Throughout my 20 years of active OC/IC life I’ve encountered dozens of attempts by individuals and groups to forge a unified OC/IC (now ISM) “body”; particularly in the US. Every one of them fails miserably, and – at least in those cases I’ve closely observed – creates more division, and at least three more “synods” in the process. Getting indie folk to come together under one roof is an exercise in herding cats . . . . angry cats! We get that now.

But . . . .

What is also interesting to me is the amount of cooperation and friendship that flourishes in our motley movement; friendships, which emerge in the strangest ways, and under the most curious circumstances. This . . . working method . . . shall we say, is I think stronger than any “institution” we might craft, and has the tendency to transcend the silliness of “jurisdiction”, praxis, and the variety of theologies we see waxing and waning across the indie spectrum throughout the years. In his interview for the Indie Voices Archive John Plummer notes – “we all need friends” and indeed we do, and friendship – I think is stronger than a formal association for one simple reason – friendship is sacramental; and we are a sacramental people.