This was posted on a UU Facebook page I follow (I Am UU) and I thought that while the piece and the subsequent discussion are UU, the issue of how to be a missional church in a theological diverse environment is one that the UCCan may increasingly confront. Not expecting much discussion on this, but thought it might be enlightening to some of you.

http://peterboullata.com/2011/12/29/the-liberal-church-finding-its-missi...

Mendalla

That was the title of today’s sermon in my UU fellowship. And the question is an interesting one. I am not entirely sure it is the “most important THEOLOGICAL question” so much as important in any area of human thought and endeavour. The minister did preface it by reviewing a broad history of theology, esp. the Christian theologies that led into modern UUism (ie. Unitarianism and Universalism). The text is Charles Schulz’s Peanuts.

I am hoping to start up a discussion on existential Christians --- not Christian existentialism, but existential Christians. To start off the discussions, I have prepared 3 Powerpoint presentations and posted them on youtube. See below.

Existential Christian Statement

Existentialism …next steps

Reality as best we can know it...both hard and easy to understand...

In the thread on Canons, John wrote the following:

I'm curious to know what it is that pantheism promotes that you (or others here) disagree with. Not to confront you or argue with you, but as a starting point to explore the notion of pantheism further.

In Darrel's thread on "Demonic" religion, Steven Davis posted the following:

[quote=Rev. Steven Davis]

Somewhere stored among the surviving remnants of my life is a university song book. It was published for Mount Allison University about 1880 - a time when Mt. A was turning out Methodist clergy like canned beans, and when students would actually get together and sing. (I grew up in a home like that. I played the piano and the family and guests sang. So it rouses fond memories.)

You can see if  yours is one of the copies by looking up this song in it:

. "We are gay theology students"

I was listening to a great interview on Tapestry on my Blackberry last night and there's a good two or three discussion topics in that first interview (haven't even got to the second interview in the episode because I went back to listen to the first again). The interview is with Jewish author Rabbi Rami Shapiro.

http://www.cbc.ca/tapestry/episode/2012/05/06/keeping-the-doubt/

I recently interviewed Rev. Dr. Bruce Sweet, minister at Emmanuel United Church in Waterloo, Ontario. We discuss his local church, the United Church of Canada, and theology.

Interview with Rev. Dr. Bruce Sweet

An Easter Pageant is put on here of the Passion at the Apostolic Church. It i s sold out for 7 or 8 performances. They make big bucks and their whole congregation is involved. It is very well done.......

BUT

The theology for me leaves much to be desired. I went once because I didnt want to knock it without seeing it. The Devil was prevalent throughout- dressed in red and popping up here and there. There were very violent whipping scenes of Jesus on the cross, and the whole thing irked me.