The Trinity for everyday life: Engaging a Presbyterian congregation in the recent trinitarian conversation

Over the last forty years there has been a growing ecumenical conversation concerning the lack of understanding and practical application of the doctrine of the Trinity in the daily life and practice of Christians. The lament over the doctrine is that while it arose from the early Church's experience of the One God as Father, Son and Spirit, it has become captive to philosophical and theological systems, which in turn has led it to become understood in abstract terms. It is feared that among most Christians, the doctrine is still assented to as part of the faith, but with little impact on piety and ethic.; While the recent conversation has prescribed the need to make this central doctrine of the Christian Church relevant once again in the daily life of the average Christian, review of the material currently available to Presbyterian congregations shows little has been done to engage congregational members to join in the discussion. This paper and attached curriculum is an attempt to find a way to invite congregational members into the trinitarian conversation through intentional theological reflection focused on a central congregational practice (worship), and in partnership with a particular stream of educational practice that shares some constructive thematic convergences with the doctrine, so that the Trinity may have increasing practical relevance in their lives.