Haven’t had a personal post for a while now so here is where I am at… New year was fab. Myself, Zoe and three others were planning to go to a converted chapel in North Yorkshire, but the weatherman (/woman) had other plans so we ended up in Sheffield; drinking at the local, eating food cooked by my good lady (yum, yum!) and chatting about the year ahead. On new years day some more friends came down from Darlington and we all devoured some more food cooked by my good lady (yum, yum, yum).
It was a great couple of days and so much closer to what church should be than anything I have as yet encountered in the North East. We shared our hopes and fears, our new years resolutions, our humorous moments from 2005 and what the gospel means for us as disillusioned church goers.
In contrast the search for a church in Newcastle goes on.
The trouble is I feel like I’ve had my eyes open to the reality of evangelical-charismatic churches; with their hierarchy, sexism, western interpretations and arrogance, and with this new perspective I’m unlikely to settle in any of the Methodist/Anglian/free churches I’ve visited. Perhaps things will change and I won’t feel quite so suspicious of the power-struggles within the local church, but before then I’m not quite sure what to do. Surely in a city as big as Newcastle there must be people who share mine and Zoe’s frustrations, but until we find them I guess Zoe and I will just have to arrange another rendez-vous with our fellow travellers!
P.s. if anyone knows of any emergent/alternative worship gathering in newcastle I promise to post you a fiver if you pass on the right information!
P.p.s. A fiver is actually quite unlikely as I've just spent too much money on the howies sale, so it's more likely to be a couple of bars of fair-trade chocolate!
I think you've touched what can be a problem.The enthusiasm and sense of purpose of many evengelical churches is a positive feature but sadly it is too often accompanied by a suspicion of thinking for oneself. Other problems such as homophobia or extreme reactions to other faiths sometimes follow.
That is why I so liked Tomlinson's 'Post evangelical.'
Posted by: Turbulent Cleric | January 23, 2006 at 08:07 PM