The church I attend shares its building with several congregations. This is a fairly normal situation these days, I believe. However, my church has a particular agreement which means we share a Sunday school and several services a year with our partner congregation.
I think working ecumenically is a great thing. However, I am also inclined to say that economic reasons are probably the main factor for many of these building-sharing arrangements. And this is where I get a little uncomfortable.
I can share a couple of worship services a year that contain praise music which offends my sensibility. But, I am not going to send my daughter to a Sunday school where I don’t know what is being taught.
This has been a hard conversation to have with church members. There doesn’t seem to be a sense that there could be a significant difference between Christian theological traditions. And maybe the Sunday school curriculum is fine. But I want to know, in the curriculum are there more then heteronormative families represented? Is there any acknowledgement of the church year and deeper themes than “Jesus was born at Christmas”? Is “Jesus must save you” at all in there? (because then I am out!).
In order to have these conversations, we would need to first acknowledge difference between denominations. The complicating factor here, is that working together is a good idea. But is it truly working together if we can’t openly acknowledge and accommodate how we are different?
I think working ecumenically is a great thing. However, I am also inclined to say that economic reasons are probably the main factor for many of these building-sharing arrangements. And this is where I get a little uncomfortable.
I can share a couple of worship services a year that contain praise music which offends my sensibility. But, I am not going to send my daughter to a Sunday school where I don’t know what is being taught.
This has been a hard conversation to have with church members. There doesn’t seem to be a sense that there could be a significant difference between Christian theological traditions. And maybe the Sunday school curriculum is fine. But I want to know, in the curriculum are there more then heteronormative families represented? Is there any acknowledgement of the church year and deeper themes than “Jesus was born at Christmas”? Is “Jesus must save you” at all in there? (because then I am out!).
In order to have these conversations, we would need to first acknowledge difference between denominations. The complicating factor here, is that working together is a good idea. But is it truly working together if we can’t openly acknowledge and accommodate how we are different?
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