Is the Restoration Movement (RM) ready for unity? Why would it be ready now? There has been a significant shift in philosophy in the past 20 years in western thought. Although many in Stone-Campbell churches have seen post-modernism as a bane, it is not all bad and opens doors which were previously closed.

The leadership demographics in the churches of Christ (CoC), Independent Christian Churches / churches of Christ (ICC) and International Churches of Christ (ICOC) are experiencing significant shifts. Although the majority of senior leadership (specifically elders) are still products of the baby boomers and hold to a philosophy of rationalism, the mid-level “movers & shakers” (deacons, small group leaders, Sunday school teachers) are cast from a postmodern mold.

Postmodern thinkers are quite different than their modern and rational baby-boomer forerunners. The postmodernist is more at ease with ambiguity and tolerance. These qualities are not necessarily good or bad as they can lead to extreme theological and doctrinal liberalism (bad) or to embracing others who may not agree on all (non-critical) elements (good).

The postmodernist is able to hold (and distinguish) convictions about his / her theology and core salvation doctrine while being pliable (or at least tolerant) in opinions concerning peripheral doctrine (i.e. head coverings). They have also been raised in a more integrated society and are willing (and expect) to have integrated congregations.

A move to postmodern thinking is finding difficulty in the CoC. RM churches as a whole have a great resistance to change (mostly a good characteristic). The CoC has viewed postmodernism with suspicion and anti-biblical philosophy. The ICOC (and the discipling movement within the CoC) can trace its roots to the late ‘60s. Postmodernism was already making inroads into the youth of the day. The ICOC leadership came from this period and has had an easier time adopting postmodernism.

The men and women who are ready to build bridges and forge bonds between RM churches are our Generation X people. I am not disparaging our baby boomers, they have lead us through difficult times and made choices which were biblically appropriate within their cultural context. It is our next crop of leaders who will be responsible for healing the gaps among congregations. My call is for those who are of this mindset to be active in created unity among Restoration Movement churches.