After weeks of speculation, the New York Times reports today that the Rev. Brad Braxton has resigned his position as pastor of Riverside Church in Manhattan.
Just a few months ago, progressive Protestants across the country appeared hopeful about the 39-year-old biblical scholar. The former Rhodes Scholar and professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School seemed a perfect fit. Yet Rev. Braxton’s uncomfortable jaunt through the Upper West Side has been marked by congregational infighting over financial compensation and theological direction.
A small but growing group of dissidents felt Rev. Braxton’s annual $600,000 CEO-like compensation package, though consistent with other tall steeple congregations in the city, belied Riverside’s commitment to social justice. And others, despite Rev. Braxton’s progressive publishing record, argued he was too theologically conservative and evangelical in orientation for Riverside’s commitment to ecumenicalism and inclusiveness.
It’s hard for those on the outside to pass judgment or opine with any real confidence here. There are always multiple sides to a conflict. One can agree, however, that with the waning influence of liberal Protestantism in America, this is a tragedy of epic proportion. When a gifted and well-respected individual like Rev. Braxton can’t survive two months* at a venerable institution such as Riverside, it exposes the theological, ecclesial and even racial fault lines of the Christian progressive movement.
Letters from the Church and Braxton, respectively:
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Dear Riversiders,
It is with sadness and understanding that the Church Council accepts the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Brad Braxton as Senior Minister of the Riverside Church. Dr. Braxton brings a remarkable combination of social justice activism, profound spirituality, and intensive scholarship that complements our institution’s vision of being an interdenominational, interracial, and international faith community, and we have been blessed to have him serve as our Senior Minister.
Dr. Braxton’s decision to step down has illuminated the need for our Church community to gain clarity on our shared mission, and the Church Council is looking forward to engaging with the congregation in the deep soul-searching and conversations that will allow us to move forward as a stronger, more unified congregation.
I hope you will join me and the other Council members in wishing Brad, Lazetta and Karis the best for their journey. And I ask you to participate with the Church Council, the staff, clergy, and commissions as we enter a period of reflection, transition, and renewal.
Blessings,
Jean L. Schmidt
Chair, Church Council
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Dear Riversiders:
After considerable prayer and reflection, I believe that resigning my position as Senior Minister of the Riverside Church is the right thing to do for the congregation, my family, and me at this time. My hope is that the congregation will be able to address its internal tensions so that the church, along with a new Senior Minister, will be able to move forward in unity.
I was honored to be called to serve at the Riverside Church because of the church’s longstanding tradition of robust social activism. As a progressive Christian, I believe that we are called to seek social justice in this world and that there are two ways we can do this: we can do it with deeds, and we can do it with creeds. My entire career has been marked with both kinds of social justice work. As a pastor, I have implemented programs that serve marginalized communities. As a biblical scholar, I have analyzed the scripture to reveal how traditional interpretations of the Bible have led to those communities being marginalized in the first place.
I came to Riverside to serve as a pastor and to promote serious engagement with scripture that would reignite the spiritual inspiration underlying the church’s social activism. My election as Senior Minister by an overwhelming margin indicated a promising relationship based on the congregation’s goals and my gifts of ministry.
Yet in the midst of Riverside’s noble work for peace and justice, the congregation has struggled publicly for decades about the kind of church that it should be and the kind of pastor who should be its voice. In recent months, these struggles have created a level of antagonism within the congregation that undermines the community’s efforts to embody harmony in the name of Jesus Christ. The consistent discord has made it virtually impossible to establish a fruitful covenant between the congregation and me that facilitates the flourishing of the congregation, the broader community, and my family.
I encourage the members of Riverside to strive diligently to heal these longstanding divisions within the congregation. New York City, the United States, and indeed the world need a vibrant, unified Riverside Church. As the Riverside Church journeys onward, may the fruit of the Spirit be in great abundance in the congregation - “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Church Council and I have begun a respectful process that will enable us to dissolve the covenant in a way that glorifies God and preserves the dignity and Christian witness of all parties involved. Rest assured that I will execute my pastoral duties with diligence, enthusiasm, and professionalism until my resignation takes effect. Lazetta and Karis join me in expressing our gratitude for your support. May God, the eternal and compassionate Shepherd, guide us safely through this season of transition and transformation.
