After 23 years at the Cathedral of Hope (UCC) in Dallas, TX, Michael Piazza accepted a call to the Virginia-Highland Church (UCC) earlier this year. Piazza has been an important voice in the progressive Christian movement for many years and currently serves as Co-Executive Director of The Center for Progressive Renewal. In theSpring/Summer edition of the Center’s bi-annual publication, New Times, Piazza offers these challenging words:
The time is overdue for mainline churches to find their prophetic voice again. We who once spoke against slavery, for women’s suffrage, and marched for civil rights need to recover that passion and speak again against injustice, greed, environmental destruction, exclusion, and discrimination. We need to be the prophetic voice of God of mercy and compassion who stands on the side of the poor, the sick, the oppressed, the excluded, and creation (p.2).
So What?
While the mainline church has lost members and standing in the larger culture, it remains a powerful entity with ability to make a real difference in the lives of many – especially those who are marginalized.
- What is your initial response to Piazza’s plea?
- How would you characterize your congregation’s prophetic voice? the active engagement of its members in key issues?