Interdependence.org.uk

I recently came across the following quote which (though referring primarily to Congregational Churches) could well be applied to some of the Independent Churches in the UK. Written in 1906, we see that our concerns for Gospel Fellowship are not new ones.

“The curse of Congregationalism, which not only hinders it from fulfilling its mission, but threatens its very existence, is “parochial selfishness.” This is by no means confined to the Congregational churches, but is a graver danger under our free polity. Each church, being sufficient unto itself, thinks only of itself. It resents even advice from other churches as an interference with its supreme authority. Various remedies may be suggested for this unhealthy state of our body ecclesiastical. Sackcloth and ashes is one of them. A review of Congregational polity with the New Testament in hand, is another. . . .The only remedy for selfishness is unselfishness. The great remedy for lack of fellowship is to practice fellowship. Let the churches unite in common work which calls to them, work which no one of them can do alone. Let the strong churches love their weaker neighbors as themselves, and love in deed. We shall soon recover from our Independency into the strong fellowship of Congregational churches. If the pastors lead in such a movement, the churches will follow.”

[quoted from Edgar L. Heermance Democracy in the Church (New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1906), p. 121-2.]

Tags: Interdependence, independence by admin
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I’ve spent most of my life as part of two Independent Churches.  The first was an Evangelical Methodist Church in Bradford where I became a Christian and grew up through the Sunday School and Youth group.  The other an FIEC church in Rochester. 

What both Churches had in common was that they had left their previous denominations because they were unhappy with the liberal direction that those denominations were taking at the time.  Their priority was to remain distinctive as Evangelically minded, gospel focused churches.  The first, as far as I’m aware has no formal ties to any church networks, although it has always worked with others on specific projects.  The second chose to affiliate to the FIEC.

Why do I mention these churches?  The reason is that if we are going to think about what it means to co-operate together, we need to understand our history?  Why is it that we are independent.  It may be the case that some churches have  a strong tradition for independency on principled reasons (I would love to hear the views and thoughts from people from such backgrounds).  However, a lot of us are independent by accident.  What I mean is that being independent wasn’t our primary goal.  This will apply at the corporate level of church -but also for individuals who join churches, not because they are independent but because they are Bible based.

 We should think through our approach to church leadership, decision making and institutional membership.  What are the real priorities about how we do those things?  What are the pragmatic or accidental aspects of where we are now?  And to what extent do we run the risk of developing theologies to justify where we are now and even making an idol out of our independence?

Tags: Interdependence, independence by Dave Williams
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