A fellow traveller...

Sometimes you read something that you could have written yourself. Jason Coker wrote a post called "A dispatch beyond the borders of Church". It appears to be a very similar story to myself and Christina. For example

"What’s interesting is, we wouldn’t have this life if we were still in church. I don’t mean that as a judgement of the good thing that church is for many people, but if we were still in church we wouldn’t have the space for the life we live now. And it’s a better life. We enjoy more honesty, openness, and relational depth and diversity than ever, even though only a few of our friends are people of faith."

I know what Jason means; and I look forward to his insights in the next part of his journey. 
I suppose with me it is only now that I'm prepared to start or be something that is connected with Church after a five year break. To step forward from the back seat which we occasionally sit. 
It feels to use Richard Rohr language I have moved to the second stage of life. The five year break has been the space in which I transitioned.

Big Tent

Interesting report from the magazine 'The Progressive Christian'. There has been a conference 'Big Tent Christianity' in the US with the following people speaking::

* Carol Howard Merritt, a Presbyterian pastor, author and popular blogger on The Huffington Post;
* Brian McLaren, pastor, author of more than 20 books including A Generous Orthodoxy and elder statesman of the emerging church movement;
* Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, author and executive director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM;
* Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran pastor in Denver, CO and frequent blogger for Sojourners;
* Mark Scandrette, author, teacher, activist and director of ReIMAGINE, a San Francisco spiritual collective of creativity, community building and social action; and
* Marcus Borg, well-known biblical and Jesus scholar who is now canon theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon.

Yep I reckon it would have been a ripper to have atteneded. A few of my favourite authors all in the same room. What is also amazing is that maybe ten years ago due to their beliefs I doubt meeting in the same room would ever have happened.

Related articles

• Rohr's Everything Belongs (uhsocialwork.wordpress.com)