Beyond the Borders

We're just recovering from the conference on Progressive Spirituality at St Luke's, Remuera. What an uplifting and stimulating experience. There was solid and thoughtful input but also heart-warming - if brief - reunions with friends from many denominations over several decades.

We have loved the 23 years in the Bay of Islands but always were aware that we were less accessible to many friends acquired over the years. This was a special opportunity to freshen up relationships with like-minded folk from different places and age-groups. We were reminded how many circles we have moved in through five decades of active church life.

Our ambivalent relationship to all things progressive continues, but the issues have been sharpened. Like many progressives, we don't want to lose contact with a Christian community. But it was absolutely refreshing not to have to stumble through hymns with non-inclusive language in them. It was exciting to listen to presentations which expressed some of our thinking that has already moved beyond the traditional... It was encouraging that theological statements that pushed the boundaries were not argued over but accepted graciously. And it was challenging to chat with other people who are coming to see that things have to change where they are and that they have to take some initiatives for themselves.

I hope that means that Bev and I will find ways of extending this experience into our life in some kind of congregational experience. It would be a poor outcome of this event if the best that we could do were to commit to another talk-fest of this kind - no matter how stimulating - in another three or so years.

Thanks to all at the Community of St Luke who brought this event from a dream to reality!