As regards Spong, I am talking about the things one may observe when one applies the principle, "Ye shall know them by their fruits." People who know his diocese report more than controversy, they report brokenness between people caught up in the controversies and a polarization by lines drawn according to whether one supports him or does not. The Church of course is bigger than Spong, and there is of course room in it for him; but his teachings have less than a full generation behind them, while many generations have been spent amassing the understandings he dismantles with his new applications of the Scriptures.

Look here, see, now we are in a Spong debate, instead of discussing anything else. See what I mean?

As regards fan clubs, I am more than familiar with the dynamics of church growth. Short term church growth does in fact often accompany dynamic presentations. But long term growth and the stability of growth once it has occurred do not depend on preaching. They require thorough grounding in the basics of prayer and scripture that provide a sound foundation for the real winner in church growth-- emulating Jesus' care for people in pastoral care, teaching, and prayer for people and with people. These are the qualities Jesus Himself looked for when he chose unprepossessing souls to be His apostles... few of them were gifted preachers.

~S~