Big Tent Christianity

Here is an event I wanted to attend, but there was no time. I would fit in what is called “progressive Christianity” though I prefer the term liberal, but that word has been thoroughly trashed by those embracing a “conservative” political agenda. I’ll deal with that irony another day. Anyway, here is a report from The Progressive Christian website about the event and how progressive Christians and the emergent “Christian” movement came together to discuss what I call the practice of Christianity.

Big Tent Christianity
by Cynthia B. Astle | February 13, 2011
“Big Tent Christianity was given birth by Christian leaders to respond to the massive social, economic and climate changes the Church faces,” Clayton continued, “We want to open our arms and honor the many ways that [Holy] Spirit leads us to encounter the way of Jesus. We want to become allies and not enemies, to act in sacrificial ways toward one another.

“We came to be inspired and supported and to find new partners on the [faith] journey.”

Plenary presentations included: “Healing the Wounds of Religion” led by Howard Merritt, “Reframing the Big Tent” led by McLaren, and “Textual Divinity: Discovering the Divine” led by Rohr. Workshop topics ranged from social-action issues such as immigration reform, science and evolution, and technology through engaging popular culture, neo-monastics and the “spiritual but not religious” phenomenon to familiar church subjects such as worship, youth ministry, forming missional communities, storytelling and songs.