참조: 저는 특정교단에 대해서 여기서 거의 이야기를 안했고 안하고 싶지만 늘봄님의 지적 정직성을 가늠해야 할 필요가 있어서 올립니다. 늘봄님은 보수교회 교인들을 비판하기 이전에 연합교단의 유신론적 경향성을 비판하고 성찰하실 필요가 있습니다. 연합교회 유신론적 목사들도 성적 소수자를 열렬히 환영하고 무신론자든 유신론자든 모두 교인으로 환영합니다. 신학적으로 가장 자유롭다는 유니테리언 교회들도 마찬가지로 그렇게 합니다. 무신론/유신론 등으로 가로치기 하는 것은 신앙이 갖는 은유와 상징을 문자적으로 보는 근본주의적/문자주의자들의 경향성입니다. 

약 2년 전 캐나다 연합교회 한인 카톡방에  무신론적 목사 그레타 바스퍼 (Gretta Vosper)에 대해서 질문을 한 적이 있습니다. 바스퍼의 무신론적 경향성 때문에 연합교단내의 토론토 연회(Conference)에서 바스퍼가 연합교회 목사로 적합한가에 대한 심의가 상당기간 동안 있었습니다. 제 개인적 입장은 그런 무신론 목사의 개인의 신념을 심판할 자격이 없다고 친구들에게 했었죠. 오히려 토론토 연회의 문제 제기로 바스퍼는 매스 미디어의 스타가 되었고 존 샐비 스퐁까지 합세해서 북미의 스타가 되었습니다. 바스퍼는 연합교회의 다수 목사들이 무신론자라는 주장으로 자기 주장을 정당화하려고 애쓰기도 했다고 합니다. 

그래서 이에 대한 반응으로 이른바 유신론적 목사인 리챠드 봇 (Richard Bott)목사가 설문조사를 한 모양입니다. 그 조사 결과의 초록이 다음과 같다고 카톡방에 누군가 올려 줬습니다.

Abstract

The United Church of Canada (UCCan) takes a largely non-prescriptive approach to the beliefs about God held by its clergy, provided those can be argued to be "in essential agreement with the doctrine of the United Church of Canada.” It has recently been suggested, by UCCan ordained minister Gretta Vosper, that as many as half of UCCan clergy do not believe in a supernatural, theistic God. This research explores how ministry personnel in the United Church of Canada define some of their beliefs about divinity. Previous studies (Dennet & LaScola, 2010) have explored the beliefs of ministry personnel through anecdotal report, but have failed to offer quantifiable data, especially for the United Church of Canada, which is the largest Protestant denomination in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2001 Census). During the course of this research, 1353 UCCan ministry personnel responded to an online survey. A majority of the respondents (almost 95%) affirmed a belief in God, with a large number (almost 80%) affirming a belief in a supernatural, theistic God.

참조 링크: 총회장 리챠드 봇

https://www.united-church.ca/community-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/organization-and-governance/moderator/right-rev-dr

위의 통계로는 거의 95% 연합교회 목사들은 신을 믿으며 거의 80%는 초자연적 유신론적 신을 믿는다고 하고 있습니다. 그래서 제가 원자료를 구하려고 백방으로 노력했지만 논문을 구할 수가 없었습니다. 현재 봇 목사는 연합교회 총회장 (moderator)입니다. 제가 이분의 개인 이메일을 몰라 교단 홈페이지 info 메일로 원 논문을 구할 수 없느냐고 이메일을 보냈지만 아직 2년이 다되가는 지금도 답변이 없어요. 위의 봇의 써베이가 reliable 한지는 모르지만 신문에 여러번 대서특필 되었기 때문에 인터넷 검색하면 쉽게 찾아 볼 수 있을 겁니다.  (저는 일단 봇의 원 논문을 보지 않은 이상 봇의 써베이를 신뢰하지 않는 것을 분명히 합니다. 1년 지나면 봇이 총회장 임기가 끝날 텐데 다시 메일을 보내서 논문자료 요청을 할 예정입니다. 원자료의 발표출처를 알려주지 않거나 논문을 안보내주면  불평할 예정이예요.)

위에 언급된 토론토 연회에서 제기한 그레타 바스퍼에 대한 연합교회 총회의 공식 답변은 다음과 같습니다.

https://www.united-church.ca/news/united-church-canada-responds-joint-statement-rev-vosper

The United Church of Canada is a Christian church that believes in God.

We understand that Toronto Conference, the Rev. Gretta Vosper and West Hill United Church have reached a settlement on the issues between them. This doesn’t alter in any way the belief of The United Church of Canada in God, a God most fully revealed to us as Christians in and through Jesus Christ. The church’s statements of faith over the years have all been grounded in this understanding. Our most recent statement, A Song of Faith, begins with the words “God is Holy Mystery,” recognizing that as humans we will never fully understand the nature of that mystery.

