Only this: for two hundred years, American Christians have faithfully gathered to sing, pray, baptize, share the eucharist, preach, read Scripture, and, depending on tradition, dance and shout or wave incense and wear vestments.

Yet for all our millions of person-hours of worship, we have not addressed this fundamental flaw in American life and religion. (The same could be said in the UK, South Africa, and many other countries as well.)

We have launched decades of worship wars - guitar versus piano, organ versus drums, suit and tie versus blue jeans and sports shirt, ordaining versus not ordaining women or LGBTQ persons, traditional versus contemporary, etc., etc., etc. But we have seldom addressed our “original sin” of racism … not to mention our unsustainable relationship with the planet, the unjust systems that keep poor people poor, or the continuing plight of vulnerable people among us.

Perhaps our liturgies are, in the end, irrelevant. Perhaps they could never actually make a difference in forming people’s values and moral commitments. Some days, in our cynical moments, we may fear this is true.

But even when we feel cynical or discouraged, most of us, if we listen to the voice of the Spirit deep within, hear a voice telling us not to give up, but rather, to step up … to have the courage to think creatively and lead boldly in liturgical reform.