Progressive Christianity Net

What is the Progressive Christianity Network?
We’re a network of people who share a common interest exploring new horizons of Christian faith in the contemporary world. We provide encouragement and support for people to ‘explore the questions’ without fear and within a sense of community.

Do we have members?
No. The Progressive Christianity Network is a fluid forum enabling people to make their own connections. We seek to be a catalyst for creative thought and practice.

What is the relationship to churches?
We are an ecumenical movement with a number of denominations currently represented. We can be used as a resource for people in existing worship communities, offering an alternative voice in a largely conservative church environment.

How did the Network begin?
Impetus to form a Network came from the first visit to Adelaide in June 2001 by Bishop John Shelby Spong. Many since that event, have expressed a desire to continue exploring the fresh ideas and faith issues that he and other guests have presented.

How are we coordinated?
The Progressive Christianity Network is a fully integrated part of the Effective Living Centre, which provides oversight and administrative support. A small planning group organise the events for the calendar year.

What about international links?
PCNet, SA is linked informally with the international movement The Centre for Progressive Christianity that is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their web site with links to us and other affiliates is: www.tcpc.org

PC Newsletter, March 2009 .

Saving Jesus
Do you ever feel Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right? ‘Saving Jesus’ is a small group DVD-based study which offers an exploration of Jesus Christ for the third millennium. The DVD is a tool to open conversation, giving progressively-minded Christians an opportunity to network, and an assurance that they are not alone in their questioning. The purpose is to be a resource for people who are in a life-long conversation about the mysteries of life and faith should raise questions and ‘stir the pot’, rather than give easy answers.

Contributors include: John Bell, Marcus Borg, Walter Brueggemann, John Dominic Crossan, Matthew Fox, Lloyd Geering, Hans Kung, Helen Prejean (author of Dead Man Walking), Bernard Brandon Scott and John Shelby Spong.

The next series of DVD discussions on the theme ‘Saving Jesus from the Religious Right’ resumes on Monday 22 June through to Monday 13 July. It is not necessary to have attended the previous sessions in order to benefit from these evenings as each session is a self contained topic.

Friday Forum on August 21 features the Rev Philip Carter, Director of the Julian Centre. Philip, an Anglican priest with a wonderfully imaginative and lucid mind is an engaging speaker.

Each block costs $20.00 and should be booked through ELC.