Ian Harris on Sir Lloyd Geering’s themes on religion

At the age of 66, when most people are thinking of retiring, Sir Lloyd Geering began a ministry to Wellington and the modern world, as principal lecturer for St Andrew’s Trust for the Study of Religion and Society.

Now 96, he delivered his valedictory lecture this month to a crowded church and a standing ovation.

His topic was ”The Evolving City”, tracing the evolution of the city from the earliest settled population clusters and the biblical city of Cain, in Genesis, to the megacities of a globalising world and the biblical vision of the City of God in Revelation.

Why keep going to church?

If we love to sing, discuss, celebrate, reflect, hear and act with spirit and faith and meaning, church is a good place to do it!

Would you be part of a faith community if you weren’t expected to believe the impossible or become more than fully human? Many of us still enjoy traditional forms of worship, but we want and need a human-centred, inclusive and green theology.

Progressive, reconciling, inclusive and transitional churches – whatever the label – can retain people of faith and attract people who wish to live meaningfully but (as Bishop John Shelby ‘Jack’ Spong puts it) don’t want to check their intellect at the door.

That’s why I’m part of a church community, and a part of why I believe (and these days, I don’t “believe in” many things) that Progressive Christianity is important.

Bronwyn White is a Kapiti based poet and liturgist.

You can read more of her work at  http://www.spirit-and-faith.com/

Post Modern Spirit – Post Christian Faith

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reflective writing on spirit & faith in aotearoa new zealand
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and living with faith not belief

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