Dealing with difference and dissensus within the church as organisation

M Painter-Morland

doi:10.4102/ve.v22i1.627

Abstract

This paper wants to propose a way of dealing with the reality of difference within churches that allows for unity amidst diversity. It argues for the adoption of institutional frameworks that function as guiding and unifying forces without becoming repressing, totalising structures. The presence of dissensus and difference does not necessarily have to result in the fragmentation of churches. In fact, when harnessed effectively, difference and dissensus can become a valuable resource for renewal and realignment within churches. The paper develops a framework for dealing with diversity that binds people to the church as organisation in a way that respects their individual value-configurations and input. In the first place, it argues for a holistic view of the relationship between bodiliness, nature, technology, language, and truth statements. In the second place, it insists that confessional, spiritual and moral guidelines should neither be totalising structures that repress difference, nor oppositional differences that exclude commonality. In the third place, it argues that ongoing connectedness between individual members of the church is necessary. Individuals must see themselves as part of an everchanging, ever-evolving web of relations. Guidelines for dialogue within the church therefore become essential.

Highlights

Ever since Jesus called his first disciples, Christian believers have organised themselves in communities of faith
Confession should never be a repressive statement that enforces sameness, it should rather be the opening through which every believer can enter into a very unique relationship with God. The implication of this reasoning would be to use the existing confessional documents of a church as historical examples of confessions of faith, and to encourage individual believers, and even groups of believers, to formulate their own confessions on a regular basis. It may seem like a huge paradigm shift to move away from the idea that all Christians need to think and be the same in order to uphold the tenet of one holy, catholic church
It depends on how we chose to think about the relationship between individuals and groups

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Ever since Jesus called his first disciples, Christian believers have organised themselves in communities of faith. In considering a church as an organisation it is imperative that one develops an understanding of and sensitivity for the individuals, groups, power relations and truths that exist within it It is important because in the business sphere one often finds that an organisation's view of its corporate identity, as well as the identity of individuals and groups who work and function within it, have direct bearing on the way it is structured and operates. These paradigm shifts have given rise to a number of alternative perspectives with regard to how individual differences and organisational unity can be balanced and maintained It is precisely these insights that churches could and should utilize to develop a form of organisational integrity that does not suffocate difference and dissensus

Identity configurations

Unity and unapologetic dialogue

Remaining connected

CONCLUSION