I was struck a few weeks ago by this what Vladimir Lossky wrote in the chapter “Two Aspects of the Church” in his book The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church:
This [the Church or Christian society] is the only society in which the reconciliation of individual interests with those of the society as a whole does not present an insoluble problem, for the ultimate aspirations of each one are in accord with the supreme end of all, and the latter cannot be realized at the expense of the interest of any. (176)
I am often befuddled? curious? interested in? how churches (here churches = local congregations) make decisions. When one person has an idea or opinion – and they somehow get the rest of the church to support it. Or the rest of the church shuts it down. Or the majority has an idea or opinion – and make the minority live with it. Or the minority kick up enough fuss that it never happens.
What is the power of the individual? the group? what is the relationship between the two?
Lossky seems to say (once you translate him into simpler English) that this is not a problem that cannot be solved in the Church. What one wants is in harmony with what the whole community wants. And what the whole community wants will not be accomplished at the expense of any one person. Of course one will naturally ask how?
Sunday morning I suggested it is when we together seek the “messianic agenda / the agenda of God” which in Mark 8 is presented as the way of the Cross. And in both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theology as the “condescension” of God. (Not that God is condescending but that God the Second Person of the Trinity came down to be with us and one of us. Here “condescension” is similar to kenosis.)
A team from a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church in South Carolina visited us in October. They are exploring international student ministry and basically wanted to watch learn pray and encourage.
They said one of the things that impressed them most is how we are able to maintain (for the most part) a common focused purpose. We are able to work together even when we have such diverse personalities and opinions in our leadership team. I asked, “You noticed that?” They laughed and replied, “It took us about five minutes”. You know – in our planning meetings we almost never vote on anything. Nearly every decision and plan is formed through discussion and consensus.
Ecclesiology. It merits our attention.
