There's No Stopping This Baby...

by Dr. John Kaiser

Reprinted from American Baptist Evangelicals' "An eConnections Update: Lombard and Beyond"

The hour was 3:00 a.m. November 23, 1982, and I was sleeping deeply after preparing lecture notes until well after midnight. The next morning would be an open house at the Bible college where I taught, so I wanted to be at my best.

“John!” exclaimed my otherwise thoughtful and patient wife, “I think my water just broke. We have to get moving NOW.” My firstborn had decided to show up three weeks early and has had a mind of his own ever since. There was no stopping him or even slowing him down. The only question at that point was whether the responsible grownups involved would make sure that he got off to a healthy start. There’s something about new life that captures our imagination and compels us to reorder our plans. It is not always convenient, pain-free or cheap. But we know that the result is worthy of the labor. How else could siblings be explained? (You can fool me once ....)

A new organization for Baptist congregations of evangelical conviction is being birthed, and at this point there is no stopping it. There was an early contraction in 1992 when the ABC was barely capable of declaring homosexual conduct “incompatible with Christian teaching.” Another contraction came in 1996 when the ABCW removed four congregations for proudly promoting that conduct, and the ABC responded with measured accommodation toward both sides. At the 2003 Biennial, labor was induced by divergent speakers, each of whom provoked separate constituencies to walk out, and AWAB demonstrated within the auditorium to celebrate ten years of advocating for the gay rights agenda within the ABC.

Contractions came faster in 2004 as National Ministries and the Office of General Secretary failed to support the largely evangelical Board of International Missions at a critical juncture, and an outside consultant warned Valley Forge about the imminent consequences of glossing over moral issues.

The water finally broke this year, 2005: Calls to implement the 1992 policy were deftly sidelined by Valley Forge at the Biennial in Denver, with the result that disenfranchised pastors and executives may have spent more time in side meetings than official sessions. PSW subsequently initiated withdrawal from (not breaking of) covenant with Valley Forge. Scores of West Virginia churches are pressing their region to follow suit. Ten evangelical Executive Ministers have pledged mutual support and relationship to each other (eight who gathered at Parchment Valley plus two others who had pledged their support prior). Most significantly, the Summons to Lead gathering of 350 leaders at Northern Seminary in September was virtually unanimous in its call to see a new organization formed for Baptist congregations holding to traditional biblical morality and authority, regardless of their status with the ABC.

While there is no question that a baby is on the way, there is a big question about what she is going to be when she grows up. If the new organization were to be dominated by protest against the failures of Valley Forge, it would have an essentially negative sense of mission. In other words, it would be defined primarily by what it is against. While it is good to be against everything “incompatible with Christian teaching,” and sometimes good to form protest organizations, the mission of the church is distinctly positive. Jesus first words to his disciples were, “Come follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of men.” His last words to them were a commencement address at the completion of this training program: “Go, make disciples of all nations.”

Think of what a new national network of congregations and like-minded mission organizations can accomplish in evangelism if it does the following:

· Puts more resources into making more disciples than into anything else
· Helps healthy growing congregations to reproduce others
· Resources healthy congregations that are already growing and reproducing
· Transforms other congregations that are not growing and reproducing
· Takes an unequivocal stand on biblical orthodoxy and morality
· Majors on the major issues and minors on the minor ones
· Leaves old political battles behind to redirect energy into evangelism
How often do we get a chance to be part of new life? My wife and I have two children who are now in their early twenties. Each of them is precious to us and was a privilege to help shape in early formative years.

How often do you get a chance to be part of a new movement of congregations on a national scale? And how often do you get to be in at the beginning to help shape it? And how accountable would you be to God for making the most of that opportunity to increase the population of heaven?

One thing that makes church planting so much fun is the opportunity to start painting on a blank canvas. No blobs, cracks, or faded strokes to distract you from designing and executing a new ministry masterpiece. It’s a fresh beginning, a chance to revisit the bedrock truths of God’s Word and build on them a solid, functional and attractive superstructure. I had the privilege of planting two successful churches and leading them to grow. For the last five or six years I have had the privilege of serving as a consultant and church planting director in a region so effective in mission that denominational groups from all over the English-speaking world come every year to the ABCW to learn what we are doing.

