The answer begins with a fire. The United Church in Canandaigua, NY is a congregation with historical roots in two distinct denominations. On December 13, 1942, the First Baptist Church in Canandaigua burned to the ground. During World War II it was almost impossible to rebuild. In 1947 the congregation began worshipping in the Presbyterian Church and did so for a number of years. In time the Presbyterians invited the Baptists to form a federated church. And in 1961 they dropped the federated name and decided to become The United Church. For 65 years they have lived together in this identity. And while agreement around the essentials of faith is crucial, the church has learned to live in the tension of disagreement in theology and practice.
This summer something happened that has never happened in recent memory in our congregation. On August 9th, two families asked to bring their children before the church, one for dedication and one for baptism. There is no doubt in my mind that God’s Spirit was active in our worship service on that day. Each family promised to raise their child in the Lord. As I placed the water on one child’s head, I baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I pronounced God’s action in the midst of the child’s inability to fully understand God. For the second child, I prayed that he would enter the waters of baptism in time as he would grow to understand Jesus’ death on the Cross and Resurrection. For one child, we stressed what God had already done; for the other we focused on a decision he hasn’t made yet. Could both be true at the same time?
The church celebrated and committed these children to the Lord. It was a beautiful picture of unity in the Holy Spirit.
As I’ve reflected on this experience, I’ve thought about what it means for the broader church in our society today. We are living in an increasingly polarized world. With the rise of social media, positions on issues seem to be stronger and less open to dialogue than ever before. And willingness to live in the tension of disagreement is almost extinct. I have to admit that living in the tensions of these varying interpretations of Scripture is not always comfortable. As one coming from a Baptist background, I never thought I would conduct an infant baptism. Yet, as the pastor of The United Church, I don’t doubt my decision to honor both traditions. And perhaps this willingness to give full weight to both theological traditions is a deeper obedience to Scripture.
As you watch this video, I wonder what you think. I wonder how this apparent compromise strikes you. Does it make you squirm a bit? Or do you sense a unity of spirit that you feel is supported in Scripture? I think of Romans 14:1-6 or Ephesians 4:1-6. Paul seems deeply concerned about pursuing unity in the light of varying understandings of God’s way.
(Ephesians 4:3 NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
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