Over the last few years, the assumption that denominations will continue “as is” for many years to come has been dying. Increasingly, mainline pastors and even denominational leaders have been advocating for a variety of possibilities for reform that will help give shape to a new type of national organization that will be for their respective tradition what denomination served as in modernity.
A week ago, Stephen Sterner wrote an article about what he sees as likely for the future of the United Church of Christ. Sterner currently serves as the Executive Minister for Local Church Ministries and a member of the five-person Collegium of Officers for the denomination. Among the notable quotes from the article are two that are worthy of additional consideration:
In meetings with colleagues in other denominations I hear a similar report on what is happening. The flow of mission dollars is changing, the organizational structure is in flux, indeed, the very mission and essence of the denomination is changing. Surprisingly, this is a conversation that bridges theological and ecclesiological difference. I suppose this is evidence that we really are moving into what has been called the “post denominational age.”
I want to make it clear that I believe much of what denominations have been doing will continue into the foreseeable future. However I believe that the shifts inherent in the changing reality of the world will reshape the nature of denomination. The rapidity of the change will be determined by our willingness to address it, or by the crises that force it.
So What?
An initial reading of these quotes may cause one to understand them as contradictory. A deeper reading shows that these are truths that must co-exist and remain in tension with one another: the postmodern world will be a postdenominational age and there is a future in it for the denomination known as the United Church of Christ.
In his current position, Sterner is uniquely positioned to understand what it means to congregations to belong to a denomination and what it means for a denomination to provide meaningful connectivity for congregations. A new day is coming and will soon arrive. Will the United Church of Christ and other mainline denominations act decisively and create a new identity for their denominations or will they be slow to act and continue to reactively reduce offerings as a result of ever declining revenue? How can individual Christians and local congregations become a part of the solution to the visioning of a postdenominational denomination?