Now I hope to see this new national organization springing forth from the Summons to Lead at Northern Seminary receive the right DNA and grow to maturity as a fellowship of Baptist congregations which we will be proud to say is making more new disciples together than we could ever do by ourselves. I don’t know how much the new baby will weigh at birth, maybe 300 congregations, maybe many times that figure, but wherever it begins, I pray and expect it to grow, to be fruitful and to multiply. The water has broken. We have to get moving NOW!

Dr. Kaiser is on the staff of the American Baptist Churches of the West (Northern California and NW Nevada), and is, in my opinion, a genius when it comes to organizational systems and development.

How Wide a Chasm?

I have predicted that ultimately 70% of the current ABC will become part of the new organization that was envisioned at the Lombard Conference. Jay Wolfe of West Virginia echos that in this article from Baptist Press. The article has been edited for length.


Calif. churches to break ties with American Baptist Churches (USA) over homosexuality

By Gregory Tomlin — BP News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — American Baptist churches in Southern California and the Southwest declared their intention to break formally from their national denomination by Dec. 31, and a second group in West Virginia likely will do the same next month.Both groups cite the unwillingness of the American Baptist Churches (USA) to enforce the denomination’s official stance against homosexuality, pointing to their denomination’s acceptance of openly gay and “affirming” churches for membership, as the reason for their actions.

Leaders of the Pacific Southwest Region, composed of some 300 churches, said in a statement Sept. 12 that the denomination’s national leadership had been unresponsive to repeated calls from conservative churches to implement a 1992 resolution which declared that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,” Brian Scrivens, president of the region’s executive board, said in a letter posted on the group’s Web site.

Scrivens said representatives from the Southwest Pacific Region and the national Executive Council, including General Secretary Roy Medley, met Sept. 9, but that their differences over the denomination’s stance on homosexuality had not been resolved.“After the meetings the Board of Directors concluded that the theological convictions and values of the ABCUSA and the ABCPSW were irreconcilable, and that it was in the best interest of both for the ABCPSW to withdraw from its present standing in the denomination,” Scrivens said in the letter. The national Executive Council in Valley Forge, Pa., expressed “deep regret” over the region’s action in a statement issued Sept. 14. “Our denomination has been blessed by the historic commitment by our regions to interdependent dialog and action for mission in the name of Christ. We grieve when partners in ministry move away from that covenantal relationship.”

The Executive Council also reaffirmed its “commitment to the Christ-centered biblical principles that have guided our communal life as a denomination since its beginning.” At issue, however, are the claims of the Pacific Southwest Region’s leaders that biblical principles have been ignored as groups such as the Wisconsin-based Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, composed largely of homosexual or “affirming” members, have been allowed to participate in denominational life.

Dale Salico, executive minister of the Pacific Southwest Region, wrote in a position paper on the region’s Web site that, despite the national denomination’s statement that homosexuality and Christianity are incompatible, “this policy has received very little implementation.” “Publicly outspoken homosexuals continue to serve in leadership positions within American Baptist Regions, organizations, institutions, committees, commissions and other positions of leadership. Within many Regions the ordination of practicing homosexuals is endorsed. This has led many people inside and outside the ABC to conclude that this denomination has adopted positions advocated by homosexual activists,” Salico wrote.

Members of 65 American Baptist Churches aligned with the conservative West Virginia Baptists for Biblical Truth (WVBBT) will also decide at their convention next month whether or not they will withdraw from the ABCUSA, Jay Wolfe, chairman of the group, said in a news release Sept. 14. Wolfe said it was time for the churches to break with the national denomination since it condoned “flagrant sin in the church.”Wolfe told Baptist Press that the issue of homosexuality has been a problem in the ABCUSA for more than 14 years. He said he and others raised concerns in the early 1990s when a group known as American Baptists Concerned, now the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB), manned an exhibit at the denomination’s biennial convention. He and others responded with repeated calls to have the denomination declare that homosexuality is incompatible with Christianity, an effort that resulted in the 1992 statement on homosexuality. But conflict over homosexuality in the ABCUSA did not cease, Wolfe said. He said one church in Ohio and four in California, dis-fellowshipped by conservative churches for affirming homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, found fellowship with the Rochester/Genesee Region of New York -- a move allowed after the General Board changed its bylaws to allow the congregations to seek fellowship outside of their region.“We are pleased to know that our Christian brothers and sisters on the Left Coast are the first to do the right thing and stand on God’s Word,” Wolfe said of the Pacific Southwest Region. But his group is also taking a stand. In a letter to about 460 Baptist churches in West Virginia Sept. 9, WVBBT indicated that denominational leadership had ignored their concerns and refused to deal with the issue of homosexuality. “Rather than modeling support of the 1992 resolution on homosexuality, the ABC/USA leaders are either voting or appointing individuals to fill important positions within the denomination who are either openly homosexual or members of AWAB churches,” WVBBT wrote.

