The Kindom of God and Church Membership
At Trinity, the word “kindom” is used to illustrate the inclusive and familial nature of God’s community and love, inherent to Jesus' message, shaping his teachings on justice, love, and the renewal of the world. In this way, the community of God is more like kin, no longer the oppressive and dominating empire imagined for God’s kingdom, but one of co-creation.
“Kindom” was a word first used in the 1970s by Cuban-American theologian Ada María Isasi-Díaz. She learned the word from her good friend, a Franciscan nun named Georgene Wilson. Isasi-Díaz was dedicated to the work of mujerista theology, a theology focused on the experience of Latinas. In her work, “Mujerista Theology,” she says, “the coming of the kin-dom of God has to do with a coming together of peoples, with no one being excluded and at the expense of no one.” To Isasi-Díaz, the Kindom of God is solidarity illustrated. She continues to explain,
From a Christian perspective, the goal of solidarity is to participate in the ongoing process of liberation through which we Christians become a significantly positive force in the unfolding of the Kindom of God…
Our participation in the act of salvation is what we refer to as liberation. It consists of our work to transform the world. Liberation is both cause and effect of the struggle to have a love relationship with others, including God. Now, there can be no salvation without liberation, though no single act of liberation can be totally identified with salvation in its fullness…
In alignment with the values of solidarity and liberation within the Kindom of God, we do not practice membership at Trinity Church. Trinity is a part of the Church Universal and the Kindom of God to which everyone belongs. We invite everyone to participate fully in the life of the church according to their giftings in the capacity that they feel led to by the Holy Spirit. If anyone calls Trinity their church home, it is just that and we rejoice to be in community with them. We hope you’ll join!
Resources:
Mujerista Theology: A Theology for the Twenty-First Century by Ada María Isasi-Díaz