If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself so that nobody thinks of his own interests first, but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:1 – 5
In recent years, churches both broad and narrow have been virtually and literally brow-beaten for their handling and mishandling of child sex abuse in their institutions and for their invariable stand on same sex marriage. Nothing can be taken from the victims of child sex abuse, nor the dignity of LGBTQI+.
The subsequent diminution of the churches’ authority and standing have left them howling into the winds of social change. Their leaders have been mocked and pilloried by the popular and social media and the scourge has impacted deeply on the psyche of the faithful in the pews.
Further, the pursuit of Pope Francis by the alt-right wing of the American church is divisive and unhelpful.
While the church has always provided leaders and leadership, the laity has usually been excluded from playing significant roles, for example in the election of bishops, even presenting candidates for diaconal or priestly ordination (though there is a liturgical acclamation, and of course we have had representation at the Synod on Synodality). Certainly, much progress has been made in the management of dioceses, schools, and health services, but in essence, despite the many years since Avery Dulles published his first edition of Models of the Church (1974), the overwhelming model remains hierarchic and clerical (which Dulles called the Church as Institution).
And how so different is the church envisaged by Paul. Paul was under no illusion that the communities he addressed had issues (whether or not to marry, getting drunk, failing to share with poor…) but he had a clear view of what it should look like. Astonishingly it is not unlike the church that Pope Francis has called us to build. But seriously. Very seriously, have we ever attempted to take these words of Paul to heart? Is it not time to do so now?
The way forward appears to be that we need to persuade those who work against us with love, tenderness, and sympathy, to be united in love with a common purpose and mind, and where no one puts themselves first. This kind of leadership, this kind of church is truly at the service of humanity, called, empowered, and encouraged by the Spirit.
This begins in our daily relationships. In our homes, staffrooms, and classrooms. And if we are indeed serious, it starts today. Now.
Mr Peter Douglas
Director of Faith and Mission