Christianity in political terms. It's 8 Point Welcome Statement embraces people of all sorts of persuasions. Our movement is committed to inclusiveness at many levels. We care a lot about justice, peace, and environmental responsibility, but we recognize that there are many different ways to approach these goals. While we encourage political activism, we care even more about values that are more enduring than current political passions.
So it is more important than ever for us to be clear about what we mean when we say we are progressive Christians. For years I've been writing and collecting "tag lines", short phrases that we can share with others about the kind of Christianity we represent. Lots of folks are embarrassed to call themselves Christians, because of all the bad things that have been done in the name of our faith, and particularly by the traditional Christian claim that Christianity is the only true faith. Our progressive Christian movement is about re-imagining and re-defining our religion, boldly reclaiming our identity, and finding succinct ways to express it:
I'm a progressive Christian who
* keeps the faith and drops the dogma
* experiences God more than I believe in any definition of God
* thinks that my faith is about deeds, not creeds
* takes the Bible seriously because I don't take it literally
* thinks spiritual questions are more important than religious answers
* cares more about what happens in the war-room and the board-room than about what happens in the bedroom
* thinks that other religions can be as good for others as my religion is good for me
* goes to a church that doesn't require you to park your brain outside before you come inside
* thinks that God is bigger than anybody's idea about God
* thinks that God evolves
Do you have any "elevator speeches" you'd like to add to this list?
Mark your calendars now! and register your church as a participant in PLURALISM SUNDAY, PENTECOST - MAY 11, 2008
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112 Bulkley, 332-3790 www.sausalitopresbyterian.com
SURVIVAL OF BODILY DEATH WITH MICHAEL MURPHY, Co-founder, Esalen Institute
SUN., FEB. 3, 9:30 AM in worship
Michael Murphy will be interviewed by Jim Burklo by way of the sermon
on Sunday, February 3, in 9:30 am worship. Michael is the co-founder of
the Esalen Institute near Big Sur. Michael and Esalen have been leaders
in the fields of transpersonal psychology, the human potential
movement, and exploration of the body-mind connection since the early
1960's. His book, "Golf in the Kingdom", was a big seller in the
1970's. Michael Murphy is presently the convener of a group of classics
scholars who are developing an interfaith, cross-cultural understanding
of the afterlife. He will share the findings of this effort with us on
February 3.
Saturday, February. 9, 7-10 PM, $10 donation
A documentary about a 2006 walk across the United States to promote progressive Christianity. CrossWalkAmerica's core team of walkers went from Phoenix to Washington, DC, on foot, visiting churches and communities along the way to share the good news of an open-minded, open-hearted, inclusive, pluralistic form of the faith. It's a heart-touching and inspiring film that reveals the yearning in America for a gentler, kinder, much more open and affirming kind of faith. This event is a fundraiser to help get the film into national distribution.
