Nicene Progressive Christianity

When I use the term progressive Christian I mean a Christian who both accepts the Nicene Creed as their statement of faith and accepts the general findings of science, history, and modern scholarship.

My concern is to distinguish myself from those who have given up the historical faith for a Christianity that is disconnected from its historical roots. It is too easy to overcorrect for years of disregarding science, history, and modern scholarship. The result is a Christian Humanism, which some are calling progressive Christianity.

Thus, in order to avoid confusion and try to bring clarity to the subject, I propose we call what we believe as Nicene Progressive Christianity. For we believe, with John Wesley, that there are four foundations to our faith. They are scripture, tradition (which includes the Nicene Creed), reason (which includes science, history, and modern scholarship), and Christian experience.

I would argue that if Christianity is going to survive, we need to make mysticism its heart. By mysticism I mean the pursuit of and experience of oneness with God. It is this experiential relationship eith God that is the lifeblood of vital Christianity. If we neglect this, our progressive churches will die.

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Jay N. Forrest

I am a Christian Teacher focused on the Pursuit of God through Prayer, Contemplation, Silence, Solitude, and Simplicity. I became a Christian in 1983, attended Bible school, and eventually earned my Doctorate in Ministry. I served as a Protestant minister for 27 years and also spent about a decade practicing Buddhism. In 2005, I was baptized into the Catholic Church, but have since joined the Episcopal Church. I live in the desert southwest of the United States.

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