I appreciated the “both/and” message from Paul Schrag’s editorial and Roy Kaufman’s “Changing minds or following hearts?” Both highlighted the legacy of third-way bridge-building in a world that increasingly pushes people into oppositional camps.
If the church simply mirrors the culture wars, where blessing or non-blessing operate out of either/or mentalities, we won’t be much of a witness. Kaufman speaks of traditionalists and inclusionists co-existing so that “the church might have something to offer a world of exclusion and division.”
I particularly liked Schrag’s insight that “a both/and church is all about making connections.” As a restorative justice facilitator, I’m aware of how hard but healing conversations are geared to connect people with oppositional experiences. I have been touched by folks who through courage and humility connect with the common humanity of “the other.”
Some people view a both/and approach as a tragic compromise. In light of the Jerusalem Council story in Acts 15 (which is all about inclusion), I view this approach as a daring adventure. When we move out of our defensive head-zones and into open heart-zones, we can journey into realistic spaces of co-existence.
Ted Lewis, Duluth, Minn.
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