28 March, 2024

NACC Viewpoint 1: We Were There

Features

by | 17 September, 2006 | 0 comments

By Victor Knowles

June 27-30, 2006 was a “we were there” occasion for more than 10,000 people in the American Restoration Movement, also known as the Stone-Campbell Movement.

Since 1906, when churches of Christ were listed separately in the U. S. Census of Religious Bodies, there had been little participation with their brethren in the fellowship of Christian churches/churches of Christ. Unity talks and unity forums have been taking place since the mid-1930s, with accelerated efforts since the mid-1980s, but never before had such an “intentional effort” to “come together again” been made until the 2006 North American Christian Convention, held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville.

All year long there has been a concerted emphasis on reunion and reconciliation between the two bodies of independent churches that, combined, number about 2.5 million members. In February the Restoration Forum was warmly welcomed on the campus of Abilene Christian University. On March 30 the Associated Press reported on a major unity endeavor at the International Soul Winning Workshop in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The June 1 issue of The Southeast Outlook, the newspaper of Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky, ran a headline: “NACC will be a reunion of historic proportions.” And that it was. The Louisville Courier-Journal of June 30 reported that the “display of musical variety” at the NACC was a “theological statement.”

Pleasant Harmony

The most visible difference between churches of Christ and Christian churches is instrumental music””though the root causes for their division were the Civil War, reconstruction, and contrasting methods of biblical interpretation (especially centering around the issue of the silence of the Scriptures). Still, worship jointly directed by praise teams from Southwest Christian Church, Orlando, Florida, and Richland Hills Church of Christ, North Richland Hills, Texas, was a beautiful blend of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs”””instrumental, a cappella, and a variety of classic hymns and contemporary praises. The presence of 1,000 (perhaps more) Christians from a cappella churches produced a pleasant four-part harmony to songs like “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “The Lord”s Prayer.”

The preaching was some of the best I have ever heard at a NACC. Maybe that”s because it was a united effort””four speakers each from both fellowships of churches. Dr. Jerry Taylor, professor at Abilene Christian University, had everyone on their feet, cheering and applauding when he finished his message, “Together in Faith.” The African-American declared that the only color that really matters is the red blood of Jesus Christ.

One of the best surprises at this year”s NACC was the visible presence of people of color leading in various ways. President David Faust also invited a number of African-American leaders and their wives to a special dinner where rich fellowship was experienced. Another pleasant surprise was the restoration of responsive reading of Scripture in the main assemblies, the selection of songs that were “eminently singable,” and the lower volume of amplification.

Most Memorable Moment

Probably the most memorable “we were there” moment was the Thursday night session when Jeff Walling, minister of the Providence Road Church of Christ, Charlotte, North Carolina, preached “Together in Grace.” Every Christian church and church of Christ in the land needs to obtain the DVD of this significant service and show it to the entire congregation.

Brother Walling”s gifted style is entertaining but it is also powerful and penetrating. He declared it is time to stop just being “nice” to each other and start doing the “hard work” of reconciliation. In a symbolic yet substantive act, he gave his Bible””one given to him by his mother in memory of his preaching father””to Dave Stone, minister at Southeast Christian Church. Dave responded by giving Jeff his own Bible. Then leaders from both fellowships””university presidents, ministers, and parachurch leaders came to the stage for a similar exchange of Bibles.

The cameras zoomed in on the Bibles that were held high. This magic moment was saying, “We all preach “˜one Lord, one faith, one baptism”; we both stand for the authority of Scripture, the lordship of Christ, and the mission of the church.”

Remarkable Reunion

Not everyone who is qualified to do so attends a family reunion or a class reunion. Some leaders (from both groups) who I felt should have been there did not come to Louisville. The loss (both considerable and lamentable) is theirs. This was a remarkable, meaningful, and in many ways inevitable “we were there” occasion.

Some flat out would not come. Some felt they could not come to Louisville, and I can understand their hesitancy to participate. They are cautious and concerned, fearing a “merger” or loss of identity.

At the NACC my wife and I met a young woman from Columbus, Ohio, who came to Louisville after learning of the event only 10 days earlier. She cried all through the opening service””tears of regret over the division but also tears of joy because we are “together in Christ.”

I believe this woman”s precious tears are representative of many in both church fellowships who seek to honor Christ”s dying prayer for unity. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Amen?


 

 

Victor Knowles is president of POEM (Peace on Earth Ministries), Joplin, Missouri. He also serves as editor of One Body magazine and is a coordinator of the Restoration Forum, an annual unity meeting (since 1984) between churches of Christ and Christian churches.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Features

Follow Us