Calvin Synod Herald, 2006 (107. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2006-03-01 / 3-4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 5 IT’S BROKEN: CHURCHES LEAVING UCC Dear Co-workers in Christ: Bishop Ludwig and I have joined with other faithful ministers and laymen to organize a new group to reclaim the original heritage of the UCC’s churches, reverse the denomination’s support for same-sex marriages, and stop the bleeding - every Sunday more churches are voting to withdraw from the UCC. Called the “Faithful and Welcoming Churches,” it rises in opposition to the “Open and Affirming” movement encouraged by the UCC. Both of us are on the new Board of Directors (our bishop is the Secretary), and we feel the ministers and members of Calvin Synod need to know and should join in this fellowship. The January/ February issue of the Calvin Synod Herald/Reformátusok Lapja carries an article by the bishop to introduce concerns echoed in all the Conferences, and already more than eighty churches have voted to pull out of the UCC since the same-sex resolution passed on July 4, 2005. Following is a press release of the FWC by the Rev. Robert Thomas, President. It holds links to other important information on the original UCC “Basis of Union with Interpretations” (1957 merger document), the Preamble and Statement of Faith” from the UCC Constitution (1961), and a recent Lexington Confession (2005) in today’s words expressing current views. Following also is an initial press release explaining the group’s direction. Of course, the bishop and I are glad to speak with you about this. There will also be area meetings (a schedule will be posted), one on March 5th at 7:00 PM in Woodbridge, at the Hungarian Reformed Church. Others are already scheduled for several locales in Pennsylvania, New England, Ohio, etc. Your church can join with the Whiting church and others by voting to become affiliated with the Faithful and Welcoming Churches. Votes are on tap this Sunday and soon after in the Woodbridge and Perth Amboy churches of Calvin Synod. So, please read Bishop Ludwig’s article forthwith, and then check out the information I’ll send to you in follow-up. “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide!” Rev. Albert fV. Kovács Hungarian Reformed Church Woodbridge, New Jersey United Church of Christ Renewal Movement Formed (Ligonier, PA - January 19, 2006) Declaring a “crisis in the United Church of Christ (UCC)” over lost churches, funds, and unity since the denomination’s twenty-fifth General Synod endorsed same sex marriage July 4, 2005, UCC pastors and laypersons from nine states have formed the Faithful and Welcoming Churches of the UCC. The group met in Ligonier, PA, January 18-19, 2006 to incorporate their national organization which will work to revive the original vision and beliefs of the UCC. Delegates approved plans for regional gatherings in at least eleven states during March and a national convention July 2-4, 2006 in Columbus, Ohio. “This crisis is real,” said Rev. Dr. Bob Thompson, pastor of Corinth Reformed Church in Hickory, NC and president of Faithful and Welcoming Churches. “We just listed the sixty-sixth church on our web site that has withdrawn from the UCC since General Synod 25. In my conference, the Southern Conference, we have lost 70 of 300 churches in less than four years. We aim to give churches a reason to stay.” Since its founding in 1957, the UCC has allowed its congregations complete autonomy in continuing or choosing its worship style, pastor, name, and confessions of faith. As a result the UCC includes an unusually diverse range of theological and political thought among the member churches. Churches may also withdraw from the denomination without forfeiting property. Founded with more than 7,000 churches and 2.1 million members, the denomination now has fewer than 5,700 churches and 1.3 million members. “In our view,” Thompson commented, “the national and regional settings of the church have lost sight of our founding motto, ‘That they all may be one.’ Instead, the denomination has consistently articulated and now has begun marketing an identity consistent with a radical social agenda not shared by a majority of its congregations.” Only about ten percent of the UCC’s churches have declared themselves “Open and Affirming” of gays and lesbians. The fledgling renewal group offers an alternative for churches to declare that they are “faithful and welcoming.” “Our embrace is broad,” Thompson added. “Our core beliefs are the centrality of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the authority of Holy Scripture. We believe that a large majority of UCC members share these core beliefs, and we will try to connect them to each other.” For more information visit the Faithful and Welcoming website at www.faithfulandwelcoming.org. Rev. Bob Thompson Corinth Reformed Church Hickory, North Carolina 828-328-6196, ext. 202, or bob@corinthtoday.org □□□ “Lord, I praise you because you are the God who performs miracles; you display your power amoung the peoples” (Psalm 77:14)
