Bishop Spong - April 12 - 14, 2002

Itinerary:

            Friday April 12:            7:00 p.m.          Session I: Biographical

             Saturday April 13:        9:30 a.m.          Session II: Why Christianity Must Change or Die

                                                1:30 p.m.          Session III: A New Christianity for a New World

                                                7:00 p.m.          Coffee & Discussion

            Sunday April 14:           10:25 a.m.        Worship Service – Guest Speaker: Bishop Spong

Bishop Spong says Christianity

must change if it is to survive

By Jana G. Pruden

Medicine Hat News

He's had 16 death threats and written just as many books.

He's questioned the traditional Christian stance on issues of race, sex, and Gospel, and become one of the most controversial religious figures in America for it.

Last night, Bishop John "Jack" Spong brought his ideas to Medicine Hat.

"I am deeply committed to Christianity, I am not an outsider speaking critically," Spong said, speaking to a crowd of about 200 at Westminster United Church Friday Night.

"I am dedicated to the Christian community, but I am also dedicated to being an intelligent, thinking person in the modern world."

An Anglican deacon and priest for 21 years and an Anglican bishop for 24 more, Spong started to make headlines with books like Resurrection - Myth of Reality? and Why Christianity Must Change or Die, which question some of the tenets of popular Christian religion.

"The tension in my life it that I'm a deeply committed Christian and I live in the 21st century," said Spong. "The Bible was written in the first century, and it made assumptions that I cannot make."

Among his more controversial ideas, Spong has been an open advocate of equality and acceptance for homosexuals in the Church, the right to physician-assisted suicide for the ill, and a move away from literal readings of the Bible.

Spong has also been a long-time champion for the rights of minorities and women, earning the title of "Public Enemy No. 1" from the Ku Klux Klan in the midst of the American civil rights movement.

Today, Spong spends 85 per cent of his time traveling around North America, talking about the need to reform an ancient religion for a modern time.

"I've been called every name you can think of and heretic is one of the better ones," Spong said.  "Devil and antichrist are a couple of the others."

A coveted speaker, Spong is booked solidly until 2004, but came to Medicine Hat at the request of a friend, Westminster Church Reverend James Farrell.

Audience members from around the prairies made the trip to hear Spong, who spoke and answered questions for close to three hours. 

Ella Froese was among a group of five that came from Pincher Creek, and said it was worth the trip.

"I read two of his books and I was so excited by the concept and his challenge," she said.  "It was spellbinding."

Hatters Bill and Lorraine Scott said they knew a bit about Spong's controversial ideas, and decided to attend the talk to hear more.

"I'm open mind and willing to accept new ideas,"  Lorraine Scott said.  "So far I couldn't disagree with anything he has to say, not so far."

"He hasn't shocked me,"  Bill Scott agreed.