...The ABCUSA’s acceptance of gay-friendly churches was cited as one reason the Southern Baptist Convention decided to withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance, of which the ABCUSA is a member.

[SBC leaders say]...little has been done in the ABCUSA about groups such as the Evergreen Baptist Association in the Pacific Northwest, a group that accepts openly gay members.

"For over two decades the ABCUSA has vacillated on the issue of homosexuality, seeking to retain in its membership both those advocating a ‘welcoming and affirming’ position and those holding to the position of classical Christianity on human sexuality issues,” Salico wrote. “The result of this vacillation has been the continued decline and stagnation of the ABCUSA, which at the present time has brought us perilously close to schism.”

Lotz was not immediately available for comment, but BWA Communications Coordinator Wendy Ryan said the BWA’s position on homosexuality is clear. Lotz, she said, recently told the Baptist World Congress that Christians must “stand up for a holy life, opposing pre-marital and extramarital sex, pornography and homosexual behavior.” When asked by Baptist Press if the current situation with the American Baptist Churches (USA) would cause the BWA to re-evaluate the manner in which member bodies are accepted, Ryan said that “when our BWA leadership reflects on what is happening, you’ll know.”Patterson said he hoped the BWA would "display integrity and inform its constituent bodies of what has happened and why.” In the meantime, he encouraged prayer for American Baptists in the Pacific Southwest Region and elsewhere.“This is a sorrowful moment for these courageous brethren. Southern Baptists should pray for them for God’s comfort and guidance and we should lend every encouragement possible,” Patterson said.

Wolfe said 15 to 18 of the ABCUSA’s 35 regions may be contemplating a move away from the denomination. He also said he is grateful for the support of Southern Baptists and the denomination’s willingness to stand for truth.“When I heard the statement from Paige Patterson about the BWA last year, and the ABC being pointed out as the example of churches where homosexuality had become a problem and where liberalism was an issue, I was surprised. I thought we had the issue settled. But we began to investigate the matter and found that the problem still existed and no one was doing anything about it,” Wolfe said.“Because the Southern Baptists did the right thing and dis-fellowshipped us by withdrawing from the BWA, because Southern Baptists were faithful in doing that, it got our attention and was a catalyst for change.”

Published by Keener Communications Group, October 2005

I think Patterson (and Jay Wolfe) greatly overestimate the impact of the SBC action (I'm in the know, and didn't even know about it until a few weeks ago).

15 to 18 regions is, I think about right based on the conversations I've had recently. Just like states though, regions vary greatly in size, number of churches and members. We're talking about the larger portion of the whole denomination.

Which begs the question: who are the schismatics? I contend those who coddle false teaching are already in a state of schism, and that those holding to the faith are the orthodox. As on man put it when he changed poitical party, "I didn't leave the party...the party left me!"

http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Oct05/Art_Oct05_11.html

Yada, Yada, Yada...Let's "Dialogue"

A report from the Mid-America Baptist churches (MN and Iowa)...

The Task Force on Human Sexuality presented its final report at the September Board of Region Ministries meeting. This Task Force was charged with 'implementing the 1993 American Baptist Resolution Calling For Dialogue on Human Sexuality with the goal of establishing a Region policy regarding the recognition of the ordination of homosexuals' (Board Minutes, March 2004). While the Task Force was unable to reach a consensus on the issue of recognition of ordination, they were very effective in identifying the issues and gathering information.

The Task Force stated that one (but not the only) way to deal with the issue would be to have a vote of delegates at our Annual Gathering. The members of the Board of Region Ministries have decided to follow this route and have voted to ask the delegates at the Annual Gathering to vote on the following motion:

• Whereas the 1992 resolution on homosexuality is held in tension with the 1993 American Baptist Resolution Calling for Dialogue on Human Sexuality.
• Whereas we as Mid-American Baptist Church's recognize that we are not of one mind in matters pertaining to human sexuality.
• Whereas there is a wide spectrum of biblical and theological views represented within our region and within our churches.
• Whereas [many] churches may want the opportunity to continue to dialogue as called for in the 1993 American Baptist Resolution calling for Dialogue on Human Sexuality.

