Growing Crisis Threatens Idea of One

The New York Times Published an article today about how the growing economic crisis is threatening the European Unity's unity.  Growing Economic Crisis Threatens the Idea of One Europe (http://tinyurl.com/bg2ugn).  The basic premise is that the European Union has a common currency - the Euro.  But they do not share a common polity.  Quoting the author: "With uncertain leadership and few powerful collective institutions, the European Union is struggling with the strains this crisis has inevitably produced among 27 countries with uneven levels of development."

Mainline denominations have the inverse problem: common polity without a shared currency.  As Presbyterians, we have a common polity as defined by our Constitution (Book of Order and Confessions).  But we do not share a common currency - who we understand Jesus to be.   

For years we have focused on tinkering with polity.  What should be in or out of the Book of Order.  At the recent assembly, translations and versions of confessions were debated.  Renewal groups spend time on votes, issues, and overtures.  

But what about the other half of the equation:  Christology - who is Jesus?  How do we understand our relationship to him, as individuals and the church?  How does that affect our interpretation of scripture? 

The PCUSA finds itself in the same boat: "Uncertain leadership and few powerful collective institutions" that result in the PCUSA struggling with the strains the crisis of postmodernity has inevitably produced among thousands of churches with differing understandings of the person and divinity of Jesus. 

The missional church movement is about getting in touch with who Jesus is, what he is doing in the world, and figuring out how we are called to participate in his work.  In this metaphor, it is about focusing on the currency.  

Without a common currency what is the point of a common polity?  

Comments

[Bob Hughes]

Common PCUSA polity? I don't think so. Paid staff has its own dream polity, active pastors have a polity, the retired or underutilized pastors have a polity, and members in the pews have several polity views with the majority seeing their ideas ignored by staff and friends at every GA. Rest assured, PCUSA leadership is doing nothing to alleviate this issue. It crams polity change by fiat down members' throats while using threats, lies, and courts to hold congregations against their will. Individuals are leaving even faster than people are departing the EU.