Comment on Believers in Exile. A New Christian Diaspora? by Mike Smith

I was senior pastor of a large and reputedly successful church (“large” only by Australian standards). I lost faith in “church” and have spent the last 12 years restlessly searching for a way that “believers in exile” can be church together. The journey is strange.

On one hand – being church with fellow travellors has been rich beyond words. However – if we were commissioned to bear much fruit – I am wondering where it is. I sometimes think about a return to churchworld.

I’m worried I would break churches though. I think the thought forms of the “believers in exile” have been used by the mainstream as marketing gimmicks for local churches and discussion starters for small groups. In terms of concrete action – when someone tries to change the core structures of church-as-we-know-it, the results (at least down here) are pretty sad. The exiles remain exiled, and their ranks are swelling with exiled pastors and leaders.

Believers in exile are still church – possibly the largest part of it.

Is there a way community can be formed, the sacraments celebrated and the word passed on without reference to the institutions that have served the faith so well for the last 500 years. The believers in exile have put their 95 thesies on the door – but we don’t seem to have found what to DO to make it all work despite some truly heroic attempts.