Summer Harvest

If one thing has been proven by the Palm Tree Garden in the almost two years we’ve been around, it’s that Modern Gnosticism takes many forms. From Ecclesiastical models to individual Gnostic exploration, there is room under the “tent” set up by the classical Gnostics for profound and varied explorations of the Gnostic experience. Current Ecclesiastical models– the EG, AJC, EGM, etc.– are beautiful and essential bearers of the Gnostic torch.

There does seem, however, to be a call or need for a new and different expression of Gnostic community. Due to accidents of history which have occurred since the original Gnostic movements went underground or vanished, different expressions of community have developed within spiritual culture. Within the language of Christianity, we find a new demarcation between “Catholic/Orthodox” and “Protestant” approaches to worship. Whereas the former retain the High Mass and ceremony and liturgy of the Christian Mysteries, the latter have attempted to return to the “primitive” form of the Early Church and celebrate as simply as followers of Christ during the Apostolic Age. Unfortunately, the one arose as protest, not complement, to the other, and further developments have resulted in what many consider irreconcilable differences.

There has been a susurration within modern Gnostic circles that a more “Protestant” form of Gnostic worship would be welcome within the current era. The author agrees, except that “Protestant” is an inapproriate term in this case, as differing forms of worship are considered welcome within this context. For this reason, let us consider this alternative worship “Elemental,” not in the sense of the four elements, but in the sense that some Gnostics wish to worship in as elemental an environment as possible, i.e. with as minimal structure and hierarchy as possible, in unembellished environments, sans vestments, Latin, etc. This is not to be taken as a condemnation of Ecclesiastical Worship. Rather, it is the natural result of the current cultural context, in which these other forms of worship have been common and familiar for hundreds of years. It should be no surprise that some individuals would favor this expression of worship over the more “Catholic” expressions currently extant.

An Elemental Gnostic community would differ from mainstream Protestantism in very important ways. Whereas in mainstream Christian expression, primitivist worship relies heavily on sola scriptura and the literal interpretation of scripture, Modern Gnosticism considers this kind of reliance on Gnostic scripture inappropriate, finding scriptural sources human-created, fallible and subject to interpretation. Also, whereas many modern Protestant denominations subsist on evangelism, Gnostic expression precludes proselytization. That said, there is a great deal of support within the Gnostic context for pneumatic and charismatic expressions of gnosis, which would be welcome and expected within Elemental Gnostic groups.

What, then, would Modern Elemental Gnosticism “look like”? First of all, it should be noted that the resistance to structure sometimes implied in this discussion would not apply in our case. Though the structure would be loose, it would be required, if for no other reason than simple practicality. Although the legend of the lot-drawing Gnostics can in no way be proven, this would undoubtedly be a workable structure for Elemental Gnostic Meetings, provided that the lots cast contained the names only of individuals who felt called to minister. Meetings would be celebrated by Ministers and Deacons with a Lector also present to read any scripture pertinent to the meeting.

Eucharist would remain an essential and central aspect of Elemental Gnostic Meetings. At some point during the meeting, congregants would be invited to take bread and wine mixed with water to signify the presence of the divine within. A sermon or talk might be delivered, and individuals who felt so moved by the spirit would be invited to discourse on their gnosis as so called. Modern or Classical Spiritual Music, live or improvised by members, would be welcome depending on the general sense of the meeting. The community as a whole would have very great latitude when deciding how to conduct church business. Meetings could be held anywhere readily accessible to the community, in houses, rented spaces or out-of-doors. Sacramental tools could be as simple as desired, and vestments completely unnecessary (though certainly welcome if the community found value in them).

A typical Meeting for Worship in an Elemental Gnostic Church might proceed as follows:

1. Music/Fifteen to twenty minutes for socializing.
2. Call to worship (Deacon).
3. Opening Prayer/Blessing (Minister).
4. Reading of Gospel, Lesson, Epistle chosen by Minister (not of necessity from Gnostic scripture) (Lector).
5. Sermon or Talk (Minister).
6. Eucharist (Prayer, blessing of meal, communion, silence, closing) (Minister).
7. “Open Worship” and invitation to Sophia (Holy Spirit). (At this point, the congregation would be welcome to speak, pray, testify, etc. in the presence of the Holy Spirit as so called).
8. Choosing by lots of officiants for next meeting. (Deacon).
9. Prayer of Thanksgiving (Minister).
10. Closing Prayer/Benediction/Dismissal (Deacon).

Keep in mind, of course, that this is a suggested outline and does not serve as anything other than a possibility. Nonetheless, as any student of, or regular participant in, organizational processes will affirm, some kind of structure is an absolute necessity for the continuity of any congregational system. As Elemental Gnostic Communities will likely be only loosely associated with one another, and likely unaffiliated with any larger church body or council, these groups will succeed or fail on their own merits. If the need exists, the Logos and Sophia will provide as necessary.

There will undoubtedly be some resistance to this concept within some Modern Gnostic communities, though this doesn’t need to be the case. What if the traditional Ecclesiatsical modalities and the “Protestant” or primitivist modalities within Christianity were not at odds with one another? It is the author’s sincere belief that Modern Gnosticism presents a scenario in which all of these expressions can coexist and even establish relationships which are mutually beneficial to one another within the greater Gnostic Ecclesia.