219th General Assembly: Author tells GA breakfast-goers how cultural shift changes society, religion
Though membership numbers are declining, Christianity is growing.
“Let us hear about this crazy thing God is doing with the church.” That was the invitation of the Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, to the capacity crowd at the 219th General Assembly (2010) breakfast Monday. His invitation was illuminated later by the breakfast’s speaker, Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence; How Christianity is Changing and Why.
Tickle, a former Presbyterian “seduced by the smells and bells of Anglicanism” at 17, spoke with appreciation of coming home to her natal community. “I will always have the warmest spot in my heart for those first 17 years, and a real gratitude about what I was taught … about the Bible,” she said.
Tickle began by referencing the work of Anglican Bishop Mark Dyer, who contends that every 500 years the church has “a giant rummage sale.” She cited the Great Reformation of the 16th century, the Great Schism of the 11th century, the Great Decline and Fall of the 6th century, and the Great Transformation 500 years before that as examples.
“This is a Judeo-Christian phenomenon,” Tickle said. “If we were more ecumenical, we would also include Islam, which seems to go through the same 500-year cycle.”
Tickle applies the “rummage sale” theory to all of society. “Across the board, everything changes. Economically, intellectually, politically, everything shifts.” …
My day began with this meeting. Interesting presentation. I basically spent the day bouncing between committees. I hope to write more when there is time. I'm assigned to Committee #13, Peacemaking. So far, it has been a great committee with great leadership. The big question is whether we can finish all the business by 5:00 pm so Mikey can go play. 🙂
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