c. 2006 Religion News Service

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS _ We sped past the 66-foot statue of statesman Sam Houston, leader of the Texas Revolution, who retired here rather than violate his unionist principles when the State of Texas seceded in the Civil War.

We drove more sedately past the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, whose execution chamber accounts for one-third of all executions in the U.S.

I came to lead workshops on “church wellness” for a group of United Methodists who want to move on from denominational bickering and focus on nurturing healthy congregations. In these two days at the leading edge of tomorrow, at the place where faithful people are setting out to do the hard work of strengthening congregations, what did I find?

I saw mounting frustration with how their denomination has been paralyzed by the relentless badgering and clever maneuvering of conservative ideologues. Election by election, pulpit by pulpit, the conservative movement has forced its anti-homosexual, male-centered agenda onto the system.

I heard a deep sense of loss arising from a divided denomination. Clergy colleagues no longer talk easily with one another. Congregations with a strong conservative presence seem to be pushing progressives out the door.

In these power struggles, candid wrestling with common issues seems valued far less than doctrinal orthodoxy. Parachurch youth movements like Young Life, once perceived as helpful, are seen now as unabashedly partisan.

“Enough of this,” I heard these progressive Texas Methodists saying. Stopping gay marriage and drumming gay clergy out of the pulpit aren’t a worthy, life-giving agenda for the church. They sap energy, turn people to plotting against each other _ like the female pastor who was suddenly fired after many years of service when someone named her a lesbian _ and lay no foundation for transformational ministry.

I heard a desire to nurture healthy congregations _ focused on mission and servanthood, doing the basics of church effectively, responding to young adults, raising up effective leaders, dealing sanely with conflict, providing a lively and thoughtful place where people can deal with the stresses and dangers of life. As they saw it, moral perfectionism and biblical bullying promised nothing but more sniping.

I heard a lively curiosity about what it takes to nurture health. As I presented our Church Wellness Project, I sensed none of the once-common resistance to new ideas.

I heard waning enthusiasm for grand visions and grand gestures. Churches are struggling at the local level _ steadily “graying,” showing little growth _ and seem impervious to grand visions. I heard a need for judicatory leaders to step away from the meta-level of visioning and listen to what local people are thinking.

I heard a willingness to learn from megachurches _ not to emulate their message, but to see the value in their methods. Times have changed. Traditional ways of doing church aren’t working. Effective leaders will encourage fresh thinking in congregations.

On the whole, I heard hope and enthusiasm, stemming from a focus on local needs. When they talked about the people they serve, they seemed energized, even when situations are difficult. Unlike denominational politics, those needs are about people, not religious ideology. Small successes encourage them, and small failures don’t derail them.

Two of the participants were actual “young adults,” the age group that is missing in many mainline Protestant churches. They echoed the frustration with denominational politics and doctrinal conformity, and they hoped their church would get down to basics _ like better Web sites for reaching young adults.

(Tom Ehrich is a writer, consultant and leader of workshops. His book, “Just Wondering, Jesus: 100 Questions People Want to Ask,” was published by Morehouse Publishing. An Episcopal priest, he lives in Durham, N.C. His Web site is http://www.onajourney.org.)

KRE/PH END EHRICH

To obtain a photo of this columnist, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.