Therefore we as Mid-American Baptist Churches call upon individuals and churches to stay open to dialogue and to continue to implement the 1993 American Baptist Resolution Calling for Dialogue on Human Sexuality.
Therefore we will not recognize the ordinations of openly gay and lesbian persons at this time.

This motion, coming from the Board of Region Ministries, does not require a second and will be voted on at the afternoon business session at Harlan on
Saturday, October 22, 2005.

Dialogue is a virtual god among some American Baptists. Let's recognize it for what it is: a stalling tactic by the theo-left until they wear us down. Let's not dialogue about Truth anymore; let's obey it.

ABC Uses Native American Churches as Pawns in Impasse with Pacific Soutwest Churches

Tears literally welled up in my eyes as I read how National Ministries is using Native American churches in Arizona as pawns in the impasse with the Pacific Southwest Churches. Our church has a long association with one of these churches, and I know how difficult that ministry is. Read and weep with me, these reports from the message board of www.abeonline.org:

Actually, another hardball tactic I find equally disturbing but unposted in my account yesterday, was a comment made by one of the pastors working with Native Americans (which I have been unable to verify independently). During the Q&A, he added that National Ministries has also threatened to enforce reversionary clauses on the Native American congregations, taking their property away!!! With obvious emotion in his voice he spoke of the threats to cut off salary support as soon as the end of the year (even though PSW congregations will not even vote on withdrawal until March of 2006 at the earliest due to ByLaws requirements) and kick them out of their churches!!!

Interestingly, Dr. Medley insists that no matter what PSW does, local congregations are still affiliated with ABCUSA UNLESS they take individual congregational votes. However, if you are a poor Native American congregation, I guess (???) different rules apply. IFF this report is true (and we heard the same story from multiple sources in our Arizona Native American community), isn't it fascinating that the upholders of justice for all minorities are willing to bully and threaten the least and the last among us in order to strike back at PSW?

Additionally, we were asked by Brian Scrivens, a layman who serves as our regional President, to pray for communications between the region and Valley Forge. He indicated from the platform that his letters to Valley Forge have not been responded to, nor have the letters, e-mails, and telephone calls from Dr. Salico to Valley Forge.

About the only bright spot in all of this relates to the reactions by MMBB and BIM. MMBB assures Salico that PSW pastors will continue to receive their contractual benefits and that they are still considering what to do about the non-contractual benefits. Charles Jones, interim ED of BIM, also indicated his desire to continue in mission partnership with PSW. Of course, readers should know that PSW leads the denomination in money sent to BIM. Salico, somewhat puckishly, informed the assembly yesterday that with regard to our givnig to BIM, "We're number one!"

Dennis E. McFadden

--------------------------------

Dennis: this "hardball tactic" by ABCUSA with the Native American Churches could well be made to turn around and bite them in the posterior. Think about it: while the "white churches" may well be able to pull away from ABCUSA with little to no consequences, the ABCUSA is threatening to use MINORITY CHURCHES as leverage against PSW! "Maybe if we threaten the Indians, Salico et al will back off!" So really here's ABCUSA, using Native Americans as hostages to attempt to manipulate PSW! Doesn't this objectify, demean and discriminate against minorities? Since they have had funding from NM, they can hold them prisoner--they have them where they want them! How patriarchal! Whatever happened to the vaunted diversity of ABCUSA? Perhaps we see the true colors showing forth!

Pastor Scott A. Jones
FBC, Webster City, IA

____________________

In light of the hardball tactics being directed against Native Americans by VF, Dr. Salico challenged us to increase our giving to make up the support being threatened by VF. His suggestion was met with thunderous applause.

Dennis McFadden

Question for all of you on the fence: what does this tell you about (a) the character of the people involved, especially at the highest levels of National Ministries and (b) the genuine commitment to the ministry of Christ in Pacific Southwest Churches?

Remember the Ecstatic Heresy

The Ecstatic Heresy

This article appeared last fall in Christianity Today, and is must reading for understanding our present situation--Glenn Layne. I originally posted it September 12 of this year, but can't think of a more relevant article to remind of the wider context of the ABC impassse. Note especially the last two bolded paragraphs.

