Should Denominations Be Organized Geographically?
Should Denominations Be Organized Geographically?
A Presbyterian Church (USA) commission has voted 15-5 to allow non-geographic presbyteries. The move, which would allow churches to choose their own groupings for "missional purposes," follows defections over the denomination's vote to ordain noncelibate gays and lesbians. The recommendation needs approval at the General Assembly this June.
"Geographical proximity allows for more spiritual, emotional, pastoral support. When you cannot coexist spiritually with another church in the same denomination, functionally you probably have two denominations and it might be better simply to separate."
Carl Trueman, professor, Westminster Theological Seminary
"If a theological conviction runs deep enough, why wouldn't you walk away from a denomination that disagrees? If it's just preference, then you're thinking like a person with options: 'I'll go to the church that reflects me rather than the Bible.' That seems more consumeristic than gospel-driven."
Greg Peters, professor, Biola University
"I respect those whose conscience calls for separation in order that denominations can survive. But I wonder what it does to our souls when we increasingly use our rights and freedoms to disassociate. According to Jesus in John 17, the disunity of the body dilutes our witness."
Bob Thompson, past chair, Association for Church Renewal
"Ideally, churches of one denomination would share so much theological commonality that it would be quite natural for them to group themselves geographically. With the theological diversity and tension in many denominations today, that's just no longer possible."
R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Of all the ways of organizing the church, geographical proximity is not the best. It worked fine when we were all on the same page in regard to fundamental beliefs. That homogeneity seems to be passing. Affinity groupings may be the wave of the future."
Will Willimon, bishop, North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church
"As theological diversity broadens among many denominations, theological affinity trumps geographic proximity as a catalyst for vision and ministry. Structures need to conform to this reality. Geographical organization belongs to a bygone era. We need to let it go."
Paul Detterman, executive director, Presbyterians for Renewal
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Comments
Adam Gonnerman
I see this as part of a larger trend in Western society. For decades we've been moving more towards non-geographically defined tribes. Often we can't name more than two of our neighbors, let alone consider any of them friends. With the advent of the Internet this has been accelerated, first by allowing us to seek out groups based on common interests, and second by more recent changes in web services that tailor our online experience to match our search history and stated preferences. Take this to religion and it isn't difficult to understand why we'd have very low tolerance for differences and a greater willingness to form our denominational structures around shared details of the faith rather than physical proximity.
Rick Dalbey
While I go to a denominational church in Portland oregon on Sunday, our neighborhood home meetings are attended by people from many denominations and churches. We just all love Jesus and love to get together and pray, pray for the sick, lead others to Jesus. It was always great to go to Kathryn Kuhlman meetings in the 70s. The audience would be full of devout catholics, methodists, presbyterians, baptists, pentecostals of every stripe. We were all there to worship Jesus. Whenever the Spirit is out-poured, all the labels are washed off and we become children of the King.
Scott Herr
Here at the American Church in Paris we have somewhere between 40 and 50 different nationalities any given Sunday and who knows how many denominational variations. We have a wide spectrum of theological orientations and traditional preferences. The miracle is God calls us to worship and serve together. This is crucial to our humble gospel witness to the city of Paris, better I imagine than separating off ad nauseum according to our individual and tribal theological persuasions and preferences. If the ministry of reconciliation is central to the church's mission in the world, than I think it high time we start practicing reconcialiation in the church (II Corinthians 5:11-21)! If the ministry of welcome is central to the church's ministry, then I think it high time we start practicing welcome one another (Romans 15:1-7)! And if we can't practice Jesus' singularly unique ethical imperative of loving our "enemies" in the church, how can we expect to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:44)?