A Third Way church refers to a church that seeks to chart a middle course between conservative and liberal theology. The term ‘Third Way’ implies an alternative path that avoids the extremes of both the theological right and left.
Some key characteristics of Third Way churches include:
- An emphasis on issues of social justice and caring for the poor and marginalized
- Inclusion and affirmation of women in leadership roles
- Openness to diversity in sexual orientation while upholding biblical standards of marriage and sexuality
- A thoughtful approach to interpreting the Bible that avoids strict literalism but affirms scriptural authority
- An emphasis on spiritual formation and ancient spiritual practices alongside modern expressions of worship and community
- A desire to move beyond old liberal/conservative splits and find new ways of expressing historic Christian faith
Third Way churches have emerged as a response to disillusionment with partisan divisions between evangelical and progressive strands of Christianity. Their aim is to recover historic orthodoxy and cultivate generous orthopraxy in a postmodern context.
While specific Third Way congregations have diverse theologies and practices, some influential voices in the wider Third Way movement include:
- Brian McLaren – a pastor and author associated with the Emergent Church movement. His writings encourage a more contemplative, social justice oriented Christianity.
- Jim Wallis – founder of Sojourners magazine and a leading voice on progressive evangelical social ethics.
- Richard Rohr – a Franciscan priest known for his teachings on spiritual transformation, social activism and less dualistic ways of seeing reality.
- Phyllis Tickle – an author and historian of religion who chronicled the emergence of ’emergence Christianity.’
- Stanley Grenz – a theologian who articulated postmodern currents in evangelical thought and promoted generous orthodoxy.
- Nadia Bolz-Weber – a Lutheran pastor known for her tattoos, inclusivity and focus on God’s grace rather than dogma or moralism.
Third Way churches position themselves as an alternative to the polarity between conservative evangelicalism with its emphasis on doctrinal purity and moral traditionalism, and liberal forms of Christianity which have accommodated to contemporary culture and espouse more relativistic views of faith and ethics.
Key theological touchstones for Third Way churches include:
- Christocentrism – Jesus as the center of Christian faith and source of meaning and morality.
- Generous orthodoxy – holding to historic creedal Christian beliefs while allowing diversity in matters of secondary importance. Focus more on orthopraxy than narrow orthodoxy.
- Embrace of mystery and less focus on theological precision – willingness to live with ambiguities and paradox rather than seeking to define doctrines rigidly.
- Holistic spirituality – emphasis on spiritual formation and integrating faith across all of life including justice, creativity, community etc.
- Postmodern epistemology – acknowledgement of diverse perspectives, suspicion of metanarratives, more humble/relative view of human knowledge compared to modernism.
In terms of church practice Third Way congregations are often characterized by:
- Contemplative/creative worship styles drawing from diverse historic and contemporary liturgical expressions.
- Informal community life and decentralized leadership.
- Integration of ancient spiritual practices like prayer, fasting, confession, lectio divina etc.
- Use of arts and connection between faith and creativity.
- Missional focus within local contexts rather than emphasizing evangelism/conversion.
- Openness to ambiguity and questions, providing spiritual hospitality to seekers and doubters.
Third Way churches have sometimes been critiqued by both conservatives and liberals. Conservatives argue they compromise biblical teaching on issues like sexuality or soften the exclusivist claims of Christianity. Liberals contend they still cling too much to outdated theology and don’t go far enough in their reforms. Proponents of Third Way Christianity counter that they are trying to chart a middle path that avoids problems on both extremes.
While Third Way churches are diverse, they broadly aim to articulate historic orthodoxy in postmodern times, integrating spirituality and social conscience. Their emphasis is on generous orthopraxy rather than narrow dogmatism, seeking a both/and path between conservative and liberal extremes. They see this as the best way forward amidst the contested religious landscape of 21st century Western societies.
The origins of the Third Way movement can be traced back to the Emerging Church conversation of the 1990s, centered around postmodern evangelicals like Brian McLaren, Tony Jones and Doug Pagitt who were re-imagining Christian community, theology and mission. This intersected with Progressive Evangelicalism and the broader postmodern-influenced shifts in Western Christianity at the turn of the millennium. While ‘Emerging’ and ‘Progressive’ became distinct streams, the broader impulse to forge a generous and thoughtful Third Way between conservative and liberal continued, even as terminology changed. The Third Way ethos resonated with younger generations dissatisfied with partisan divisions over issues likebiblical interpretation, science, social justice and sexuality. It found expression in writers like Rachel Held Evans who gave voice to those outside rigid conservative Evangelicalism but not wanting to totally abandon historic Christian orthodoxy either. While some Third Way leaders and groups have continued in more evangelical spaces, the general momentum has been towards mainline Protestant, post-evangelical or independent spiritual settings open to generous orthodoxy and generous orthopraxy. The missional emphasis has also increasingly dove-tailed with a social activist impulse in areas like racial reconciliation, environmental care and poverty alleviation. So while terminology and demographics have morphed, a Third Way ethos of moving beyond liberal/conservative, left/right, either/or continues to impact many Christian leaders and communities.
Today Third Way themes have permeated parts of Western Christianity through the work of thought leaders, authors, activists and spiritual pioneers. While it does not represent a single organized movement or denomination, its generative impulse continues to inspire those hungering for an ancient faith expressed in fresh ways. It models a generous Christocentric orthodoxy combined with contemplative, holistic spirituality lived out in missional community. Third Way Christianity thus represents an important strand in the unfolding story of a Church perennially in need of reformation and renewal as it lives within ever-changing cultural contexts.
The defining features of a Third Way church can therefore be summarized as:
- A desire to move beyond conservative vs. liberal divisions
- An emphasis on social justice as integral to Christian mission
- Inclusion and empowerment of women in leadership
- A thoughtful, cautious approach to interpretating the Bible
- Openness to uncertainty, mystery and humility in theology
- Holistic spirituality integrating faith across all of life
- Creative, contemplative worship drawing from diverse historic and contemporary expressions
- Decentralized leadership and informal community life
- A missional impulse within contemporary postmodern culture
This Third Way or generous orthodoxy approach seeks to articulate historic Christian faith in nimble, relevant ways within today’s complex cross-currents of spirituality, ethics and epistemology. It aims to chart a middle path amidst polarized extremes while staying centered on the person of Christ and the kingdom values embodied in his life and teachings.