In love with the church?

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day. We were talking about politics as usual, but soon the conversation took a turn to religion and my being in the Uniting Church (as it normally does). He said that being more involved in the church had taken over my passion for politics and that the James he originally knew was out there doorknocking every day to get rid of a certain PM ;)

He more or less reckons the church has made me 'soft' so to speak. However, the most interesting (and valuable) comment he said was "...if you weren't so in love with the Uniting Church...."

My friends comment (that would be viewed as highly cynical by most) got me thinking. Am I in-love with the Uniting Church?

I decided to look first at what has kept me in the UCA and in the community of faith I have chosen to be apart of.

• I have a deep sense of belonging to the community of faith and in particular to Armidale UC.
• Even though the church can frustrate sometimes with its bureaucratic-like rules and procedures - I hold in because I believe that I can offer something to the Church of today to progress the vision for the church of tomorrow.
• Every now and then, there are things within the church that empower me. Things such as NCYC, SOD, 40 Hour Famine, Assembly, and KYCK has really energised me.
• I have that "feeling" that I just need to be in the church because of my sense of belonging and a "necessity" of my life to be in the church.

So, I have this sense of belonging and empowerment.

But why the Uniting Church....?

I have been involved in every Synod meeting since 2003 (I attended 2003 as a KinS person, afterwhich I have attended as a member). These Synod meetings (though at times really dry and boring) have allowed me be a part of the processes of the church. No other church would allow someone as young to do this.

The Uniting Church is, I think, the only church that places a freedom and emphasis on differing theology. The UCA actually promotes this difference. Radical Discipleship is fostered and those who partake in this are empowered with training such as School of Discipleship.

An indication that I may be in love with the UCA would be that I cannot really stand to hear a bad word about it from those who have never been involved in it. I know a few people who call the UC a "bunch of heretics" because of our views on woman clergy, homosexuality (although there is no official view), property etc.

But I think I can place the first time I knew I loved the UCA was when I first read the Basis of Union. I was 16 and was a month away from attending the 11th Assembly so I thought I had better read this document a lot of the "oldies" were going on about. After reading the document, I knew for sure that I would never leave the Uniting Church. The content of the BoU just filled me with a sense of pride.