The Southern Baptist Convention does give you a sort of common denominator for theology and administration, but the preaching is all over the map. I've heard some good Baptist sermons -- but I've never heard a boring A.M.E. sermon! Ever!
The most scholarly sermons are usually preached by Presbys (my mother was raised Presby, so I'm a bit of a sermon connoisseur) but I have been highly impressed by the level of theology in the preaching at our parish. Monsignor is solid, informative, and a wee bit dry; the 2nd Parochial Vicar is Irish to the core, very scriptural, a little bit mystical; our 1st Parochial Vicar is the wild card -- he preaches like an A.M.E. (his grandmother was A.M.E.)! He sings, he shouts, he brings Transformers into the pulpit (yes he really did). His nickname is "Father Krunk", and he has a drive time radio show on a local FM station. But his theology is dead center sound.
His nickname is "Father Krunk", and he has a drive time radio show on a local FM station. But his theology is dead center sound.
As long as the doctrine is faithful to Church teaching, that's the most important thing. (Including faithfulness to the liturgy.) Otherwise, God has something for everyone. So many saints, so many approaches to the spiritual life, so many different devotions. A foretaste of the many mansions of Our Father's house. We're members of a Great Church, and the new Moto Proprio is the continuation of this great tradition.
The most scholarly sermons are usually preached by Presbys (my mother was raised Presby, so I'm a bit of a sermon connoisseur)....
I'm a "reach as I need," and God always leads me to the exact lesson He wants to give me at the time. He's so wonderful!
By the way, it was Pope John Paul II who refered to the Latin Rite and the Eastern Rite as the two lungs of the body of the Church. With this image in mind, there have been times I've thought of the tradition of Protestantism, i.e., concerning the practical application of Biblical principles to living the Christian life, as being the third lung. :o) I hope that more Catholics recognize the spiritual richness contained within this approach. I think it's definitely an aspect of true ecumenism.