At the Center, a large map of Indiana hangs on a wall. When asked what the congregations we serve are like, I like to point to it and say, “They’re all over the map.”
And of course they are. We’ve served over 50% of the congregations in central Indiana. And they are blessedly different.
As a result, we’ve discovered an important practice called theological hospitality. What we’ve found is that theological hospitality involves a redemptive reversal. Our resource work at the Center usually starts with a task, that is, congregations seek to do something. We hear from congregations what they seek to do; a strategic plan, fixing a building, running a meeting, teaching youth and much more. This then leads, in many cases, to deeper reflection about belief. But reflection follows from the desire to do something.
Another way to look at this redemptive reversal is through religious practice. Think of practice not just as any activity, but also as particular activities in which almost all humans participate. So, practice includes activities like hospitality or singing or forgiveness. It doesn’t matter if you are Baptist or Jewish or Presbyterian, or not part of any religious community, you do these things.
Let’s take one of those practices: forgiveness. It could get complicated, let alone confusing and ultimately unhelpful, to gather a diverse group of congregants (from different congregations) to discuss the theology of forgiveness. The language wouldn’t match. People would have so many different ways of talking about what they think about forgiveness.
A more productive conversation would be about how people practice forgiveness. After all, almost all humans, from almost all religious traditions, have done something regarding forgiveness.
That’s why I’m pleased that the Center is presenting a movie premier on March 26 (at St. Luke United Methodist Church,100 W. 86th St., at 7:00 p.m. - free admission). We are hosting a pre-release showing of the Journey Films new production, The Power of Forgiveness.
No, this movie won’t tell congregations what to believe about forgiveness. This movie will do something more important. The movie will portray a variety of people from a variety of religious communities sharing how they practice forgiveness. It will invite viewers to consider how they practice forgiveness. The film serves as an invitation to consider and reconsider what one does.
People who have seen the film have expressed appreciation that the film does not moralize and does not tie forgiveness into a neatly wrapped resolution, but rather leaves the hard ethical reflection to the viewer.
The Center realizes that congregations and individuals believe all kinds of different things regarding forgiveness. Just like the geographic territory the Center serves, thinking about forgiveness is all over the map. Yet, the challenges of practicing forgiveness touch almost every human being. It is the challenge of the practice we will engage March 26th at the Indianapolis premier of The Power of Forgiveness.
Here are some related resource materials:
www.journeyfilms.com
Journey Films not only has produced The Power of Forgiveness but other top documentary movies including Bonhoeffer and Albert Schweitzer: Called to Africa.
Praying the Movies: Daily Meditations from Classic Films by Edward McNulty
This book discusses several movies in light of a religious worldview. A small group could use this book as a discussion guide for small group study about movies and religion.
Growing In The Life Of Faith, Second Edition: Education And Christian Practices by Craig Dykstra, Forward by Dorothy Bass
How does one connect faith and life? This book describes the relationship between expressed faith and lived faith. It is an essential guide to religious practice in community.
www.practicingourfaith.com
This website is dedicated to religious practice. It serves as a doorway leading to the exploration of a way of life shaped by practices that respond to God’s grace and reflect God’s love for the whole world.
Tim Shapiro
