Once it recovers from the right-wing onslaught marching under the cover of “evangelicalism,” American Protestants will be tempted to return to some golden age, failing to realize that the road back may lead to another dead end. Common wisdom will look for and also try fresh patterns and new forms of being the church, realizing that not all of them will be useful. While avoiding those models that attempt to recapture some former images of the church, looking back may, however, offer a few clues worth investigating.
As I reflect on my ministry, I am driven back to the seven hectic years I spent as the pastor of one of America’s great churches. While never a large congregation, its influence on its denominations, a significant university, the city of Chicago and beyond has been profound. For more than 125 years, the statement at the head of this column has been the congregation’s theme, originally drafted by Edward Scribner Ames, pastor from 1900 to 1940. Ames was also the chair of the University of Chicago’s philosophy department and the dean of the Disciples Divinity House.
During those years B. Fred Wise was an associate minister and the director of music. During those years Dr. Wise often employed a hymn that became the congregation’s theme song to accompany the statement quoted above.
A noble life, a simple faith.an open heart and hand.
These are the lovely litanies that all can understand’
These are the firm knit bonds of grace, though hidden to the view’
That bind in sacred fellowship all those the whole world through.
The cries of clashing creeds are heard. On every side they sound.
But no age is degenerate in which such lives are found.
A noble life, a simple faith, an open heart and hand.
These are the lovely litanies that all can understand.
(Rabbi A.S. Isaacs)
Sometime later Ames’ original statement was expanded to include the following:
“University Church is a Christian community, which affirms the transformative power of God’s love, calling us individually and collectively to act for justice and to respect all creation. We value the life and teachings of Jesus and we believe that God continues to be revealed in the world. We are a faith community that holds our theology and ethics to the light of the Great Commandment: ‘Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And Love your Neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Adding action to that statement, this mostly white “University Church of Disciples of Christ” was joined by an African American congregation, and became “University Church.”
It was one of the first congregation to declare itself “Open and Affirming,” welcoming gays and lesbians.
For years it has celebrated Black history month. And for the last decade it has been led by a Black pastor.
It was the student headquarters opposing the Vietnam War. Its coffee house, The Blue Gargoyle, daily welcomed hundreds of university students and Hyde Park youth, and funded far-ranging programs for both.
It purchased an apartment building in Woodlawn and in it developed a shared housing coop—The Covenental Community.
It joined with a town in Guatemala, with whom it has exchanged yearly visits. It declared itself to be a sanctuary for persons threatened with deportation.
The center of its life has always been worship, paired with its commitment to relate the teachings and will of Jesus to contemporary life.
Throughout its history this massive ministry has resulted in serious financial obstacles, but despite this perennial problem it has never hesitated to take what it believed to be the next step of faith, not knowing where it might lead. While this may not be a model for congregations seeking fresh ways to be the church, perhaps there may here be clues for church life beyond evangelicalism on one hand, and the fading of Mainline Protestantism on the other.
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