Sharing space, divided by theology
The Providence Journal has a well-written story about the tale of two United Methodist congregations that share a worship space, but find themselves divided over the issue of homosexuality.
The stage began to be set when members of Open Table voted unanimously in January to have their church join the Reconciling Ministries network, a national organization working for full participation of people of “all sexual orientations and gender identities” in the life of the church, and for removal from the United Methodist Book of Discipline a rule declaring homosexual practice to be “incompatible” with Christian teaching.
The Rev. Santos Escobar, the pastor of Abundant Life, says his church members knew about the January vote, but became concerned only after Open Table members held a Mother’s Day service in the spring at which they invited a gay Episcopalian to speak from the pulpit about his experiences as a Christian gay man.
Full story here.
Thank you for this link. I found it some of the best reporting on religion in America that I have read in some time, and I was able to e-mail the author of the piece and commend him.
That was a good article and talks about the difficulties in shared parishes where theologies are tested. Having served in a similar position of theological incompatibility between shared-space congregations, I’ve often wondered why people take their balls and go home rather than stay and work things out. I hope they find some agreement soon as it looked like a shared mission mindset.