I recently returned from Orlando, Fla., where my family and I were attending the General Assembly of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. It’s a gathering of more than 5,000 folks from Disciples’ congregations from all over the United States and Canada. It’s a great time of fellowship, worship, learning and mission, as well as a time to conduct business as a denomination.
Some of what is discussed in our business sessions might surprise some readers. In addition to ordinary and mundane matters, we normally have a few sense-of-the-assembly resolutions, which deal with controversial matters. The decisions made concerning these resolutions are not binding on our congregations — they are “a word to the church and not for the church,” as we are apt to say. Yet, even so, they are rarely easily considered.
This year was no different. Among other things, we had resolutions about the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church, the condemning of Drone strikes occurring outside war zones, and even an emergency resolution following the George Zimmerman verdict, calling upon our general minister to work with our ecumenical partners in supporting the Justice Department’s inquiry into this matter. You can imagine the spirited debate!
Perhaps that we discuss such matters surprises you. Your view of the church is that it deals only with spiritual matters, such as prayer, Bible study and programs for evangelism. Or, if controversial matters do arise, maybe you see the most prudent course for the church as one of avoiding such things, since controversy sometimes breeds conflict and division. Then, where does that leave you?
But we see it differently. For us, as well as for a few other Protestant denominations (and the Catholic Church, for that matter), religious faith is not simply a matter of the heart, but it’s just as much a matter of the way we live in the world. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are equally concerned about social, political, economic and environmental matters, as they are seen in light of the gospel.
“All of it matters,” as a friend of mine puts it. As we seek to live lives that love God back and that love our neighbor, all of it matters.
Perhaps such breadth of concern surprises you. Or maybe you think that dealing with such controversial matters is shortsighted, too risky. I myself have seen Sunday school classes diminish in numbers because of disagreements. I’ve seen people leave a church over controversial matters. I’ve seen folks walk out of General Assembly meetings clearly upset.
But mostly, and especially when we are at our best, I’ve experienced something completely different. When folks worship, eat, sing and serve alongside of each other, they are extended a certain liberty in discussing controversial issues, even when people are at a point of disagreement. Conversation is almost always marked by honesty, patient listening and acceptance of one another in spite of differences (which, in the political climate in which we live today, is a breath of fresh air).
At the end of the debate and vote about the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church, I heard the man behind me say, “Aw, Mama, we lost!” But that evening, there he was in worship receiving Holy Communion with his fellow Christians, laying aside any theological differences, celebrating his common faith in Jesus Christ.
That’s what I cherish about my church family.
Mark Benson is pastor of Gordon Street Christian Church. Reach him at markgscc@embarqmail.com.
