Something needs to be done ”” we need to get this right. This is not a job for commissions and programmes, but for example and engagement. This generation is increasngly orphaned by the manifest failures of conventional religion, science, government, technology, consumerism. We can reorientate our actvities towards our neighbours ”” bring good news, hope, gentleness, creativity and respect.
I am impressed by the logic of Brian’s argument. It sheds light on why the fastest growing Church of England congregations, by and large, are Cathedrals. Following it up would involve reimaging our context in a more realistic, low-key, creative and rooted direction. I think I’m up for it.
Point # 4:
A liturgy that at its best exibits mystery, beauty, rootedness, intelligence and clarity, biblical coherence, as opposed either to absolutism or bigoted, mean spirited zealotry.
—assuming that his observation about the growth of Cathedral congregations is correct, I would like to observe that this is one of the places where one is most likely to find high quality music and traditional language/BCP services. (In addition to obviously diverse offerings.)
I think it would be better to find out why the Catherdrals are growing than simply assume he knows the answer. Perhaps they are growing because already churched people are leaving their declining parishes. Perhaps it is the case that as cathedrals grow other communities declines. Or perhaps it is because they are better resourced (e.g. paid choirs) and better staffed. Or….
Again – in general it is better to actually study why and how growth is taking place rather than assume one knows the answer. To my knowledge, there is little or no serious research on why cathedral congregations may have grown over the last 10 years.
[url=http://www.vulcanhammer.org/?p=747]McLaren’s basic analogy is flawed concerning the “bridge to nowhere,” as I note here.[/url]
I forget where I read it this week, but the observation was made that people are driving to the cathedrals rather than attending their small local parish churches. IOW, there is no net gain. The local parish churches are dying.
This could be because of the natural attraction to beauty in worship. It could also be simply because the cathedrals are better “entertainment” these days. “Entertainment” churches are big here in the US. Some of them do good work for the Lord as well.