c. 2006 Religion News Service

CARDIFF, Wales _ “Don’t forget in all your structuring and institution-building,” said the Swedish preacher, “love first.”

After three days marked by familiar controversies like homosexuality, women in leadership and use of Scripture, leaders from Anglican, Nordic and Baltic churches knew what Archbishop Karl Gustav Hammar, of Uppsala, meant.

“We love one another as different and as friends,” he said in Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral, “not because we resemble each other.” Speaking to an undercurrent in this conference called to celebrate 10 years of inter-communion, speaking as well to bitter divisions within Christianity around the world, he added, “Love conquers fear.”

At a parallel meeting of communicators from the national Anglican and Lutheran churches that signed the Porvoo Agreement, I watched a cheerful gathering grow instantly tense when the sexuality topic came up. Faces tightened, including mine. Doctrinal knives came out, hard words emerged. The need to be right was palpable.

Why, I asked a communicator, why is it like this? With one-third of the world’s children starving, nations trapped in warfare and genocide, and political systems struggling to comprehend a global economy and massive movements of people, why are we still arguing about sexuality, a minor issue in Scripture?

He said a delegate at the leaders conference had explained it this way: “Maybe it is too easy being a Christian.” Or, as another put it, “We don’t have enough to do.”

When the needs before us are so vast, tragedies like the tsunami and genocide in Darfur so overwhelming, and the outbreaks of inhumanity and deprivation so baffling to our problem-solving instincts, it is easier to debate minor religious questions and to turn against a subgroup. We dress it up with Scripture, but the issue isn’t faithfulness to Scripture. The issue is avoiding a mission field where the harvest feels overwhelming.

For all of their embroilment in the same-old bitterness _ England’s not accepting clergy ordained by the female Lutheran primate of Norway, for example _ the bishops signed on for another three years of Porvoo. Church communicators, in turn, plan to nurture their new closeness. At the level of person, which is where Jesus ministered, people at this gathering told stories, shared hurts, prayed together and went for long walks.

Attending as a leader of a workshop on writing, I was moved by a prevailing spirit of “let’s get on with it.” Enough arguing about old issues. People have staked their positions and quoted Scripture lavishly. They don’t agree and won’t be dislodged. Time to move on. More important matters beckon us.

Issues vary from country to country _ such as Latvia’s continuing adjustment to freedom after 50 years of Soviet domination, Sweden’s trauma after the Indian Ocean tsunami drowned many Swedes, Norway’s use of oil wealth, unending religious tensions in Northern Ireland, institutional concerns about high rates of church membership (80 percent and over) but low rates of participation _ but one thing is clear: culture-war issues are minor league.

The Porvoo churches are looking for new ways to “do church” in a rapidly changing environment. Finland’s national church, for example, has made the break from mailed communications and focuses now on the Internet. Iceland is working with film. Sweden’s archbishop has adopted a radical openness that has raised the church’s profile, even though traditionalists argue he is too open. England is doing extensive profiling, based on professionally gathered polling data, so that future planning responds to actual needs. Wales is encouraging “alternative worship” events for the young. Lutherans have expanded their state-supported educational and child-care services.

When Christians turn from arguing to serving, there is plenty to do.

MO/PH END RNS

(Tom Ehrich is a writer, consultant and leader of workshops. His book, “Just Wondering, Jesus: 100 Questions People Want to Ask,” was published by Morehouse Publishing. An Episcopal priest, he lives in Durham, N.C. His Web site is http://www.onajourney.org.)

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