Here are some rough notes I scribbled after Jan and I visited what is probably Australia's largest theologically liberal congregation, St. Michael's Uniting Church in Collins St, pastored by well-known pastor/author/counsellor/provocateur Dr Frances McNabb. Their website introduces the congregation in these terms: 'St Michael's is a unique Christian presence in the city of Melbourne. It offers a wide variety of experiences for growth and change. It is a place which affirms and encourages the best expression of who you are and who you can be, through relevant theology, Sunday Service, numerous support programs and its commitment to counselling and psychotherapy. Sunday Services with Dr Francis Macnab Under the Executive Minister, Dr Francis Macnab, the large congregation has adopted a liberal and progressive theology that sits on the forefront of radical thought.' We in John Mark Ministries spend our ministry-lives asking the question 'What does a healthy church look like?' That is not the same as another question, asked more frequently in the U.S. and among Australia's Pentecostal groups in particular: 'What makes a church grow?' Here are some random comments on both questions. St. Michael's was comfortably full last (Easter) Sunday morning, as it is apparently every Sunday - with probably 600-700 worshippers: mostly 50s - 70s downstairs, 30s+ in the balcony). Why? Clue [1]: The pastoral leader. Dr McNabb might be described as 'everybody's white-haired grandfather' or as 'Australia's Bishop Spong'. He's a good listener (I had his full attention for a minute in the greeting queue), softly spoken, highly intelligent, well-read, well-written (20-30 books), and a very good communicator. He led the whole service, read the lectionary Bible passages in one go (with 'liberal/progressive' comments tying them together - like 'Paul's fairly confused statement' in 1 Corinthians 15), gave the 'notices', introduced the hymns, blessed the offering (mostly tens and twenties, a couple of envelopes but no fifties in our pew's plate), and prayed and preached a sermon without mentioning the word 'God' - except, I think, once in a rhetorical question. The prayer ('gathering thoughts') did not address God, but comprised affirmations about 'celebrating life-enhancing experiences'... and concluded with 'This is our prayer. Amen'. Clue [2]: Excellence. There was no mediocrity anywhere. The printed Order of Service had a touch of class about it and explained everything; all the hymns were included there; the musical offerings - bells, organ, ensemble, soloist (Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate: I would have included an English translation for 'non-Latins' to follow) - were first class; the autumn-coloured stained glass windows and general ambience/decor were soft and inviting... Clue [3]: Dr. McNabb is 'eminently listenable'. The Sermon ('Courage to Face the Real Meaning of the Resurrection') was obviously (a) addressing a question many people are asking - viz. 'Can we still believe the historic Christian dogma of Jesus' physical resurrection/empty tomb?' McNabb's answer (of course): No. 'St Paul - the earliest NT writer - didn't think the idea of an empty tomb was worth mentioning, almost certainly because he too didn't believe that. Probably no one did until Mark's Gospel in the 80s - 40 years later'. John Dominic Crossan and Bishop Spong were quoted with approval. (b) Point of contact: 'The Pope - and Cardinal Pell - believe condoms help rather than hinder the spread of AIDs. Next they'll be saying wearing seat-belts causes more deaths...' (c) Humour here and there (like 'When I conduct a funeral I often wonder whether sometime a mobile phone might be heard from within the coffin!'). (d) Personal notes about his own spiritual/theological journey. (e) Call to commitment - 'Discard the Old Faith and embrace the New Faith'. 'See the idea of Resurrection as a challenge to give us strength and hope in difficult times, and an awakening to a new consciousness'. The Blessing at the end included 'May your God go with you and bless you, now and always...' Clue [4]: There was enough order to reassure the traditionalists: processing with the Bible, hymns with occasional churchy language ('Lo the day of days is here'), standing for the reading of the Gospel, etc. Frances McNabb probably never preaches, these days, without including what he's against, or without using terms like 'myth', which can be very confusing to layfolk. I call this aggressive anti-conservative approach 'liberal fundamentalism'. Lloyd Geering is in the same boat (but more strident) as is Bishop Spong, as - in a gentler way - is the popular study-DVD course 'Living the Questions'. Elsewhere I'll write a bit more about my affirmations/reservations about this theological stance (see, for example, under keywords Marcus Borg, Spong or theological liberalism on the John Mark Ministries website). Suffice to say, at this point, I think I can understand a little better why hundreds of well-educated people are forsaking 'corner-store' mainline suburban churches and commuting every Sunday to St. Michael's. Comments anyone? Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher April 16, 2009 Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/
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