Much is made these days with regard to the issue of identity. We now speak of "identity politics" in which groups of voters are targeted based upon closely shared racial, cultural and/or experiential commonalities. At its core, nationalism posits a unique identity based upon allegiance to the supposed uniqueness or qualities of the nation state to which one belongs. Many find their sense of identity in the social class to which they belong or to which they aspire.

This struggle between the mainstream and more strident voices has been taking place in most denominations and associations over the course of the last forty years and is continuing to the present time as we have seen in the recent debates and fractures of the UMC and the SBC. These fractures and debates have been of long standing. While the latest examples of this phenomena may be exacerbated by the current toxic mix of faith and politics, I suspect that the root cause is deeper.

What is the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC)?

At Moorewomen, the group for the wives of clergy in training at Moore Theological College, the same themes also recurred regularly -- never say no to his demands for sex, never expect him to miss a ministry opportunity to help care for a sick child, never complain, always be ready to give and give and give, as that was our contribution to the work of God's kingdom.