Comments on: Dissent in Ecclesial Context(s) http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/dissent-in-ecclesial-contexts/ Where youthful Barthianism never dies Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:24:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: m iafrate http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/dissent-in-ecclesial-contexts/comment-page-1/#comment-7418 m iafrate Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:56:46 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=1998#comment-7418 I did a post on dissent here: http://vox-nova.com/2008/08/03/magisterium-tradition-and-the-legitimacy-of-dissent/ I did a post on dissent here:
http://vox-nova.com/2008/08/03/magisterium-tradition-and-the-legitimacy-of-dissent/

]]> By: Benjamin Sternke http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/dissent-in-ecclesial-contexts/comment-page-1/#comment-7397 Benjamin Sternke Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:39:22 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=1998#comment-7397 This is an intriguing question for me. I agree with N. Dan Smith that submission to leadership is the best posture from which to begin a conversation. I have felt like a dissenter for most of my adult life, most of the time doing it very badly (i.e. just a critic). One of the things that has very much helped me understand and listen to those I disagree with is being involved in church leadership. I found that many of my opinions were ill-formed and naive. But I also found that many of my critiques were indeed on the right track. But having the responsibility of leadership definitely softened some of my hard line stances on things. Perhaps it can be thought of as the difference between prophets and "kings"? The prophet's job is to speak, and the king's responsibility is to listen to the prophet and attempt to implement. So perhaps the job of the dissenter is to simply speak, humbly, submissively, and leave the results to God? This is an intriguing question for me. I agree with N. Dan Smith that submission to leadership is the best posture from which to begin a conversation.

I have felt like a dissenter for most of my adult life, most of the time doing it very badly (i.e. just a critic).

One of the things that has very much helped me understand and listen to those I disagree with is being involved in church leadership. I found that many of my opinions were ill-formed and naive. But I also found that many of my critiques were indeed on the right track. But having the responsibility of leadership definitely softened some of my hard line stances on things.

Perhaps it can be thought of as the difference between prophets and “kings”? The prophet’s job is to speak, and the king’s responsibility is to listen to the prophet and attempt to implement. So perhaps the job of the dissenter is to simply speak, humbly, submissively, and leave the results to God?

]]> By: N. Dan Smith http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/dissent-in-ecclesial-contexts/comment-page-1/#comment-7395 N. Dan Smith Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:41:49 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=1998#comment-7395 I had an interesting situation recently where I wrote a letter of dissent to leaders at a different church. That is an interesting dynamic, because we are all in the body of Christ, but they have no direct accountability to me on the subjects I addressed. I think that the critic should, as far as conscience allows, submit himself to the leadership in his church. That is probably the best posture for beginning a conversation. I had an interesting situation recently where I wrote a letter of dissent to leaders at a different church. That is an interesting dynamic, because we are all in the body of Christ, but they have no direct accountability to me on the subjects I addressed.

I think that the critic should, as far as conscience allows, submit himself to the leadership in his church. That is probably the best posture for beginning a conversation.

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