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Article: The procedural church: at the UCC synod.(United Church of Christ)
- Article from:
- The Christian Century
- Article date:
- August 13, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 The Christian Century Foundation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In his book Democracy's Discontent Michael Sandel describes the U.S. today as a "procedural republic." Both Democrats and Republicans, Sandel argues, have adopted the idea that government should be neutral on matters of large moral purpose and meaning. We are dedicated to ensuring rights, but have no compelling shared vision or moral purpose. We have rights, rules and procedures, but to what end?
The term "procedural republic" occurred to me often during the General Synod of the United Church of Christ held in Columbus, Ohio, in early July. Coalitions, rules, rights and procedures were the order of the duty as the General Synod considered as its major business ...