Christianity Today has an in-depth and insightful article on the Ancient-Future Church movement: “The Future Lies in the Past.” The author, Chris Armstrong, attended the 2007 Wheaton Theology Conference which had as its theme “The Ancient Faith for the Church’s Future.” The article provides a helpful introduction to the movement: its orgins in the 1970s; its key figures including Robert Webber, Thomas Oden, Thomas Howard (who, famously, later converted to Roman Catholicism), Peter Gilquist (who moved to Eastern Orthodoxy), and Richard Foster; and the problems that the movement attempts to correct, as well as potential ways it can get things wrong.
My own interest in the movement came about in the 1980s, when I was invited to attend services at St. Joseph of Arimathea, an Anglican church in Berkeley, Calif. It appealed to me aesthetically: I enjoyed the Gregorian chants, the peaceful atmosphere, the simple, traditional architecture of the sanctuary, the liturgy (although I could take or leave the use of incense, as well as the vestments). Theologically, however, I had too many differences: I could not accept infant baptism, I felt it promoted too great a clergy-laity distinction, most importantly, I objected to its sacerdotalism (the belief that a priesthood is needed to intercede between people and God).
Later I became acquainted with Touchstone magazine (at the 2000 Wheaton Theology Conference, incidentally) in which conservative Christians from the mainline Protestant denominations, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy as well as Evangelicalism write on matters of common concern. It attempts to be a forum of “mere Christianity,” a phrase borrowed from the book of the same title by C. S. Lewis, the “patron saint” of the magazine. I also became interested in the writings of Robert Webber, particularly Ancient-Future Faith.
I don’t know how the insights of the ancient-future church movement can fit in with what we are doing at Beaver Baptist Church. On occasion I like to include reciting the Nicene Creed in order to emphasize our unity with all Christians throughout the ages and the world today. I have also introduced the practice of spiritual disciplines, which are of course not limited to the ancient-future movement. We also incorporate a couple of elements from the “church calendar” such as having Maundy Thursday or Good Friday services during Holy Week. These aspects of traditional worship have been positively received, or at least tolerated at our church.
In general, Southern Baptists are likely to be unreceptive to this kind of traditional Christian worship, although the SBC is large enough to have a diversity in worship styles. For example, Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky uses elements of ancient worship. The Baptist Church of the Redeemer in Houston, Texas is also incorporates a liturgical style.
