Andrew that is a good point. I'm an Anglican Deacon in Belize (mainstream not ACNA) and I believe that our liturgy is fundamental, with Eucharist at the center, bringing us back to Christ every week. For me, church can hardly get too high. I believe that humans love and respond to ritual. However, I think we need to put more emphasis on explaining the symbolism and origins of what we do, what we clergy or very committed congregants take for granted.
The three songs by the Praise Team (shudder) long and theologically dubious sermon, and sign off song followed by fellowship is thin, in my view. (It reminds me of School of Rock, when the little girls ask their teacher, Jack Black, what their role is in the class band. He replies, "Your job is to worship the band.")
Thank you! As a mutt myself, currently in a diverse PCUSA church and previously in a large ACNA church, widow of a UCC minister who himself got saved at a Billy Graham crusade… I love liturgy and creed and Eucharist. I’m on our church’s worship council and would love to hear more about “historic” churches that feel vibrant and faithful.
Great article. I go to a mainline church and there is quite a lot I admire about it. It suits me. I like the history, the traditions and the rituals - particularly at a time when we have lost so many rituals. I have also spent time in Pentecostal churches, which also had something to offer. There was a lot I liked about that church too (and much that I didn't). What I spent a lot of time thinking about at the moment is, at a time when Christianity is shrinking, so often there aren't that many churches around to choose from (particularly in regional areas). I've had comments from people that my mainline regional church should change to become more modern. (Because there aren't too many other churches around). And so the question I keep thinking about is "Should we become more modern to attract those who do not like mainstream churches?" or "Should we stay the way we are, because a lot of people are attracted to tradition and ritual too?"
I don't see a path forward for the mainline beyond the small niche it currently occupies. What you correctly observe in evangelicalism is the protestant reformation brought to its logical conclusion. I think the First Things article "Goldilocks Protestantism" gets this mostly right.
Excellent points here! I am also a mix of theologies of the mainline: grew up Lutheran, spent some time with the UCC/Reformed with my wife, and have for years centered my private devotional life around the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer, which I finally officially joined after my kids moved out on their own. For me, worship requires strong liturgy and the centrality of the Eucharist -- something that is unlikely to be found in a nondenominational church. I especially appreciate how you note that the mainline churches have decades/centuries of tradition and polity that inform their ecclesiology today -- we have checks in place to ensure that worship is done "decently and in order", and that a congregation will not become a cult of personality for the pastor of the moment.
Andrew that is a good point. I'm an Anglican Deacon in Belize (mainstream not ACNA) and I believe that our liturgy is fundamental, with Eucharist at the center, bringing us back to Christ every week. For me, church can hardly get too high. I believe that humans love and respond to ritual. However, I think we need to put more emphasis on explaining the symbolism and origins of what we do, what we clergy or very committed congregants take for granted.
The three songs by the Praise Team (shudder) long and theologically dubious sermon, and sign off song followed by fellowship is thin, in my view. (It reminds me of School of Rock, when the little girls ask their teacher, Jack Black, what their role is in the class band. He replies, "Your job is to worship the band.")
Thank you! As a mutt myself, currently in a diverse PCUSA church and previously in a large ACNA church, widow of a UCC minister who himself got saved at a Billy Graham crusade… I love liturgy and creed and Eucharist. I’m on our church’s worship council and would love to hear more about “historic” churches that feel vibrant and faithful.
Great article. I go to a mainline church and there is quite a lot I admire about it. It suits me. I like the history, the traditions and the rituals - particularly at a time when we have lost so many rituals. I have also spent time in Pentecostal churches, which also had something to offer. There was a lot I liked about that church too (and much that I didn't). What I spent a lot of time thinking about at the moment is, at a time when Christianity is shrinking, so often there aren't that many churches around to choose from (particularly in regional areas). I've had comments from people that my mainline regional church should change to become more modern. (Because there aren't too many other churches around). And so the question I keep thinking about is "Should we become more modern to attract those who do not like mainstream churches?" or "Should we stay the way we are, because a lot of people are attracted to tradition and ritual too?"
I don't see a path forward for the mainline beyond the small niche it currently occupies. What you correctly observe in evangelicalism is the protestant reformation brought to its logical conclusion. I think the First Things article "Goldilocks Protestantism" gets this mostly right.
Excellent points here! I am also a mix of theologies of the mainline: grew up Lutheran, spent some time with the UCC/Reformed with my wife, and have for years centered my private devotional life around the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer, which I finally officially joined after my kids moved out on their own. For me, worship requires strong liturgy and the centrality of the Eucharist -- something that is unlikely to be found in a nondenominational church. I especially appreciate how you note that the mainline churches have decades/centuries of tradition and polity that inform their ecclesiology today -- we have checks in place to ensure that worship is done "decently and in order", and that a congregation will not become a cult of personality for the pastor of the moment.