Traveling the Unity Road

By Victor Knowles

A year ago, June 27-30, 2006, a historic “family reunion” between churches of Christ and Christian churches/churches of Christ took place at the North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The two groups, whose combined membership is about 2.6 million, were acknowledging a sad division that had taken place in 1906. The intentional coming together again saw more than 10,000 people from all over the United States welcoming and accepting one another in Christ.

Last Summer

Those who attended the groundbreaking event were effusive in their praise. Thomas E. Mackey of Granville, Ohio, said, “I”ve never felt more proud to be a part of this people!” Bob Tinsky of Oblong, Illinois, commented, “It was thrilling to be a part of this year”s NACC, especially when Jeff Walling and Dave Stone, plus several other brotherhood leaders, exchanged Bibles. That meeting, in many ways, must be similar in importance to what happened [in 1832] when Barton W. Stone and Raccoon John Smith shook hands and agreed that their two groups would work together.”

David Faust, president of the 2006 NACC, said, “These are great days, and it”s going to be interesting to see where the Lord takes us in the future.” A few months later, on October 14, Faust took part in a historic “Contemporary Discussion” with Ralph Gilmore on the campus of Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, Tennessee. Richard J. Cherok reported in One Body, “The discussion was carried out with a sense of honest inquiry, love, and consideration for those who have opinions that differed from their own.”

In an unprecedented move by the NACC, a tithe of the offerings ($149,000) was designated to assist a joint venture between Christian churches and churches of Christ in Kenya, Africa. Milton Jones of Northwest Church of Christ, Seattle, Washington, reports that property has been purchased in Kisumu, where AIDS is most prevalent, to build a counseling and testing center for AIDS. Christian Relief Fund, which partners with churches of Christ and Christian churches, is managing the project. A group from both fellowships will work together to complete the project this summer.

One month after the NACC, church leaders met with the Chinese ambassador to the United States, had breakfast at the White House, and were briefed by the State Department”s head of the China desk. They then traveled together to China the first week of August to meet with government leaders and discuss Christianity in China. The group included Rick Atchley of Richland Hills Church of Christ, North Richland Hills, Texas, Royce Money of Abilene (Texas) Christian University, and Bob Russell, then of Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky.

Also in August, Marvin Phillips of Marvin Phillips Ministries, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Kerry Allen of Person-to-Person Ministries, Hillsboro, Ohio, led a unity seminar in Castle Hill, NSW, Australia, “Together in Mission: Maintaining Unity in a Divided World.”

Across the Country

All across America people are getting together for fellowship, exploring how they might worship and work together. Progress is being made in Louisville, where the historic 2006 NACC took place. Last August I participated in the 59th annual Kentucky-Indiana Christian Fellowship Week (formerly called Louisville Bible Conference). Daytime sessions were held at the Portland Avenue Church of Christ in Louisville, and evening sessions at the Sellersburg (Indiana) Church of Christ. I spoke three times and Alex Wilson and I exchanged treasured books in a mutual affirmation of love and unity.

Bob Kastens, South Louisville Christian Church, reports that two church of Christ preachers, Alex Wilson and Julias Hovan, are teaching workshops in their spring sessions of the Christian churches” “School of Christian Living.” Plans are underway for a joint fifth Sunday rally. Preachers are also getting together for lunch. Doug Lalli of Westport Church of Christ in Louisville, says, “Our church is currently working with two Christian churches on a couples retreat for February. We are thrilled at the possibilities.”

Just down the pike from Louisville, Lexington”s Glenn McCarty writes, “Another small step toward unity and fellowship” took place January 7 when Tates Creek Christian Church, Southern Acres Christian Church, Crestwood Christian Church, and Southside Church of Christ “came together to sing praises to our Father and his Son.” Lexington”s Omer Hamlin reports of an evening meeting that took place the Sunday after the NACC between the Indian Hills Christian Church in Danville and the West End Church of Christ. “The ministers are now doing sermon preparation together on a weekly basis.

Many good things are happening in the great state of Texas, the stronghold of churches of Christ (2,137 congregations and 367,520 adherents). In Lubbock several churches of Christ and Christian churches came together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ April 2-8. At noon each day, April 2-6, believers gathered for an hour of prayer at First Christian Church, Central Lubbock Church of Christ, Lubbockview Christian Church, Vandelia Church of Christ, and Westmont Christian Church. A Seder service was held Thursday evening at the Broadway Church of Christ, a Good Friday service at Monterey Church of Christ, a Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon choral presentation of “One Had to Rise” at the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ, and a “New Day” service Sunday evening at the Raintree Christian Church. The planners declared, “While we may not agree about every detail for practicing Christianity . . . we are in agreement about the first importance of Jesus” death, burial, and resurrection.”

