A year ago, I launched this website as a labor of prayer and research. For approximately 9 months prior to its launch, I started investigating individual jurisdictions and read a couple of ISM books. The more I started digging, the more I discovered jurisdictions that were not so well known and various ISM practices. I previously saw a more homogonous blob rather than various colors on a color wheel. The movement fascinated me as I saw larger than life personalities, jurisdictions doing incredible ministry, and new ways of being religious. At the same time, I saw pettiness, disreputable actors, the lack of formation and the accusations of playing church.
A year in, have my thoughts changed? Sic et non. I am no longer simply an outside bystander as I was incardinated as a presbyter. Moreover, the very type of jurisdiction I incardinated in does not appeal to many people. I sought a jurisdiction that was moderate in approach which is an area that seems underrepresented in the ISM spectrum. At the same time, I have come to understand why it is underrepresented.
Over the past couple of months, I approached several dissatisfied Roman Catholics to see if they would consider creating a new type of faith community. I wish I could say the response was underwhelming but that would be an overstatement. Traditionalist and progressive Independent Catholic communities appeal to segments of the Catholic population that would rather form communities of like-minded individuals. Both groups can take a stand on issues that are important to them. A person could be a moderate Catholic, remain in the larger church and privately express doubts about Papal Infallibility, universal jurisdiction, the Marian dogmas and so on. Such a Catholic would not have to give up the benefits of being in the larger church.
Moreover, I am recognizing Catholics are either engaged as either being a Roman Catholic or as being a none. Small moderate jurisdictions will not appeal to the vast majority of Catholics. Moreover, our jurisdictions cannot provide what a lot of Roman Catholics expect such as religious education opportunities, larger places of worship, schools, hospitals, universities, social justice work with large budgets, and so on. We are not equipped to be the church that these Roman Catholics expect.
Perhaps the success stories in the ISM reflect more of the ever-dividing political reality of the United States. There are progressives and traditionalists whereas the middle seems to fade away. I tend to be more of a moderate person, but the accusation in Revelation may be appropriate that I am neither hot or cold. Maybe I am simply lukewarm whereas people in other jurisdictions are hot.
The thing I believe the ISM movement has for it is the possibility of a new form of ministry. I see several ISM priests running blogs and providing religious formation videos. People are coming to Christianity or expanding their knowledge through their videos. I see a few of these ISM priests who have been doing this kind of ministry for years, who have written books, and who are building online communities to support each other. One such priest I admire is an Anglican Catholic on Youtube: https://youtube.com/@warwickensis?si=ZOEqhG8Ofls8BjZh I love how he is providing a wealth of knowledge not only about his jurisdiction but about Christianity and is seeking to build bridges among Christians.
What are our desired outcomes in the ISM movement? Some jurisdictions seen the desired outcome as building parishes. I am not sure this is realistic or even the desired outcome. Mainline churches are closing parishes and churches because the people are not there. How can we with fewer resources be successful when they are pulling away? A Roman Catholic parish I served closed last year, and I expect more that I served to close over the next decade. I would love to buy one of the buildings but that is not feasible. Even if it was, would it really be the desired ISM outcome?
I think we need to realign the ISM outcomes with the expectations of Jesus. Jesus spoke about the Good Shepard who left the 99 sheep in search of the stray. Mainline church communities cannot leave the 99 as they need the 99 to operate their budgets and run their programs. That is not to say they are not doing incredible work. They are and that is where they excel. We can go where they cannot because we can build those one-on-one relationships. We don’t have a thousand people waiting in the church on Sunday. We can see that person who seems to be hurting when we are at the grocery store and ask how they are doing. We can go and give a bag of food to someone who is homeless and not in church on Sunday morning and remind them that they are God’s child too. There are always opportunities for us to be church even if it is less glorious than a filled Cathedral. Maybe if we do more of this ministry, we will be the church while others will simply play church. Can we live up to our calling and let the ISM movement be church for others?
Peace,
Ben
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