Calvin Synod Herald, 2006 (107. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2006-03-01 / 3-4. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD “FAITHFUL and WELCOMING CHURCHES” LAUNCHED Twenty local church leaders gathered November 3, 2005, in Ligonier, PA, to create a new incorporated renewal organization in the United Church of Christ: Faithful and Welcoming Churches. The group unofficially represented the following ten UCC conferences: Calvin Synod, Illinois South, Illinois, Kansas- Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Ohio, Penn Central, Penn Northeast, Penn South-east and Southern. Following our opening worship, we became acquainted with one another and placed our “moment in history” in perspective with a history of renewal efforts in the UCC, and a brief discussion of Thomas Oden’s The Rebirth of Orthodoxy. God is doing a new work in our time of returning his church to its biblical foundation and ecumenical/historical roots. The General Synod’s widely publicized affirmation of same sex marriage and the past/future “Still Speaking” media campaign may be catalysts to awaken UCC churches to the need for and possibilities of reformation and renewal. We believe that our “moment” also includes a tool unavailable to preceding joint efforts at UCC renewal - the Internet. In addition to our own past and future efforts, others are using the Internet to keep denominational leaders accountable. Consider, for example, the web site (http://www.ucctruths.eom/l which is not linked to a particular theological perspective. Our group had some difficulty rallying around a single theological label, with words such as “orthodox,” “evangelical” and “conservative” all carrying both possibilities and baggage for various members. Our group rejected two strategic options. First, we do not believe we should advocate separation from the UCC in order to join a different denomination or form a new denomination. Second, we do not believe we can or should retreat to our local churches and do nothing. Our remaining option is to work together from within the UCC. We are alarmed by the number of churches leaving the UCC or considering the possibility of doing so, but we believe that the overwhelming number of UCC churches and laity are committed to the historic faith. We also believe there is a remnant of believers faithful to biblical authority and the transforming message of the gospel of Jesus Christ in every local congregation. Our mission is to find and connect these believers in order to bear witness to the historic faith and, if possible, to bring about real change wherever possible as the Holy Spirit guides and helps us. Toward that end, we have decided to create a new organization - Faithful and Welcoming Churches of the United Church of Christ. (The designation “Faithful and Welcoming” - an intentional contrast to the UCC’s “Open and Affirming” movement - has been used on a web site for non-political self-designation of local churches, (http://wAvw.faithfulandwelc0ming.0rg/f. This web site is currently undergoing reconstruction. Previously listed churches will have the opportunity to decide whether they wish to continue listing their church as FAW with this shift in purpose for the site, which will be the new address for the new organization.) A Steering Committee will provide transitional leadership until we can incorporate and name a Board of Directors. Faithful and Welcoming Churches will express their identity by affirming: The Basis of Union with The Interpretations, from the 1957 merger of the UCC (http://Avww.ucc.org/faith/basis.htm), the 1961 Preamble to the UCC Constitution (http://www.ucc.org/ aboutus/constitution.htm), and the 2005 Lexington Confession (http://www.southemconrenew.org/lex%20confession.html). Two initial goals of the Faithful and Welcoming Churches are: (1) to form a lay renewal organization within the United Church of Christ to help lay persons in the UCC who are committed to Faithful and Welcoming principles to find one another and network for the renewal of their churches and of the UCC, and (2) to call for a national gathering of UCC members as a grassroots response to General Synod 25 that met in Atlanta last summer. Please set aside the dates July 2-4, 2006, for this gathering - location to be announced. (GS 25’s infamous “marriage equality” resolution was passed July 4, 2005.) We are encouraging all churches still considering withdrawal from the UCC to postpone their decision at least until after the July 2006 gathering, when we can confer on and formulate a national response and strategy. KEY CONTACTS • CALIFORNIA-NEVADA SOUTHERN: Gail Morrison, member, Bay Shore Commu Congregational Church, Long Beach, CA gailgo@earthlink.net • CALVIN SYNOD: Albert W. Kovács, pastor, Hungarian Reformed Church, Woodbridge, NJ revawk@verizon.net • ILLINOIS SOUTH: Bill Savering, member, Zoar United Church of Christ, New Hanover, IL bsavering@,vahoo.com • ILLINOIS: Brandon Woosley, pastor, St. Paul Evangelical UCC, Bloomingdale, IL Brandon, wooslev@gmail.com • KANSAS-OKLAHOMA: Ted Weis, pastor, Congregational UCC, Little River, KS tedweis@juno.com • NEW HAMPSHIRE: Donald Towle, retired pastor, dtowle@localnet.com • OHIO: Ed Briggeman, pastor, Emanuel’s United Church of Christ, New Bavaria, OH pathfinder43@iuno.com • PENN CENTRAL: Kristine Heckard, pastor, The Valleys UCC, Halifax, PA KOHeckard@aol.com • PENN NORTHEAST: Larry Pickar, Sr., pastor, Egypt UCC, Whitehall, PA EgvptUCCpasstor@aol.com • PENN SOUTHEAST: John Brown, assoc, pastor, Shepherd of the Hills UCC sothibrown 1 @,aol.com • PENN WEST: Will Sowers, pastor, Woodcock Valley Charge, PA wmsowers@vahoo.com • SOUTH CENTRAL: Rik Drummond, member, First Congregational Church xvz@drummondgroup.com • SOUTHERN: John Roberts, pastor, Hedrick’s Grove UCC idroberts@lexcominc.net • OTHER CONFERENCES: Bob Thompson, pastor, Corinth Reformed UCC, Hickory, NC pastor@crucc.org
