In the fall of 2012, two friends invited me to the church they attended, though neither were members at the time. That particular Presbyterian church is very socially active, involved in building Habitat homes in the States and Guatemala, volunteering at a food kitchen, preparing bags of food and hygiene items for the homeless, the list goes on. They are truly a group as concerned with living their faith as with sharing their faith. It appealed to me and after a few months, I joined.
I would likely still be there, except that my life came crashing down and I moved to the Midwest. It helped me strengthen my trust in God. Until that time, I thought that I trusted God, but that his institutions were seriously flawed because of the mortals who inhabit them. I learned there that I could openly question faith. I did, and my faith grew deeper.
One of the primary differences I found was the Women of Faith Bible/book/topic study. The group focuses on a book or a Bible study or a topic and comes together once a month for discussion. The varied form allows for in depth discussions of varied faith concerns, often as pertains to current world issues. Questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. And always, looking at how God’s people might be called to respond. And it was okay, if you didn’t always agree.
And selections for study included books from a variety of faith perspectives. We read books such as Richard Rohr’s Falling Upwards, Adam Hamilton’s Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things The Bible Doesn’t Say, and Patrick Gully’s If the Church Were Christian: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus.
And in talking about what we loved, what we doubted, where we felt deeply disturbed, the result was finding greater faith. And the group contained varied viewpoints. As their “resident Catholic” I would explain misconceptions or clarify references in Falling Upwards. Others would add things from other faiths.
When I first moved back to the Midwest in 2018, I did attend a Presbyterian Church. I drove about 20 miles to attend. Again, it was a positive experience, but my participation was limited by the drive, health issues, and then another move.
Also, in 2013 I had learned some things that I did not know or understand when I left the Catholic Church. Things that slowly made me question that decision. And things I remembered that I found deeply meaningful. When I moved even further from the Presbyterian Church, the drive became much longer. The Catholic Church was now four blocks away. I still had a lot to resolve, but the process began.
Naked Soul Thoughts 