We continue to hold Toronto Conference, the Rev. Gretta Vosper, and the members of West Hill United Church in prayer.

위의 내용을 보면, 연합교단의 공식대답은 그레타 바스퍼를 연합교회 목회자로 받아 들이지만 유신론적 신을 믿는 믿음도 분명하게 믿는다는 것을 확증하고 있습니다.

마지막으로, 캐나다 연합교단 총회장의 입장에서 보낸 리챠드 봇의 공개 서한은 다음의 링크를 참조하세요.

At the 41st General Council, through the remit process that went to all of the congregational decision-making bodies and presbyteries, The United Church of Canada expanded the articulation of its belief as a denomination. It did this by adding three additional statements—A Statement of Faith, A New Creed, and A Song of Faith—to stand alongside the Twenty Articles of Doctrine. While each of these statements says it differently, it is clear that as a denomination we believe in God: Creator, Christ, and Spirit, and that that belief leads us deeper into the Holy Mystery that is God, “beyond complete knowledge, above perfect description.” At the 43rd General Council, we accepted that communities of faith, regional councils, and the General Council are all charged with “living in covenant with Mother Earth and All My Relations in the Earth community.” We celebrate that all of this allows for a wideness of expression and articulation of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and a child of the Creator in The United Church of Canada in the 21st century!

위의 내용에 대한 아래의 한글 번역은 연합교회 한인교인들에게 배포된 것입니다. 번역본을 이 게시판에 업로드 했습니다 (제 번역이 아닙니다).

 "4제 41 차 총회에서 모든 지교회 내의 의사 결정 기구와 노회의 총회 헌법개정 절차를 통해 캐나다 연합 교회는 교단으로서 교단의 믿음을 다음과 같이 폭넓게 표현하기 시작했습니다. 교단은 이들 신앙고백문, 새 신조, 신앙의 노래의 세가지 문서를 20개 항의 교리 문서에 나란히 추가했습니다. 이 신앙고백 문서들은 각각 다르게 표현 하지만 확실한것은 우리 교단이 창조주, 그리스도, 성령의 하나님을 믿는다는 것과 그 믿음은 온전한 지식을 넘어서고 완벽한 표현을 능가하는 성스러운 신비의 하나님에게 깊이 있게 인도한다는 것입니다. "제 43 차 총회에서 신앙 공동체, 지역 협의회 및 총회가 모두 "어머니되신 지구와 지구촌 공동체안의 모든 관계와의 언약을 따라 산다"고 우리는 받아들였 습니다. 우리는 이 모든 것이 21 세기 캐나다 연합 교회 안에서 예수 그리스도 제자 그리고 창조주의 자녀가된다는 것이 무엇을 의미하는 지를 이 모든 것 을 통해서 폭넓게 표현하고 설명하는 것을 허용하는 것을 환영하고 축하합니다!"

제가 만난 연합교회 교역자들이나 교인들은 무신론 유신론 논쟁에 별로 관심이 없습니다. 신학자 폴 틸리히의 주장처럼, 신의 실재는 우리가 직접 만날 수도 없고 알 수도 없습니다. 이른바 그가 주장하는 “궁극적 실재”(ultimate reality)는 “궁극적 관심”(ultimate concern)의  동의어로서 그러한 신의 경험은 상징적 경험으로서만 가능하다는  것입니다. 신은 때론 자연적 현상으로, 인격적으로, 다른 여타의 상징형태로 표현된다는 것이죠. 선불교에서 말하는 달과 손가락처럼, 상징은 신을 알려주는 손가락이지 달 자체가 아닙니다.

늘봄님이나 그레타 바스퍼나 나름 무신론적 크리스챤을 제시하시만 현실적으로는 별로 기능적이지는 않습니다. 두 사람다 제가 써베이 한 결과로는 다른 형태의 근본주의자들이라는 것이죠.

참조: 위에 언급된 세가지 A Statement of Faith, A New Creed, and A Song of Faith 문서는 그 동안의 연합교단 신앙을 대변하는 교리와 고백으로서 가장 중요한 것입니다.  "in essential agreement with the doctrine of the United Church of Canada.”가 의미하는 것은 연합교회 목사가 되려면, the Twenty Articles of Doctrine에 나오는 신앙진술에 동의한다는 서약을 해야 합니다. 이 진술은 전통적 유신론으로 구성되어 있습니다. 늘봄님도 연합교회목사가 되기 위해서 이 진술에 동의를 100%하셨구요. 이 진술이 아웃데이트되어서 개정할 필요가 있는 것은 차후의 문제구요. 만일 정직한 분이라면, 연합교회의 이 진술서부터 공개적으로 비판해야 합니다. 남의 눈의 티는 크게 보고 자기 눈의 큰 티는 못보면 위선입니다.