Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Quote Book Index 141-150

I suspect most evangelical churches removing pews did it without telling the congregation that the archbishop thought it a good idea.

141. In a period of profound transformation, exploration must precede discovery. But exploration involves risk. The church cannot be expected to learn from its mistakes unless it is bold enough to make some. So working hypotheses replace settled systems, short-term projects are substituted for permanent organisation - and it is right that our churches should be furnished with stackable chairs rather than immovable pews. (The Late Robert Runcie, former Archbishop of Canterbury, quoted by Gordon Jones in 'The Church Without Walls')

1 comment:

Marcella said...

A bishop once told me that he wished every diocese had an official burglar who could go round removing pews in the dead of night.