Grace and Peace,
The Reverend Brad R. Braxton, Ph.D.
Senior Minister
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*As commenter Peter Herman notes below, Rev. Braxton has been Riverside's Senior Minister since last September, roughly nine months ago: "His installation as a formal ceremony only took place about two months ago, but his time at Riverside spanned eight to nine months."
The NY Times has already corrected their article, but Rev. Dr. Braxton was not at Riverside for only two months. He was elected last September, and has been serving in the capacity of Senior Minister since then. His installation as a formal ceremony only took place about two months ago, but his time at Riverside spanned eight to nine months.
Indeed. Thanks for putting the corrective lens on a rush to judgment. Many congregations in transition small and large, conservative and liberal, have short tenured pastors. Sometimes such events epitomize larger trends. But like baseball managers and players whose tenure is a season or less, sometimes they are just as they appear to be, a bad fit for multiple reasons, what with people being only human and all.
And I am delighted it is not my call. His wife has a strange career for Riverside, but again, not my call.
Why did he step down? Why did he not agree to be pastor for - God forbid - $250,000/year, or you know, a more humble $100,000, or even less?
Nobody should go into the religious life for fame and fortune.
The salary has been misreported by all the newspapers despite published information given to the congregation. The issue is really how badly fractured the church became despite several votes that affirmed the minister. Sadly to publish anyone's salary seems questionable but to dress your views in financial fears is not an honorable road. Disagree with theology but do not imply greed falsely when facts and the reputation of people can be damaged.
It wasn't about the pay.
Either the bible is or isn't the infallible word of god (it really isn't). There is no in between. There is no such thing as progressive christianity. Religious moderates and liberals provide fundamentalists with the undesirable shade that they need to advance their evil onto the world. Why don't "progressive christians" become intellectually honest with themselves and admit that all religions are just ancient scams that people used to cling to because they were ignorant (and afraid) about the way the natuaral universe actually operates? Why don't the progressives stand up against guys like Pat Robertson and John Hagee, imbeciles who look gleefully at what is happening in the middle east as a sign that the end of days is near? It is because of the progressives intellectual bankruptcy that the fundamentalists(christian/jew/muslim) aren't challenged and condemed as much as they should be. The fundies (christian and muslim) have way too much power and the liberals and progressive christians need to face that facts and realize that their beliefs are false. At least the fundamentalists are true to their book, even though it is absurd. Moderates and progressives need to re-examine their beliefs in light of modern scientific and historical evidence. We need to get to a point in our civilization where the solid majority of citizens embrace the idea that believing in things without evidence is stupid, ridiculous and insane. Moderate christians, although benign and mostly non- threatening to civlization, block this from happening.
As a "progressing" Christian myself, I would say that the major evolution of my faith and belief has taken place in this scriptural mandate: Do not judge lest ye be judged.
The great thing about the information age is that we can follow stories related to Rev. Braxton as it unfolds, and we can form opinions. Progressive people reserve judgement as they learn.
It isn't . . . Thus, I did have to read the rest of your post.
J.R., are you really Sam Harris? Or just channeling him? Whichever, you are no more compelling than he is in claiming that there are only religious fundamentalists or those who completely reject religion. The historical record is full of the work of those who integrate religious traditions, scientific developments, progressive politics, in a way that is mutually transformative. The problem I think is that the conservative/fundamentalist wing has co-opted what we mean by religion in public discourse. Moderates/progressives HAVE re-examined their beliefs but you haven't been listening/reading.....
I suspect this is a matter with a richer context than the news of the moment. I hope someone who know more will tell more. (Inquiring minds want to know, you know.)
Ted, expect an in-depth follow-up involving at least two experts...
-- the editors
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