Seeking a superficial unity, some denominational leaders opt for feelings over facts.

By Robert Sanders posted 10/08/2004 9:00 a.m.

The conflict in the mainline churches is ostensibly about sexuality—specifically, homosexuality. But more than sexuality is at stake. The faith itself, the Christian faith, is being invaded by false teaching. Theologically, this heresy is rarely articulated. Rather, it works by feeling, an ecstatic sense that transcends petty verbal differences. Consider these three quotations:

The Dammann case does reveal continuing differences in the United Methodist Church concerning the issue of homosexuality. The Council of Bishops is painfully aware of this disagreement. In such moments as this, we remember that our unity in Christ does not depend on unanimity of opinion. Rather, in Jesus Christ we are bound together by love that transcends our differences and calls us to stay at the table with one another.

When they finished, all of us stood up and applauded, with a lump in our throats and a tear in our eyes, as we watched them embrace one another. Convictions were not reconciled that day, but two people who held different convictions were reconciled in Christ.

How we all fit together, how our singularities are made sense of, how our divergent views and different understandings of God's intent are reconciled, passes all understanding. All that we can do is to travel on in faith and trust, knowing that all contradictions and paradoxes and seemingly irreconcilable truths—which seem both consistent and inconsistent with Scripture—are brought together in the larger and all- embracing truth of Christ, which, by Christ's own words, has yet to be fully drawn forth and known.

The first quotation is from a March 25, 2004, statement by the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church in response to the trial of a lesbian Methodist minister. This trial reflected the deep divisions within that church. The bishops are "painfully aware" of these disagreements. Nevertheless, they feel that these differences are a matter of "opinion." These opinions, however, cannot negate our "unity in Christ" because "in Jesus Christ we are bound together by love that transcends our differences and calls us to stay at the table with one another." In other words, we can be in verbal disagreement, yet be unified at a higher level in Christ.

The second quotation is from an address by Douglas W. Oldenburg, moderator of the 1998 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly. In the climax of his speech, he portrayed two men who also addressed the assembly. The first was a homosexual Presbyterian pastor who passionately affirmed his sexuality, his call to ministry, and his understanding of Scripture. His speech was followed by an equally passionate address by a man who held utterly contrary views. Once these two speeches had been delivered, the two men embraced each other. At that point, the assembly applauded with tears in their eyes and lumps in their throats. Although these two men held different convictions, convictions resulting in starkly different behaviors, they "were reconciled in Christ."

The third quotation is from Frank Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. Like the others, he believes that verbal disagreements, different conceptions of truth—even truths inconsistent with Scripture—are unified in the "larger and all-embracing truth of Christ."

These men do not speak in a vacuum. They are influenced by a tradition, a powerful theological perspective that resonates in our culture and is taught in our universities, graduate schools of religion, and seminaries. I call this the "ecstatic" perspective, a term taken from theologian Paul Tillich. Essentially, this perspective claims that God can only be known in feeling, in ways that transcend the language of God or about God.

Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834) is the grandfather of the ecstatic tradition. For Schleiermacher, the essence of the Christian faith is a mystical sense of the Divine. This feeling is beyond language since language refers to objects in space and time. God is not an object like other objects. He cannot be described as if he were an electron, a tree, or a cat. To do so would be to profane God.

Compare and Contrast

Let me give three examples of the ecstatic perspective, contrasting it with what I consider to be an orthodox understanding of Christianity. (I am speaking, of course, of theological tendencies, as rarely do people fall consistently into one group or another; the contrast is meant to illustrate two theological trajectories that are found in the mainline churches.)

Consider Isaiah 6. According to orthodoxy, Isaiah literally heard God say the words, "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah replied, "Send me." God spoke again, in language accessible to Isaiah, giving him a message that he then proclaimed to the people. In this event, some things were beyond Isaiah's understanding. He could not, for example, comprehend the intense holiness of God, so holy that the Seraphim hid their eyes and Isaiah cried out, "Woe is me! For I am lost." Yet even though God remained a deep mystery, Isaiah nonetheless heard the transcendent God speak.

According to the ecstatic perspective, the divine utterance "Whom shall I send?" is a poetic metaphor. Rather than literally hearing a particular message from God, Isaiah merely had a profound sense of God the transcendent Holy One. As a result, his imagination created a dialogue between God and himself. The mystical feeling that gave rise to the dialogue came from God, but Isaiah—as formed by his psychological, social, and historical context—created its verbal expression.

