Without reservation? I’ve often heard people of previous generations as well as my own express reservation with phrases like “he descended into hell.” Any human formulation of doctrine is fallible. I don’t know whether we would want to be subscribing to any them “without reservation.” Isn’t the ONLY infallible source of truth the scriptures themselves? “Our only rule of faith and practice” as the creeds say? Subscription without reservation to fallible, human-crafted documents actually sounds a bit heretical when you put it that way.

I found the title of Andrew’s testimony very enlightening: “my ‘tentative’ beliefs.” In how many Christian groups could you say that and get away with it!! But it is honest. I certainly hope that some of my beliefs 20 years from now will be different than they are today, or that will have been a waste of 20 years. I doubt I will ever reach a point where I don’t see the possibility of stating my beliefs more clearly or succinctly. This is not to say that creeds are not valuable and important, or that I want ALL my most precious beliefs to be jettisoned! But in this unique place, I find myself admitting to theological positions that I would probably keep quiet about within my own congregation. It is amazing what one will admit to when there is no authority over him threatening him with discipline!

Still, creeds are essential in establishing guidelines for a community. Are you asking which of the traditional creeds will be adopted by the emerging church? I’m sure I don’t know. Creeds can be descriptive or prescriptive, and I have a sense that the “emerging church” will treat them more as the former. Even so, the Church will always have a need and a desire to stay connected to its own history, and therefore the ancient creeds will never be abandoned.

Keep in mind, though, that today’s revolutionary is tomorrow’s establishment. The “emerging church” will not be emerging forever. We, they, whoever, will become established and creedal and hierarchical and risk-averse. In fact, it sounds like it’s already happening. They’ve been “labeled.”

And we can expect another movement to “emerge” after this one settles down. Semper reformanda.