rdsaye

The yeast metaphor is one to think about, but mostly, this bread is not rising. I hope people will come to realize that progressives are really very ordinary people. These folks I know in Birmingham are about as unthreatening as a bunch can be, and they all live within existing denominations. They are not the "other" in the same way that UUA and UCC seem to be. Out here in the wrong-colored states it is a given that no democratic candidate from New England is going to do well in large parts of the country, especially someone from Mass. There is already a prejudice in place in the minds of a lot of people. It involves those two denominations with all other things from the northeast, the home of the dreaded Liberal. Unfortunately those of us in other places have to get around that prejudice by coming together more visibly and carving out more of a public identity. I understand that another denomination might not work in Texas. It might not work in Atlanta, either. An idea then is to become involved in whatever progressive organizations are within your reach. Some of us in the wrong-colored states end up hanging with the Unitarians, even if it is not a good fit, for lack of a better one among the Christian churches. I told my UU minister once that if there were a non-trinitarian Christian denomination, like the Unitarians and the Universalists both used to be, that I would join it. There is not one; and it is like not being able to buy shoes that fit. So, folks, if not a new denomination, what is Plan B? They are spread thin. The question is whether they, or any of us, can be more effective scattered widely among the other churches or in a concentrated group.

David, I am with you, dude. Lots of people ask this question at some level, but to answer it out loud would break some kind of taboo. I think we are timid about splitting the Body of Christ, whatever you make of that, into smaller sections when it needs to think in bigger sections. My theological "residence" is on a street, in my mental image, to the right of the Unitarians and the immediate left of the UCC. Lots of people meander through this space, but few have claimed territory. My BA was in Advertising from UGA's Journalism school, and I know a Market Position when I see it. It feels mercenary to think in those terms, but those terms well describe the need that you mention. This market position has not been taken, and whoever takes it will have a ready market share. I strongly believe that a new denomination is feasible, and that its formation may precipitate resolutions to the crises of belief within the mainstream denominations. It will be a fine omelet, but some eggs must be broken. I too have felt that a lot of progressive types exist in small enclaves within even some mainstream churches. I bump into them at lectures put on by SPAFER (spafer.org ) in Birmingham. That's where you find a concentration of them. I am also involved with an "emerging group" of progressives in Atlanta in the form of Emergent Spirit (emergentspirit.org ). I told the founder when I first met him that my ultimate goal in getting involved with other progressives was in fact to help start a new denomination. I think a lot of people, if they really thought about it, would favor the idea.

If you are interested in a reading group, you might try what I did. I joined a Unitarian church and started one as part of the adult religious education program. Now we have two of them at my congregation. Other denominations might work as well, but UU's love reading and discussing things. We have been outside of the usual range of the titles you have mentioned. We are finishing up Karen Armstrong's The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism. Previously we have been through Paul Tillich's The Courage to Be; Michael Schermer's How We Believe; The Gospel of Thomas; Dinty Moore, The Accidental Buddhist; Ken Wilber, A Brief History of Everything; and parts of Why Christianity Must Change or Die. An online reading group might be a fine thing, but I really like having a live one as part of my pursuit of ultimate concerns. Give it a try