Each Wednesday,     Tim Carson shares 
the wonderings of heart and mind and the inspirations and quandaries of the spirit. You are invited to wonder along with him through the telling of stories, reflections on faith and observations on the events that shape our lives.  

Tim Carson

 

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Wednesday Wonder
August 26, 2015

Carl Jung is the one who spoke most eloquently about synchronicity. That phenomenon takes place when two or more events, challenges, or potentials converge at the same time. From an unexpected union a new birth often occurs, the birth of something that couldn't have happened with everything in the room at the same time.
 
A little synchronicity has taken place at Broadway and we can't take credit for it. At the same time that our congregation is entering into a study of the Epistle of James we have adopted and are in the process of disseminating the Ethical Guidelines for Congregational Conduct of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
 
The letter of James distinguishes itself by its early and very Jewish status among all New Testament writings. It actually reflects the reality of the early Jerusalem church and is traditionally attributed to James the Just, the brother of Jesus. It doesn't take much time to catch its flavor: an insistence that faith must be lived in ethical and loving treatment of neighbor, especially experienced in the community of Jesus, the church. James does not countenance hypocrisy. He expects a different standard for Christians, one not determined by the culture. You should be different, act different, he says.
 
At the board meeting of Broadway Christian Church last evening we adopted the Ethical Guidelines for Congregational Conduct. These guidelines reflect the covenant that followers of Jesus share, one that binds them to God and one another. Like James, the guidelines are very concrete and deal directly with behavior. If you are to be a part of this community of faith these are the disciplines we will uphold. It is a guide to living together as Christians in community.
 
As ministers already had a code of ethics to which they aspire it eventually became apparent that congregations needed to make parallel commitments. So the Ethical Guidelines moved from their beginnings in one Region to the General Church. They include how we should treat one another, relationships with church officers, leaders and ministers, and relationships with our community, other churches in our community, the larger Disciples communion and global ecumenical partners. The statement reflects the kind of living that any Christian and any congregation would aspire to. Like James, it is very concrete, which it needs to be.
 
Synchronicity. James and the Ethical Guidelines. Every so often the planets do align.
To read the Guidelines for yourself click here..

 

@Timothy Carson 2014

 

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Broadway Christian Church
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