I just noted we are at the thirteenth anniversary of the second Big Tent Christianity conference. Sadly, it proved to be the last (so far, anyway). The first had convened in September, 2010, in Raleigh, North Carolina. I attended only its follow-up, second conference in Phoenix, AZ, in February, 2011. I don’t recall knowing of the size or level of enthusiasm of the first conference, but I’m presuming from the little I heard, that it was similar to the second.

The attendance in Phoenix the following February (an enticing month for much of the country to get to Phoenix) was around 300. My sense was that, aside from the main speakers, the attendees were primarily from the West, particularly Arizona and California (my state at the time, and since). Regardless, the reason for most, in not all, to be there seemed to have little to do with weather or merely “getting away”.

Folks were there with genuine interest, even excitement, to experience a coming together across many denominational and theological/social lines. And the fact that 300, mostly clergy and church staff, plus a variety of writers and church-related ministry directors including the late Rachel Held Evans and Marcus Borg, along with Brian McLaren, Richard Rohr, and other notables, found their way together seems a great feat in relation to the atmosphere that has developed since 2011. That tense, divisive atmosphere certainly intensified since the candidacy and presidency of Donald Trump, dividing many churches and leading to many estrangements among professing Christians and others.

I do not fully know “whatever happened to” this “big tent” endeavor (as aside from long-term and ongoing formal ecumenical gatherings, such as the continuation of one formally called “Act 3”, now under the name The Initiative, founded by John Armstrong). To my knowledge it was unique in style as an effort to get Christians together from widely diverging traditions and belief systems. I do know that the hard work of planning and organizing such events had to be abandoned by Philip Clayton and perhaps other key helpers, due to his other obligations. But the sense of excitement to continue such convenings seemed to be strong as the 2011 Big Tent Christianity “folded up”. (It was not held in a tent, but a very nice church facility.)

It seemed there was a lot of interest to continue what had been a rich and growth-inducing time… a rare “ecumenical” and practically-oriented gathering focused more on living out Christian faith, from many angles, than on trying “merely” to better understand and accept one another. Certainly, the latter was a part as well.

My cursory observation at the event was that traditional “Evangelical” leaders and lay people, by a pre-Trump-era-definition involving theology more than political commitments, were there in fewer numbers than were Mainline clergy and laity. But a significant set of theological, church structure, and worship style differences were commented on, with a sense of real appreciation for this kind of event purposely drawing fairly broadly from a Christian “tent” conceived to be expansive.

Will such events be convened again, anytime soon?

I haven’t heard any such stirrings, but I could certainly be “out of the loop”. I would think that such a thing may be greatly longed for by many, as a sort of pendulum swing back from so much of the Evangelical tradition, along with a good percentage of Catholics, being strident Trump and MAGA supporters. Their positions and attitudes have been alienating to most of those with differing loyalties, and even those who have been ambivalent, if not divergent politically and thus not joined with them. I recognize that many of the Christians among Trump’s committed base are there precisely because they have felt misunderstood and disrespected (and thus threatened/fearful), and sometimes with good reason.

Hopefully the grace emphasized across the Christian theological spectrum will lead to effective reaching out and open responsiveness…. perhaps after the election! And similar powerful, practical events like Big Tent Christianity will be sponsored and built upon!