After two weeks back home in NC, what strikes me most about the Big Tent experience is the ongoing conversations that I’ve found myself participating in. I know that to a large segment of the Big Tent crew the level of activity on social media networks is nothing particularly new, but I’m a relatively latecomer to the party and am still surprised by the wave of communication following an event like this. So, I’ll echo the sentiment that while the Big Tent movement still has room to grow the connections we’re making are powerful and, at least for me, transformative.
As has been stated in other reflections, the wall this event most significantly seemed to chip away at was the one between younger, post-evangelical, emergenty types and dyed in the wool, mainline progressives. As more of a post-liberal type who didn’t know he was doing anything emergent until other folks started telling him so, it was a good crowd for me. My frame of reference for understanding Christianity has much more in common with the older set at Big Tent Phoenix, even though my practices look much more like the younger set. To draw those distinctions just along generational lines is way too reductive, but it at least points towards a truth if not nailing it spot on.
The most interesting theme in the follow-up conversations I’ve been having has been around the politics of representation and the “what’s next” of taking incarnation (and thus bodies) seriously. Undoubtedly there is work to be done in creating events less dominated by straightwhiteguys. I look forward to the day when women, people of color, and queers have more space to speak about things other than being women, people of color, and queer. A few of my friends and colleagues are pushing us in that direction by challenging attempts to be relegated to limited identity conversations (often by other women, people of color, and queers). That’s happening more and more, and the Big Tent folk are playing a role in moving the culture in that direction.
The video of part of my conversation with Richard Rohr has been posted by my friends at Homebrewed Christianity (http://ow.ly/43QmV). Earlier in the week they posted my solo talk from Phoenix, and in a few days they’ll also be posting the chapter I wrote for the book Baptimergent that the publishers deemed (ironically, given its message) “too gay” and cut at the last minute. So…check ‘em out if you’re interested in my ongoing attempts to rethink the conversations church folk are (and aren’t) having about sexuality.
As for my earlier post about Richard, first and foremost, he’s a lovely man. I found him to be incredibly gracious and supportive of my work. We have some clear differences, but sincerely share some common concerns. One of the great gifts of the Big Tent Phoenix experiences was the connection with him and his openness to continue in a conversation with me about the future of conversations about masculinities and Christian spirituality. More to come on that…and I remain deeply grateful to all of those who have engaged me in the past few weeks around those questions. I think we’ve got some important work to do.
I look forward continuing this conversation with you.
I heard you speak at Big Tent One on Raleigh and was impressed with your talk. Your reframing of discussions about sexuality resonated with me. I was excited to see your conversation with Richard Rohr on the net, and I used it to initiate a discussion for a theological reflection group I facilitate. The group is male and female. Everyone is above forty. The sexuality spectrum is represented.
The challenge for the group with your presentation was the part about “sacred sex” and “resurrection sex.” One of the women in the group said she lost you because she thought the phrase was silly. My wife had a similar reaction when I showed her your talk, although she thought what you had to say was important and provocative.
My question is what is sacred sex and even more specifically, what is resurrection sex? I think I know what you are getting at, and I even tried to defend the phrase pointing to the baptismal covenant in The Book of Common Prayer (we’re Episcopalians) where a person promises to “respect the dignity of every human person.” I’d like to read or hear a more thorough unpacking of sacred sex and resurrection sex or at least point me toward some resources.
Again, thank you for your thoughtful insights and I hope to hear more from you in the future.
Thanks, Stephen.
A bit of that was unpacked In the Q&A that didn’t make the video, but I’ll try and explain what I mean my next post.