The Lund Principle and Opportunity Costs

In the midst of a year dominated by rehashed debates over human sexuality, inclusion of GLBTQ men and women in leadership, the proper definition of marriage and investment protocols vis the Middle East, it is no wonder that less controversial and less exciting pieces of business can get lost in the mix. 

One such item this year in Pittsburgh is item 9-7 on covenanting to adopt the Lund Principle.  The General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations (GACEIR) has responded to a referral from the last GA with a recommendation that the GA adopt the Lund Principle and encourage congregations and mid-councils to do the same.

Articulated at the World Council of Churches Faith and Order meeting in Lund, Sweden in 1952, the Lund Principle simply states that faith communities should cooperate fully with one another in all matters save those of grave difference in theological principle.  In other words, we need to get over the petty stuff and get to the work of caring for God's world and God's people.

While we are all distracted by debates over and related to sex and sexuality, it will be easy to let this recommendation fall through the cracks.  That would be a tragedy.  Given the state of the mainline church today and the changing realities of the religious landscape, something as empowering as the Lund Principle is just what the doctor ordered for the church. 

For generations we have maintained firm boundaries around denominations and bodies in the church and some of those are important.  As a Presbyterian, I am pretty firm in my Reformed faith.  When I attended a Methodist seminary, there were days when it seemed as though we were speaking a different theological language.  And for most of my ministry the differences between our traditions has been what defines us.  When money, members and influence in society is in full supply, that is a pretty easy way to live.

Wow, has our reality changed!  We no longer live in a world of such abundance and the realities of many of our congregations is changing.  More and more we find that shrinking congregations cannot survive financially so what are we to do?  Shall we just keep closing churches and streamlining our organizational structure? 

Perhaps we need look no further than committee #9 at this year's GA for a theologically sound and pragmatically appealing way forward.  The idea of applying the Lund Principle locally as well as globally is not a new thing.  Still, it is not often that you find congregations of different denominations (let alone different faiths) sharing a building or ministries or facilities. 

The recommendation from GACEIR is a welcome call to the denomination as a whole and to each congregation and mid-council to remember that there is far more that unites us in Christ than there is that divides us in theology.  And even when we find ourselves divided by deep theological divisions, we can still bridge the chasm in service to God's people and God's world. 

Come what may at this year's GA, I hope that we are wise enough to heed this important call to faithful cooperation and this call to live and learn side by side united in Christ's service.  If we do not, we miss a wonderful opportunity.