Ian Lawton -

Ian Lawton moved to the U.S. in 2004 with his family (Partner Meg; children, Hugo, Darcy and Raina). They came so that he could accept the position of executive minister at C3/ CCC. Ian has oversight of the whole ministry, as well as having a particular role leading the community's theological exploration.

It's a fascinating journey and an inspirational community. Ian is delighted to have come across more progressive thinkers in this church than he could ever have imagined. During his time in Spring Lake, Michigan, Ian has been exposed to new ideas and philosophers that have broadened his horizons beyond his wildest imagination. It's this interchange of ideas that defines the way we "do" theology together.

It has been a long journey since becoming ordained in Sydney, Australia, in 1994. Sydney is one of the most conservative Anglican dioceses in the world. In seminary, Ian studied Calvinism by day, and Liberation Theology by night and managed to find some time in between for sports and surfing.

It was Liberation Theology that resonated more deeply with Ian's experience of life, and his work on Sydney's inner city streets. Theology that spoke to the reality of human suffering and injustice was exciting in its possibilities. Ian went on to complete a second degree in sociology, so that his theological journey would always run close to an engagement with the world around him. So he thought of his theology as incarnational.

In 2000, Ian left Sydney because of irreconcilable theological differences. Basically, he wanted to open the doors of his downtown church to the GLBT community, and that was taboo. Ian felt the need to leave in order to preserve his humanity and to find a more open place to explore a relevant and evolving theology.

Ian found this in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, where he became the Vicar of St. Matthew in the City. Ian had four fun years there in a never-dull, gothic, white stone building in the shadows of the towering casino. His world opened up during these four years. Exposure to Maori language and culture; mixing in a stimulating, liberal community; and launching an online progressive community were some of the highlights.

One of the features of the move to the U.S. has been a broadening of Ian's sense of sacred to an embrace of all things. Ian has taken up meditation and Zen training which have helped to break down a tendency to divide the world up into good and bad, holy and profane.

Ian is now happy to call himself a progressive Christian. Ken WIlber's Integral Theory has helped to reconcile the huge shifts in him and also in the history of Christianity.

C3/CCC is following its bliss, and Ian is privileged to be part of this alternative to church as usual. We don't want to define too tightly where we are going, and we prefer to immerse ourselves in where we are now.

Now that you are reading this, you are part of our journey, and we are part of yours. Stay in touch, enjoy our site, and be part of an emerging Kosmic consciousness.

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