So, I was in my fortnightly zoom call with a group of friends thinking about triangles and circles.
Specifically, the triangle that is church (most of the time), with the top of the triangle being supported by the rest of the triangle, and the bottom of the triangle feeling the pressure of everything above it and not able to move.
Someone told me this week that there are seven steps in a church building to go up to the ‘far end.’ I had never come across that before, but it’s true that in most churches the ‘holy bit’ is separated from where the congregation are, and is reached by going up steps … and seven is one of those mystical numbers, so who knows ?
Any way, the point is, the leader in a congregation (and it will depend on what kind of church it is, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Free Church etc) is lifted up above the rest.
This symbolises the Holiness and otherness of God, I get that, but it also serves to emphasise the hierarchy in our churches.
Even in the Churches that meet in old Cinemas and Sports Halls there’s often some kind of platform to raise the leaders (and the band !) up above the rest.
Yes, it’s so we can all see the speaker.
But …..
what if we were 30 people in a circle and not 100 seated in rows looking up at the one person leading.
Who’s the leader when we’re in a circle ? No-one knows … And can you still see the one speaking ? (Yes)
So what about the circle that might be the church, where we’re all supporting each other and able to see and respond to each other.
It seems to me that the circle gives an opportunity for all sorts of things to happen
Diversity of contribution -share gifts we didn’t know we had
Acknowledge the power dynamics (which will still be there) rather than them being obvious but never addressed
Be a powerful political vision of a different kind of soceity
And in the context of Holy Communion/Eucharist/Mass/Lord’s Supper – have the potential to be the kind of crazy table where everyone gets fed.
Until next time
Grace and Peace
Five Short Words 