If you’ve checked out our Team Page you might have noticed that at the bottom of each of our team members info page theres a spot that tells you what Denomination or Tradition they consider themselves to be a part of. If you’ve been perceptive enough to notice that, you might have also noticed that there are about three of us who consider ourselves to be “Trans-Denomational.” You might be wondering, what on earth is “Trans-Denomational?!”
But before I define this term I want to point out the origins of this term for myself. A common question for Christians is, “What denomination are you part of?” I get asked this a lot, and for a long time I have had a hard time articulating my answer to this. In some ways this is my attempt to answer this question for a broader audience.
To start with I don’t use the term “Non-Denomanational.” The reason I don’t use that term is because the Non-Denomantional movement is firmly within the Protestant Evangelical broader tradition. And I don’t consider myself Protestant let alone Evangelical. Actually for that matter I don’t identify with the Eastern Orthodox Tradition or Roman Catholic Tradition either. I do broadly affirm the Apostles and Nicene Creed which places me in affirmation with all three of the Christian Tradition’s main doctrinal tenets (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant). To sum it up, I’m kinda in no man’s land. In do appreciate aspects from all three Traditions. From the Orthodox I affirm their Therapeutic model of Theology, from the Catholic doctrine of Scripture I affirm their statement “The words of God in the words of men,” and in the Protestant tradition I appreciate their emphasis on church-planting. There’s a lot of things to appreciate from each of the Christian Traditions.
So for me “Trans-Denomational” means that I don’t find myself in any of these traditions, but that I want to learn and cooperate from each of these traditions. I see denominations as something that was never part of Christ’s design for his church. Of course this may be an extreme position for some, but I think those of a Prophetic calling as myself will typically hold positions that others see as radical. I think thats okay. And I think its okay for others to hold less radical or extreme positions than my own. Not all our called to be Prophets, those with other callings will tend to be less radical than the prophets. If we were all as radical as the Prophets it would be complete chaos. The body needs this diversity. I see being “Trans-Denomational” as part of my specific God given calling, I don’t quite fit anywhere so that I can be with all, partnering with a diverse body and calling them to unity. I may not have a “Spiritual home,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t.
I don’t expect you to become Trans-Denomational, if the Spirit leads you to that expression of faith, praise God, if not, praise God. I’m confident enough of my own conviction and calling to not feel the need to persuade you of my own position. The Holy Spirit is not bound by ones conviction that they should be in a denomination let alone their particular denomination. What the Holy Spirit may be bounded by (that language may be uncomfortable for some) is a refusal to participate in unity with the Holy Spirit as God works alongside those brothers and sisters in other denominations, and a refusal to fellowship with those of other traditions. I’m less concerned with one being in a denomination or particular Christian Tradition, and more concerned with the question and answer to this question that you give, “Are you willing to acknowledge that those of other denominations are also followers of Jesus and if so are you willing to fellowship and partner with them in trying to cooperate with our creator in bringing about the Kingdom of God?”