**Rowland Croucher**
2009-04-17 02:35:37 UTC
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
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/
Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/
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
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/
Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/