I agree with your assessment. For someone who was in Dallas in “84”, experienced the SBTS change in The 90’s and was present at the formation of the CBF, it’s hard to see both sides lose their way. But, they have. If I had the time, I would create a middle organization but I’m bi-vocational pastor/hospice chaplain. I do pray that a middle association will develop. Its a struggle to associated with both groups.
Since I first learned of bounded, centered, and fuzzy set conceptuality I've found it useful for my thinking about churches. The more I think about it, however, the less satisfying it is. Though my initial attraction is to a centered set model, the more I consider it the more I see a need for clarity about WHAT that center is and HOW relationships with that center are characterized. The greater the degree of clarity in answering those questions, the more it will look and feel like the application of a bounded set model, even as we continue to use centered set language.
Richard, thank you for your perspective on bounded, centered, and fuzzy. In many ways, centered is the most difficult of the three not only to understand but to sustain. The poles of bounded and fuzzy are easier to understand and sustain. Any images are inadequate. A starting place for me is to visualize bounded as a wall or fence around a system. Either you are in or out, and often any gates or doors swing only out for the purpose of leaving. Getting in initially is harder if you were not already in when the wall or fence was constructed. I visualize a centered set like a campfire which can be seen from all sides. The closer to the fire you are the more you are connected. The farther away you are the less you are connected until at some point you leave the campfire for it no longer provides any warmth. The fuzzy image is of lightning bugs or butterflies swarming around is somewhat of a relationship with one another, but no clear identity as one, and no obvious leader(ship). The relationship is good, can be lasting, but a clear mission and vision does not exist. Again, I am a word person more than an image person. These image may or may not be helpful.
The bounded set seems to be a clear "either/or" set up. You are within the bounds or you are outside the bounds. The centered set can also be seen as "either/or" - one is either oriented toward the center or one is not. For me, what the centered set allows better than the bounded set, is more complexity, particularly a way to imagine change over time. Through repentance, I turn away from sin (and allegiance to things other than God's Kingdom) and turn TO Jesus, giving him my trust and allegiance. The degree of my trust and allegiance - and my likeness to Jesus - can increase over time as I get closer to him (the center).
Thanks for this, George! As a former head of a denomination, I find this just about perfectly describes what happens when church people stop working intentionally at dialogue and begin "writing off" one another.
It is also what happens to about any group held together by common concerns, practices, etc. (fair warning for nations as well as communions/denominations).
Thank you for your comment, Dick. Winning remains more important than dialogue in religion, in society, in politics, in sports, etc. Therefore, finding ways to lift up and be guided by higher values seldom happens --as you and I both have seen.
I think I have been living in that middle for 40 years, a part of the SBC, happy to be a part of it, yet never able to embrace the leanings of any of the hard right segments of the denomination. As those segments become not only more visible but also more powerful one can find himself as a man without a country. The day may be coming quickly when a new denomination is the missional and emotionally healthy thing to do.
Yes, the SBC lost its way missionally. CBF has never truly found its way missionally. Another way to say this is that the SBC made the Great Commission a secondary priority. CBF shifted to be a Great Commandment denomination.
Response received on social media: "I see Methodists following the same pattern."
Response received by email: "Great article, George. Sad but great!"
Thanks George! Well done!
Ed Jordan
Thank you, Ed!
I agree with your assessment. For someone who was in Dallas in “84”, experienced the SBTS change in The 90’s and was present at the formation of the CBF, it’s hard to see both sides lose their way. But, they have. If I had the time, I would create a middle organization but I’m bi-vocational pastor/hospice chaplain. I do pray that a middle association will develop. Its a struggle to associated with both groups.
Since I first learned of bounded, centered, and fuzzy set conceptuality I've found it useful for my thinking about churches. The more I think about it, however, the less satisfying it is. Though my initial attraction is to a centered set model, the more I consider it the more I see a need for clarity about WHAT that center is and HOW relationships with that center are characterized. The greater the degree of clarity in answering those questions, the more it will look and feel like the application of a bounded set model, even as we continue to use centered set language.
Richard, thank you for your perspective on bounded, centered, and fuzzy. In many ways, centered is the most difficult of the three not only to understand but to sustain. The poles of bounded and fuzzy are easier to understand and sustain. Any images are inadequate. A starting place for me is to visualize bounded as a wall or fence around a system. Either you are in or out, and often any gates or doors swing only out for the purpose of leaving. Getting in initially is harder if you were not already in when the wall or fence was constructed. I visualize a centered set like a campfire which can be seen from all sides. The closer to the fire you are the more you are connected. The farther away you are the less you are connected until at some point you leave the campfire for it no longer provides any warmth. The fuzzy image is of lightning bugs or butterflies swarming around is somewhat of a relationship with one another, but no clear identity as one, and no obvious leader(ship). The relationship is good, can be lasting, but a clear mission and vision does not exist. Again, I am a word person more than an image person. These image may or may not be helpful.
The bounded set seems to be a clear "either/or" set up. You are within the bounds or you are outside the bounds. The centered set can also be seen as "either/or" - one is either oriented toward the center or one is not. For me, what the centered set allows better than the bounded set, is more complexity, particularly a way to imagine change over time. Through repentance, I turn away from sin (and allegiance to things other than God's Kingdom) and turn TO Jesus, giving him my trust and allegiance. The degree of my trust and allegiance - and my likeness to Jesus - can increase over time as I get closer to him (the center).
Thanks for this, George! As a former head of a denomination, I find this just about perfectly describes what happens when church people stop working intentionally at dialogue and begin "writing off" one another.
It is also what happens to about any group held together by common concerns, practices, etc. (fair warning for nations as well as communions/denominations).
Thank you for your comment, Dick. Winning remains more important than dialogue in religion, in society, in politics, in sports, etc. Therefore, finding ways to lift up and be guided by higher values seldom happens --as you and I both have seen.
And, even when lifted up by higher values, it is fleeting--here for a while and then gone.
I think I have been living in that middle for 40 years, a part of the SBC, happy to be a part of it, yet never able to embrace the leanings of any of the hard right segments of the denomination. As those segments become not only more visible but also more powerful one can find himself as a man without a country. The day may be coming quickly when a new denomination is the missional and emotionally healthy thing to do.
Yes, the SBC lost its way missionally. CBF has never truly found its way missionally. Another way to say this is that the SBC made the Great Commission a secondary priority. CBF shifted to be a Great Commandment denomination.