Being a part of the Independent Sacramental Movement has its challenges. One of these challenges is the association with the Independent Sacramental Movement with Catholicism, Orthodoxy, or Anglicanism -- but most specifically Roman Catholicism. I do prefer the phrase, "Independent Sacramental Movement" to the antiquated "Independent Catholic." Now that the Catholic has been taken out of the equation we can focus on the word Independent, because with this word (Independent) there is still an implied association with Catholicism.
A person can call their jurisdiction (i.e., church) anything they like. However, is it really Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican simply because someone makes a claim to the name? My mother was raised United Methodist, but has no clue who John Wesley is or what Methodism is about. Therefore, for the longest time she claimed to be Baptist because to her it was easier to understand. Does this make her a Baptist because she claimed to be a Baptist? I don't think it does, but she believed it for awhile. Likewise, I believe many people in the Independent Sacramental Movement are so attached to the word Catholic that they don't want to divorce themselves from the idea of being Catholic, but not necessarily Roman Catholic in union with the Bishop of Rome. Catholic becomes an identity marker, but not the association with Rome and therefore the insertion of the word Independent as if Independent is a recipe for an identity that is both Catholic and independent of the authority imposed by the Vatican.
Even if "Independent Sacramental Movement" is the descriptive phrase used to describe this movement of apostolically consecrated clergy and occasional laity I argue that the word Independent is problematic because it insinuates that we are "Independent" from something and we all know that the something implied is Rome (or for some the main bodies of Orthodoxy and the Anglican Communion). It is time to divorce ourselves of the use the word Independent, because the link with Catholicism is unnecessary.
If not "Independent Sacramental Movement" then what? The new word would need to be a descriptive word that does justice to the movement, but doesn't alienate the various perspectives within the movement. There are conservative jurisdictions, liberal jurisdictions, and even syncretistic elements within the Independent Sacramental Movement. The word that is used would have to apply to all of these branches of the movement without causing too much of a barrier between each of them.
Why not "Sacramental Christian Movement" or "Sacramental Christianity?" I've given this a lot of thought and felt it time to reclaim the word Christian in how the word fits into the movement. The phrase "Independent Catholicism" requires a bit of explanation to anyone who knows about Roman Catholicism but not about the "independent" movement, and the explanation usually centers of why "we" are just as good as the Roman version. Likewise, the phrase "Independent Sacramental Movement" is better but still centers of being independent of something with the caveat that "we" are just as good as the Roman version. Focusing on "Sacramental Christianity" puts our focus on the sacraments and not on being independent from anything or claiming an identity that is not genuine.
Friday, July 13, 2007
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10 comments:
Interesting post. I'm not completely opposed to "Old Catholic/Independent Catholic" though since the movement does trace itself back to that history, but I like the term "Sacramental Christian". I think though that it will run into the old argument of "what do you mean by Christian" since even within the OC/IC/ISM there are different definitions of that.
If "Sacramental Christian", why not also "Sacramental Pagan" for those who identify more with that tradition? Why just one term since jurisdictions are independent of one another and have a variety of practices and beliefs? I find there is also confusion in that those not familiar with the OC/IC/ISM world believe that we are all bound together in some way when that is not the case. Are you envisioning the OC/IC/ISM as something structured more like the Unitarian Universalists? My experience has been that the various jurisdictions don't have much to do with each other.
Gabriel
If "Sacramental Christian", why not also "Sacramental Pagan" for those who identify more with that tradition?
You could use "Sacramental Pagan," however, you divorce yourself from the notion of Apostolic Succession then they are not sacraments in the ISM fashion and then you could simply use Pagan Ritual or Pagan Mysteries. If you do in fact mean Apostolic Succession then you might use Sacramental Christo-Paganism to differentiate between Sacramental Christianity and Sacramental Christo-Paganism or Sacramental Gnostic Christianity.
Why just one term since jurisdictions are independent of one another and have a variety of practices and beliefs?
Its helpful to have a term to describe the movement. ISM is better, I think, than IC or OC.
I find there is also confusion in that those not familiar with the OC/IC/ISM world believe that we are all bound together in some way when that is not the case.
I certainly agree with this statement.
Are you envisioning the OC/IC/ISM as something structured more like the Unitarian Universalists?
In that each congregation, jurisdiction, or bishop is independent? Not sure I follow you when you say, "structured more like..."
My experience has been that the various jurisdictions don't have much to do with each other.
Agreed. That is why I think the concept of jurisdictions in the ISM are illusions. People will jump ship any opportunity they can if it suits them. What ties the "movement" together is the sacraments not illusions of a jurisdiction and "canon law."
Hi David - This is a very helpful exploration of the issues. Thank you! I find it hard to get away from the word independent, due to the extent to which it is used in this movement - but in describing my own religious identity, I agree that "sacramental christian" hits closer to the mark. I'm obviously really enjoying your blog! I think you could work some of these posts into a larger sustained essay (in your ample spare time!).
John:
I'm obviously really enjoying your blog!
