Historically, people have been drawn to religions with structure, rules and rituals. However, within these practices have been themes of condemnation and exclusion which are no longer meeting the spiritual needs of many people. Denominations such as the United Church of Christ are enjoying increasing membership while traditionally entrenched churches face decline with aging populations.
Breaking From Tradition of the Churches Status Quo
The United Church of Christ, a denomination based out of Cleveland, Ohio, is among the groups of churches changing the focus of sermons to be inclusive and positive rather than divisive homilies of specific regulations of Biblical traditionalists. The term progressive Christian or inclusive Christianity seems to be coined out of a break with the Methodist church according to Delwin Brown (Rediscovering Our Progressive Christian Heritage, 2006). It became the focus of the United Church of God to embrace the concept of God as still speaking and adding knowledge to the Christian faith.
Meanwhile, faiths such as Southern Baptists and Roman Catholicism are deeply dedicated to the Bible as the last word on the Christian faith. Even in the face of issues of social advance such as the freedom of slavery and women’s rights, the fundamentalists defend their beliefs and endorsements as being Biblically based and their actions based only on the 2000 year old words.
“Progressive Christian living means living the beliefs that God’s love is the correct path and is a resource available to all people,” says Dr. Craig Williams, MD, PhD, a member of the Cathedral of Hope, a United Church of Christ affiliate. When asked what the primary difference in the churches goals were between traditionalists and progressive Christians, Dr. Williams replied, “We [progressive Christianity] offer a message of hope and love of God. We believe God continues to speak and act. Our fundamentalist friends simply believe God has said all He had to say in the Bible.” (Phone interview 10/20/2009)
Beyond the Pulpit of Progressive Churches
Progressive Christian thinking is also catching on outside the church body. Online resources such as The Center for Progressive Christianity website offers articles, thoughts, devotions and other offerings to increase the experience of Christian living. Resources such as Christian Self Help also reach out with the concepts of progressive Christian living.
Some churches are taking it a step further to attract new faithful to the progressive Christian message. The Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, Texas, even offers Church sponsored happy hours at local restaurants and bars. “We want to be in the whole life of our members, not just for one hour a week,” reflects the Cathedral of Hope’s website.
While the division between the approach to faith will most likely continue to exist, many find comfort on both sides of the fence. Psychological studies show lower rates of depression and anxiety for people who regularly attend church, regardless of the type. Christopher Ellison (Does Religious Commitment Contribute to Individual Life Satisfaction?, Social Forces, 1999)
The growth of the progressive Christian living seems to be an attractive alternative for many Americans who are hungry for spiritual answers. Women and other minorities are especially embracing the open arms of churches who are changing the way they approach their potential members
Reece Manley - Reece W. Manley, DD,M.Ed.MPM, works in a number of fields using his extensive experience and educational background in human development, ...
