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Progressive Christianity represents a range of related perspectives in contemporary Christian theology and practice. It is apostmodern theological approach, which developed out of theliberal Christianity of themodern era,[1] although progressive Christians would claim that ideas relating Christianity tosocial justice are at the heart of the Christian message and stem from biblical themes.
Integrating and moving beyond theEnlightenment concerns of liberalism, Progressive Christianity is apostliberal theological movement.
Progressive Christianity, as described by its adherents, is characterized by a willingness to question tradition, acceptance of human diversity, a strong emphasis onsocial justice and care for the poor and the oppressed, and environmental stewardship of the earth. Progressive Christians have a deep belief in the centrality of the instruction to "love one another" (John 15:17) within the teachings ofJesus Christ.[2] It is an ecumenical movement present in various Christian denominations. It is particularly influential inmainline Protestantism, with some influence amongliberal and Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism (especially those influenced by movements such asliberation theology), andAmerican evangelicalism, particularly theemerging Church andexvangelical movements, and theevangelical left.
The term "progressive Christianity" was first coined by German-American Lutheran pastor and scholar, Rev. John H. W. Stuckenberg. "I favor a progressive Christianity based on the living teachings of Christ and his Apostles. I am opposed to the stagnation created by religious dogmatism and traditionalism, and wish none of my possessions to be used in the interest of this stagnation." (last will and testament, June 6, 1898)[3]
A priority of justice and care for the down-trodden are a recurrent theme in theHebrew prophetic tradition inherited byChristianity.[4] This has been reflected in many later Christian traditions of service andministry, and more recently in the United States of America through Christian involvement in political trends such as theProgressive Movement[vague] and theSocial Gospel.[5]
Throughout the 20th century, a strand of progressive or liberal Christian thought outlined the values of a 'goodsociety'. It stresses fairness, justice, responsibility, and compassion, and condemns the forms of governance that wageunjust war, rely on corruption for continued power, deprive the poor of facilities, or exclude particular racial or sexual groups from fair participation in national liberties. It was influential in the USmainline churches, and reflected global trends instudent activism. It contributed toecumenism and the development of theWorld Student Christian Federation and theWorld Council of Churches.[6] , and at the national level through groups such as theNational Council of Churches in the US andAustralian Student Christian Movement.[citation needed]
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In 1961, a group of pastors from theNational Baptist Convention, USA wishing to become more involved withcivil rights founded theProgressive National Baptist Convention.[7]
TheSojourners magazine was founded in 1971 by theSojourners Community and was the first progressive magazine.[8]
TheCenter for Progressive Christianity was founded in 1996 byEpiscopal priest James Rowe Adams inCambridge, Massachusetts, with the aim of bringing together progressive Christian organizations and churches.[9]
In 2007, theRed-Letter Christians movement was founded byBaptist pastorTony Campolo andShane Claiborne in order to offer Christian resources about various social issues, such as a blog, a podcast, and conferences.[10][11]
In the UK, the Progressive Christianity Britain network was founded in 2003 and has adopted eightnon-credal points which reflect the nature of a Christian life explored from a progressive standpoint.[12] The network holds group meetings in many locations around the country.[13]
According toArchbishop Wynn Wagner of the formerNorth American Old Catholic Church, inclusiveness and acceptance is the basic posture of progressive Christianity.[14][page needed]
The dominance ofevangelicalism in the US, particularly in its more socially conservative forms, challenged many people in mainline churches.[15] This has enabled many Christians who are uncomfortable with conservative evangelicalism to identify themselves explicitly as "progressive Christians".
Progressive Christianity is the post-modern influenced evolution of historic mainline liberal Protestant Christianity and it is an heir to theSocial Gospel movement. It draws fromprocess theology,liberation theology,feminist theology,womanist theology,affirming theology, andeco-theology as well.[16]Progressive Christianity focuses on promoting values such as compassion, justice, mercy, and tolerance, often through political activism. Though prominent, the movement is by no means the only significant movement of progressive thought among Christians. It draws influence from multiple theological streams, includingevangelicalism, liberal Christianity,neo-orthodoxy,pragmatism, postmodern theology, andliberation theology. The concerns of feminism are also a major influence on the movement, as expressed infeminist andwomanist theologies.[17][18][19] Althoughprogressive Christianity andliberal Christianity are often used synonymously, the two movements are distinct, despite much overlap.[20] While there is some philosophical overlap, progressive Christianity is not synonymous withprogressive politics.[1]
The term was first coined by German-American, Lutheran pastor and scholar, Rev. John H. W. Stuckenberg. "I favor a progressive Christianity based on the living teachings of Christ and his Apostles. I am opposed to the stagnation created by religious dogmatism and traditionalism, and wish none of my possessions to be used in the interest of this stagnation." (last will and testament, June 6, 1898)[21]The term was later embraced by retired Episcopal priest Rev. Jim Adams who founded The Center for Progressive Christianity in 1996—which has since become ProgressiveChristianity.Org.[22][circular reference] That organization has promoted "The 8 Points of Progressive Christianity",[23] and has since established the 5 Core Values of Progressive Christianity[24]other variations include The Phoenix Confessions.[25]
Central to this recovery of awe in the cosmos is theepic of evolution, the 14-billion-year history of the universe. Scientists (Edward O. Wilson,Brian Swimme,Eric Chaisson,Ursula Goodenough and others) initiated this story which has been perpetuated with a religion component by some liberal theologians (Gordon D. Kaufman,Jerome A. Stone,Michael Dowd, etc.).[26][27]
Evolutionary evangelist and progressive ministerMichael Dowd uses the term Epic of Evolution or Great Story to help construct his viewpoint of evolution theology. His position is that science and religious faith are not mutually exclusive (a form ofreligious naturalism).[28] He preaches that the epic of cosmic, biological, and human evolution, revealed by science, is a basis for an inspiring and meaningful view of our place in the universe and a new approach to religion. Evolution is viewed as a religious spiritual process that is not meaningless blind chance.[29]
Geoff Thompson argues that progressive Christianity, as represented byGretta Vosper andJohn Shelby Spong, "often over-reaches its arguments".[30] In particular, he concludes that "[i]t is very difficult to see how what [Vosper] proposes needs any church or even the minimalist, idiosyncratic definition of Christianity which she offers".[30][undue weight? –discuss]
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