About 70 preachers and leaders from churches of Christ and Christian churches attended a January 9 dialogue at the Southwest Central Church of Christ in Houston. About 50 elders and ministers from Restoration churches in Austin met March 25 to form a Unity Steering Committee among churches of Christ, Christian churches, and Disciples of Christ. They have met six times since and created an attractive Web site, ONE Christian Unity Site, www.unity-christian.com.

Across the border in Oklahoma more good things are taking place. Greg Taylor of Garnett Church of Christ, Tulsa, reports that Garnett teamed with Cedar Ridge Christian Church to build a Habitat for Humanity house. “We made it clear to Christians that . . . we were unifying Christians and the community.” Both churches are working together to pray with other churches every minute of every day for the city of Tulsa, the state of Oklahoma, the nation, and the world. “Prayer is something on which we can all agree!” said Cedar Ridge”s Gregg Pittman.

Three prayer breakfasts in Columbia, Missouri, have been coordinated by Don Stoll since the 2006 NACC. I spoke at the latest one, March 17, where 24 leaders from seven churches plus Central Christian College of the Bible came together for fellowship.

From Albuquerque, New Mexico, Alan Taylor reports campus ministries from both fellowships “enthusiastically support” each other, and that a merger between two congregations is in the works. In California, the Palo Alto Church of Christ is looking into merging with the New Venture Christian Church, according to Palo Alto member Susan K. Mitchell. In Caldwell, Idaho, the church of Christ and Christian church, whose buildings are only a quarter-mile from each other, have met together to explore ways they can work together “to spread the good news to the city of Caldwell,” says Troy Hooper.

After last year”s NACC, Johnson Bible College and its president, David Eubanks, hosted a Sunday afternoon picnic on the school”s grounds, inviting all Christian churches and churches of Christ in the Knoxville area. I delivered three unity addresses at JBC”s annual Gilmore-Sanders Lectures and spoke to a noon luncheon of area preachers. Our ministry, Peace on Earth Ministries, is partnering with JBC to underwrite a young minister from the churches of Christ in Belarus.

Recently Ozark Christian College welcomed Randy Harris of Abilene Christian University, and Jeff Walling of Providence Road Church of Christ, Charlotte, North Carolina, to preach at its Preaching/Teaching convention.

Walling, whose dramatic “Bible exchange” NACC message has been shown on DVD to countless churches, will also be back for this year”s NACC in Kansas City, along with Dr. Kenneth Greene and Rhonda Lowry of the churches of Christ.

The Pepperdine University Bible Lectures (May 1-4) featured a record 14 speakers from Christian churches on this year”s program. The National Preaching Summit in Indianapolis earlier this year featured Jerry Taylor of Abilene Christian University, and Tim Spivey of Highland Oaks Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas. Last fall Milton Jones and I appeared together at the Sunrise Church of Christ, Spokane, Washington, for a two-day “Family Reunion of Faith” sponsored by six Spokane-area Restoration congregations.

Looking Forward

Not everyone is happy with these developments. Some are condemning, some are condescending, some are complacent, and some, frankly, are simply un-Christian in their attitudes and accusations. But across America and around the world””eternal optimist that I am””I see and hear enough to be greatly encouraged.

Unity for sweet unity”s sake is good, but not good enough! Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one . . . that the world may believe.” Mike Schrage, who worked with a blended missionary team from Christian churches and churches of Christ in Kenya and Uganda, reports that funds are being donated from both fellowships to equip a new center in Mbale, Uganda. Mike, now with Good News Productions, International, says, “Next step: to partner together to send trained African missionaries from East Africa to Sudan!”

Allan Dunbar, executive director of the NACC, said, “We must not let the good relationships that have developed between the two segments of our Restoration heritage just be memories of 2006.” I could not agree more. Together let”s continue to practice unity””that the world may believe!

 

 

Victor Knowles, is founder and president of POEM (Peace on Earth Ministries), Joplin, Missouri. He is author of Together in Christ, More Than a Dream (College Press, 2006), editor of One Body, and is a coordinator of the annual Restoration Forum. For a list of 101 things happening between Christian churches and churches of Christ go to www.poeministries.org.