Doug Pagitt On Progressive Evangelicals – Is There Room For Orthodoxy?

I really appreciated Doug Pagitt’s recent list at Onfaith about progressive evangelicals. And I agree with him that this group – made up of those who identify as evangelicals (not denominational mainliners) but who are progressive in various ways – is growing. In fact, I’d likely number myself among them, even though I have spent time in a denominational (United Methodist) context for the last few years.

As this category begins to define itself out of the missional/emerging/emergent dust-up of the last 15 years, I have one primary question. Is there room for orthodoxy? And by orthodoxy I mean the committed adherence to the ecumenical creeds that has been the primary standard for historic Christian faith and practice for a couple millennia?

When Doug says in point 3 that progressive evangelicals combine the mainline willingness to be progressive in “thinking and theology” and the evangelical willingness to be progressive in “structure and style”, is the possibility for a third option – orthodox commitment and progressive views on cultural  issues, structure and style, etc. – ruled out? 

I of course think that theological/thought progression is necessary, but I’m one of those who thinks that’s possible within the bounds of orthodoxy. I’m also not expecting a response to this, but perhaps this would be good convo to take up in the comments here, or on social media.

Do you identify as a progressive evangelical? If so, how do you define or understand that? Look forward to hearing from you!

Read the whole thing here: 10 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Progressive Evangelicals | OnFaith.