Dan, great list. I am looking for clarification. When you say political neutrality, do you actually mean a church that is non-partisan? Politics is unavoidable in church and life in general. Feeding people is a political act. Social justice is itself political in nature. Welcoming the stranger is a political act as well. Politics is about how people relate with one another, the policies that either inhibit that relationship or enhance it, and how community resources are utilized. Politics is about how we make decisions and who gets to make decisions. Given everything else that you wrote, I'm interpreting what you said about political neutrality as non-partisanship. Partisanship is about political parties, advancing their goals and elected officials, and about obtaining power (usually at the expense of others). It feels as though your description is referring to partisanship.

I just want to express that there is a difference between politics and partisanship and it is an important difference. Politics and partisanship are related to one another, but they are not the same thing. Politics isn't good or bad. It's something quite natural. It's a tool. It can be argued that the Trinity is political. The Trinity is communal, decision making happens, and there is an outlook for the greater good. Like all tools politics can be used for good or not so good purposes. Partisanship on the other hand is often troublesome.