I think something that I feel important in christian vs. christian is letting go of the need or the feeling of having the "right" to be a certian thing when entering into community or discussion.  I think this is where we (even though I don't like to use the word "christian" to label myself...baggage that goes with it) have skewed things.  

I love how Seth Donovan put this at C21, she said:

"Standing: a place where i can confess my faith - which means that i have to be able to show up with all of my identities.  i need a place to de-compartmentalize. 

from my notes: 

·        I also walk through the world as a compartmentalized person: I am queer, I am gender-queer, I am a community organizer, I am a partner, I am a friend, I am white, I am middle-class, I am able-bodied, I am a Christian – I have a thousand identities and as a person in the 21st century am skilled in accessing and repressing those identities as I need to in order to be safe and to be loved and to get what I need.  The other aspect of confession – the aspect of being able to confess my faith and confess myself as a whole person is vital to me in participating in the church…that when I walk into the church my theology has everything to do with me and all of my identities have everything to do with my faith – that there is no shame to be carried in with certain parts of myself…that my whole self can be confessed.  That my faith and theology can be about my body and my gender and my relationships and all of the parts of myself that I am sent consistent messages should be things that I keep in compartments

<strong>The implications of what type of work the church needs to do to become a place where this dual approach to confession can happen are vast:

- it means the church (we) have to be a place where someone is held tightly enough that it is safe to be wrong...that relationship with the other is non-negotiable</strong> (Jules emphasis)"

I think this and Seth's whole discussion really, gets to the heart of the matter.  It is the need to come into community, discussion, ect. and let go of the right to be right, but allow everyone to be wrong.  in christian vs. christian that isn't that allowance.  on both sides if we ALL are honest.  

I like that Drew pointed to the fact that there needs to be an understanding of scripture and the what is absolute.  I guess it is the PoMo/EC in me, but for me Drew couldn't be more correct.  I think once we embrace the thought that we don't own or have the market on any thing absolute this (should or hopefully) free ourselves from a hold on one side or another.  However, I realize what I just stated is a lot where the christian vs christian thing comes out of a lot of times.  

Not sure if I just merked the water more or helped at all. ;)  

blessings!

Jules