Waiting for something

This post is from the defunct blog “Dying Church”

Renee Alston guest blogs at JordonCooper.com:

i believe in the church. there is hope and grace to be found there. there is the ability to live in each other's stories, there is the chance to be people of compassion and strength, to be people who follow a big god. i believe in the church. i believe in the potential for it. i want it to be a place where people feel safe; where they can rest. i want to rest and feel safe there. far too many people have experienced the kind of church that has been in my past. a judgmental, power-filled, women-squashing institution that has no room for life or messiness or grace. us church survivors are wandering the streets, seeking a place to feel at home. we are waiting for something new to present itself to us. we are wanting to find someplace where our stories can be heard. to all of you who are creating new churches, different, vibrant churches, thank you. thank you from people like me, who are finding you willing to journey with us, and who are grateful to have something we can point to and say, "see, there is love. there is grace. there is a big god's dwelling place. there is hope, there is change, there is a refuge there that feels like home."