I think the problem was that I was getting increasingly uncomfortable with the fact that OST was too much a conversation with me and my ideas. There is a basic tension between two functions - one that to be honest has been there right from the start. On the one hand, I want to be able to develop and promote the sort of narrative theology that appears in The Coming of the Son of Man and Re: Mission. On the other, I feel that an emerging theology needs to be pursued in a way that models a generous and open engagement amongst a variety of perspectives. It seemed to me that OST was too often getting clogged up with arguments about my theology, and my suspicion is that that was becoming a deterrent to the participation of all but a few hardened veterans. That may be a misperception, but I think that the basic point is valid: an open source theology should not be dominated to the extent that this site has become by a single perspective.

It is not my intention to give up on the site, despite Peter’s plaintive response. I simply want to step back and take a more objective stance, hopefully one that will encourage a wider participation. I still want OST to be at the forefront of a broad-based search for a post-Christendom theology. Of course, it may well be that no one will pay any attention to andrewperriman.com, in which case I will quietly forget about the whole undertaking, and things will probably revert to normal. But I think it is worth a try.