Thank you. That means a lot!
I think you could work some of these posts into a larger sustained essay (in your ample spare time!).
Good idea!
Thanks for your thoughtful response!
I'm playing with the idea of ISM as an umbrella term, with "Sacramental Christian", "Sacramental Christo-Pagan", "Sacramental Gnostic Christianity", etc as sub-categories of the ISM.
I'm not sure "Sacramental Christian" captures the whole ISM. I identify as "Sacramental Christian" but for me that term isn't accurate for someone who is Christo-Pagan. That's not a critique of Christo-Paganism. It's just that my understanding of Christianity is fairly specific and doesn't encompass the multiple deities in Christo-Paganism so I like the more specific terminology.
-Gabriel
Yes, I think Gabriel has a good point that there are quite a few folks who can be considered part of the the ISM (at least as a descriptive category) who do not want to identify as (unambiguously) christian. Consider our thelemic ecclesiastical cousins - whether one likes them or not, they are still part of the history, part of the mix.
The issue of words like "independent" and "free" is still rolling around in my head. I mean them in a positive way (discovering our freedom in Christ, casting aside all that binds us), but I think David is correct that some people hear the words as "independent from Rome (or whoever)" - and thus still wound up with a connection to another denomination. I don't know if there is any way around this. But it is interesting to ponder!
Gabriel:
It's just that my understanding of Christianity is fairly specific and doesn't encompass the multiple deities in Christo-Paganism so I like the more specific terminology.
Keep in mind that your particular understanding of Christianity is simply that, yours. Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves the "True Christians," but most denominations don't consider them Christian at all because they are non-Trinitarian. The Roman Catholic Church doesn't consider Protestants "real" Churches because they lack Apostolic Succession. Often times one group doesn't acknowledge another.
My philosophy is that if one "follows" Christ, even if he or she has an open theological mind and prefers not to pigeonholed by faith then that person is still a Christian. The early Church afforded a multitude of religious expression, the same can be true today.
...my understanding of Christianity is fairly specific...
My understanding of Christianity is much different. Does that make it less Christian, surely to some people. But the perspective is much different when viewed from another vantage point.
I'm playing with the idea of ISM as an umbrella term...
Not a bad idea. If this approach is taken then perhaps Free or Autonomous would work. I think if Independent is used it is more indicative of individual clergy and laity because no matter what sort of "jurisdictions" are created they are all an illusion and everyone is essentially independent to choose. People jump ship all the time, to claim an illusionary jurisdiction that will "save the movement" is absurd.
+ David
Good discussion. However, please don't take my disagreement as censorship!
+ John:
The issue of words like "independent" and "free" is still rolling around in my head.
As I mentioned to Gabriel, if we view Independent as not independent from Rome, but ultimately independent from ecclesiastical "oppression" of any sort then Independent would work, at least in my eyes. Jurisdictions are illusionary things, and if someone isn't happy they often will jump to another jurisdiction or form a new one. In the grand scheme of things we are all Independent, at least when it comes to ecclesiastical matters. You can spend months writing canon laws, and formulating process after systematic process but that doesn't mean at the end of the day anyone is going to follow it in the "Independent Sacramental Movement" or in the "Sacramental Christian Movement" or by whatever name it is called.
In this context I think Independent works, and so does Free, or Autonomous. I just don't like the link with Catholic or other "mainline" sacramental churches because it shouts: "We are Schismatics and proud of it, and base our ecclesiology upon it!" This perspective of mine if probably exacerbated by my involvement with the Roman Catholic traditionalist movement, but we are all influenced by our life experience.
Thanks for the discussion!
+ David
David wrote: "I think the concept of jurisdictions in the ISM are illusions. People will jump ship any opportunity they can if it suits them. What ties the "movement" together is the sacraments not illusions of a jurisdiction and "canon law."
This is an extremely important point, and I just wanted to pull it out, highlight it, and say Amen. Thanks
Great discussion! I'm enjoying reading the blog overall too!
The idea of sacramental paganism was raised - in my mind the idea of "traditional" Pagan mystery cults and the activity surrounding them already include sacramentalism - though in a Pagan and not apostolic context.
Also, freedom from "ecclesiastical oppression" was mentioned. Here! Here! From my rather old school OC perspective though - this is an essential element of the OC identity - and was part of the argument the founders such as Dollinger had with Pius IX. I mention this only to throw out the idea that while there is certainly a good argument in favour of abandoning reactionary labels such as "independent" and to some extent even "catholic" It seems to me that this is only successful if the move is made with an effort to reclaim (and even re-shape) the identity and communicate it effectively both to those within the community and to those looking at us through the window.
Alternatively (and here I'm playing devil's advocate) abandoning these labels may be that final release for many seeking to break free of the gravity of the "big tent churches" such as Rome & Canturbery empowering an investment in a truely liberated expression of the faith, one where the participants and members are not constantly looking over their shoulders to see what the "Holy Mother Church" is doing or saying.
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