"Like thousands of interviewees in the Zacchaeus study, I have not been part of a congregation that fractured irrevocably over denominational politics. But I have, however, been a member of a church that divided over new worship music, moving the pews, changing the liturgy, and children in church!" (p. 70)
When reading this, my reaction was "I know that church!" Most people care more about practices than theology. In the Practicing Congregation, Bass articulates the history between the "poles" of right and left, liberal and conservative, and the truth of practice in the mainline Protestant churches. She notes that research finds that only about 10% of people actually reside at each pole. Thus, she suggests that such polarized understandings of the church are "increasingly unhelpful" and a new paradigm is needed.
What do you think? (Submitted by Jan Snell, Leadership Development Work Group)
Reflecting on The Practicing Congregation
A conversation for members of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area