"It's Time to Rethink American Churches", Sojourners, Inclusive Catholic Communities Offer Expansive Theology and Ecclesiology by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

 https://sojo.net/articles/it-s-time-rethink-american-churches

St. Priscilla's Catacomb, Rome

"The Greek word ekklesia, which refers to both the universal church and to local groups of believers, is found over 100 times in the New Testament. Acts 2:42-47 offers one of the most poignant and timeless images of what the church should be: a space (not necessarily a physical building) where people are able to worship, engage in fellowship, service, outreach, prayer, and more. As we move into the 21st century, the Christian movement may increasingly resemble these early believers who were known as followers of the way of Jesus, rather than as members of a particular church.

I would rather see a sermon than to hear one.” I think many disaffected or alienated Christians — who have only seen an overly partisan and conservative brand of Christianity — are anxious to see more of what God’s radical and inclusive love looks like in action." 

 After the first Roman Catholic Women Priests were ordained in 2006 in Pittsburgh, inclusive Catholic communities have gradually emerged in over 35 states. My community, Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida began with 6 people celebrating a Catholic Mass with me around my dining room table  and grew to a gathering of an open community that welcomed everyone to  receive Communion. We met at St. Andrew UCC weekly on Saturdays at 4:00 PM. Now - during COVID times - we meet in cyberspace via Zoom with approximately 40 participant  from around the United States, Canada and beyond. At this time, like other inclusive communities, we are exploring ways  that  we could both gather for liturgies at St. Andrew UCC- and continue our liturgies on Zoom.

Our Eucharistic theology has evolved over fifteen years to empower the entire community to celebrate Eucharist (popularly known as Catholic Mass). This means that we invite everyone to participate in a shared homily and to recite the Eucharistic Prayers of Consecration of the bread and wine - that are reserved for the priest alone in Roman Catholic parishes. Jesus invited all to eat and drink at the last supper, so do we, and he did not ordain anyone at this gathering to represent him, neither do we. All the baptized image Christ.  

Roman Catholic Women Priests are helping to transition the Church from a priest dependent model to a community empowered ecclesial model that bears some resemblance to the diverse early Christian agape gatherings in the New Testament. In many ways this new model is more like the early days of Christianity in which believers met in house churches. 

As the Body of Christ  gathered around the table, on the table and beyond the table, many inclusive Catholic communities today consecrate their own bread and wine and receives communion in weekly Zoom liturgies. In these gatherings, the women priests are animators of creative, participatory liturgies in which the entire gathered assembly celebrates the Christ presence.  All are ministry partners who nourish one another and go forth to live Jesus message of love in action in our world today. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP