last night we went to a halloween party full of church folk. it was a blast. but what we both noticed upon leaving was how surrounded by people of like mind we were. we are not used to that... in ohio and indiana that tends not to be the case, and despite being in the bay area for two years, it is still ocassionally surprising.
don't get me wrong, mbcc is not particularly political from the pulpit (or at least we try not to be)... or even in our congregational life. as a community, we talk about hunger and other relatively safe justice issues, but try to keep the rough issues to a minimum. we are authentic in our attempts to be open to different perspectives and make room for people who disagree with us.
of course, there has been an obama shirt on someone almost every sunday for months. in the primary season there were lots of hilary supporters too.
what impresses me about the mbcc crowd most is there political engagement outside of the congregation. one lawyer was telling beautiful stories from volunteering for a national hotline that helps first time voeters figure it all out. another young woman has volunteered (what seems to me a lot) for no on prop eight and will be spending her tuesday for that cause. a doctor in our crew was quoted in defense of a teenager's right to have an abortion without telling her parents--a position he holds with thought, integrity and faith.
this gang challenges me to be more active. to take opinions and turn them into a lifestyle. to be engaged on a deeper level. to use my faith to change the world.
this is definitely one of the ways that mbcc is a communion of saints.
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