 Presbyterian 'progressives' told to build up intellectual capital By John H. Adams The Layman Online Monday, June 17, 2002
Ottati, professor of theology at Union Theological Society in Richmond, Va., spoke to about 325 people at a Witherspoon Society luncheon June 16. The Witherspoon Society is one of the leading voices against the "fidelity/chastity" ordination standard. Ottati said Presbyterian churches are in turmoil "and there is at least something of a war on." The "progressive wing in the Presbyterian Church" has failed to "adopt a forward-looking, somewhat prophetic confession of faith. Neither do we seem on the verge of expanding the church's policy and practice as to who may be ordained." By some lights, Ottati said, the immediate prospects for what he called the "progressives" look dim. "The right has scored a significant victory this year with the defeat of Amendment 01-A. The Confessing Church Movement as well as various overtures to the General Assembly are exerting right-ward pressures on the denomination's self-understanding," he said. Ottati claimed that Presbyterian congregations had been "steered hard right by pastors affiliated with Presbyterians for Renewal and other organizations. And, of course, the prospect of judicial actions threatens to drive more gays, lesbians and heterosexual progressives from the church. It may even motivate some congregations to pull out of the denomination and/or think seriously about the virtues of a broader split." But Ottati, who has been criticized by some theologians for his writings that deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, said progressives needed to shore up their intellectual capital by reflecting on and studying "progressive theology." "We need to build up some progressive theological and intellectual capital if we are to check the faithfulness of our continuing witness, communicate it to others and represent our positions effectively in discussion and debate." He did not define exactly what he meant by "progressive theology" – except that it is not a single theology, but a conglomeration of theologies: process, liberal, Christian realist, liberationist, feminist, black, womanist, Minjung and more. From that assortment, Ottati listed what he believes make up some of the key marks of "progressive theology." It is, he said, Reformed and ecumenical; theocentric and worldly; Christ-shaped and capacious [roomy]; realistic and hopeful; and ecologically inclined and humane. He said an "integral feature of the progressive wing of the Presbyterian Church is its inherent theological plurality. The right may pursue theological uniformity. We don't." Ottati warned against placing too much confidence in confessions and called the Apostles' and Nicene creeds "valued but fallible standards." He said Reformed Christians are saved neither by their actions nor their beliefs, but by grace alone. "This is the big deal about Jesus, and it drives us toward increasingly inclusive, capacious reflections. It is why we are slow to limit the scope of salvation." Because "progressives" are slow to limit the scope of salvation, Ottati said, "we do not say that only the Methodist, or only the Baptist, or only the Catholic, or only the Lutheran, or only the Presbyterian … or only the Muslim, or only the Oglala Sioux, or only the Hindu, or only the Buddhist, or only the secular humanist can be saved. It is why we do not say that only the earthlings, or only the residents of our solar system, or only the inhabitants of the Milky Way can be saved." Later, asked what salvation means, he said: "I'd like to have a whack at that. I need to go to images. The image I like is that human beings are created for true communion with God and each other. Salvation is not a means to another end." |
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