I wonder if the question of ecumenism right now is less “what would it take for our mainline denominations to conjoin?” and more “how is unity in the church actually forwarded by us joining?”

I think we might find that the lines have been pretty appropriately drawn nationally and that the unity of the church looks a lot more painful and costly on a local level.

Saying this knowing that the PCUSA is often functionally congregationalist. My hopes for internal reform enter these larger conversations, for sure. But within and without my denom, I despair that all our parishes are often too-very-similar menu options in a single community.

Maybe that’s okay. Here some conversation about “what does a healthily-sized parish look like?” enter the fray. Im comfortable saying the ideal of a neighborhood/regional parish is certainly out the door just based on property and convenience.