Both views, orthodox and ecstatic, understand that God is transcendent. But for the orthodox, the transcendent God speaks actual words. The supreme example of God's speech is the Incarnation of the Word, who reveals God in concrete deeds and words. These two ways of being God, transcendent and holy yet present and speaking, correspond to God the Father and God the Word (or Son), while God the Holy Spirit enables human beings to hear and obey God's spoken words. This view requires the doctrines of Trinity and Incarnation. John 1:18 (RSV) states it this way: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known."

The ecstatic view robs the Incarnation of its objective, concrete character by making the revelation in Jesus ineffable. From there, the Trinity is debased since ultimately there is no God the Word who comes from God to verbally reveal the Father.

Consider a further example, the Resurrection. If Jesus was bodily raised by God, then God acted physically at a specific time and place. This would make God an agent, as if God—like an electron, a tree, or a cat—was literally affecting matter. Ecstatics would not understand God in such a "crude" fashion. As a result, many ecstatics deny the bodily Resurrection. Many also deny biblical miracles, which they consider creations of primitive peoples who took felt experiences of the Holy and clothed them in language normally used for objects.

By contrast, an orthodox perspective would trust in the biblical miracles, especially that God raised Jesus bodily from the dead, that the tomb was indeed empty.

Finally, consider ethics. Ecstatics do not believe that specific biblical commands were literally uttered by God. Rather, biblical people had a mystical sense of divine obligation that they expressed in the thought forms of their day. Since these thought forms are constantly changing, the ethical sense takes new forms under new circumstances. As a result, ethics changes as culture changes. From an orthodox perspective, however, God literally spoke biblical commands. Some of them were specific to the time and situation of the original hearers, but many of them, certainly the words of Jesus, are eternally valid.

Ten Differences

These two ways of understanding God—the ecstatic and the orthodox—underlie the theological division in mainline Protestant churches. These differences are not always clearly articulated, and many persons have vaguely adapted portions of each. When the matter is thought through, however, these two views differ in virtually every dimension of the Christian faith.

In addition to the examples given above, let me list ten principal differences.

Ecstatic: God in himself, or in his revelation as Word and words, is never really verbal. He always transcends language.
Orthodox: God is transcendent in his essence, but God can speak to human beings who can actually understand him. Above all, God is known in the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

Ecstatic: Theological statements use language, but literal language refers only to objective realities. Language applied to God is always symbolic since God is ineffable.
Orthodox: Theological statements can accurately, albeit not exhaustively, describe God and his will. Theology also employs symbolic language since the spoken Word reveals God the Father, who is holy and transcendent.

Ecstatic: Scripture is the history of ecstatic experiences given verbal content according to the social context of the biblical peoples. We live in a different social context. Consequently, one must first hear the "Word within the biblical words" in order to sense the Divine that transcends all historical contexts. Then, once sensed, the Word within the biblical words is expressed in contemporary categories. The concept of "contemporary categories" allows experience to transform Scripture.
Orthodox: The biblical Word has verbal content in union with the specific cultural context in which the Word is spoken. There is no "Word within the biblical words," but the biblical words—including their cultural forms—are the Word written. As such, they directly address and redeem all cultural contexts as God's living Word. Experience lies under Scripture.

Ecstatic: The task of theology is to reinterpret the faith as relevant to new cultural contexts. The content of faith evolves since culture evolves.
Orthodox: The task of theology is first and foremost to clarify and preserve the faith once delivered to the saints and to transfer it intact to each succeeding generation. Certain aspects of revelation never evolve.

Ecstatic: Since personhood requires objectivity—that is, a person over against us who can speak to us—God is not personal so much as he is an energy to be experienced.
Orthodox: God is personal, revealing himself as God the Son who became objectively incarnate in the man Jesus, with whom one can have a relationship.

Ecstatic: Doctrines do not literally refer to God but to feeling, the depth of reality, or the horizon of being. Therefore doctrines can be radically reinterpreted in terms of ecstatic categories, and pastoral experience can carry more weight than doctrine.
Orthodox: Doctrines teach truths about God—his moral will and his saving acts. They can be variously understood. They deal with mysteries, but they cannot be reinterpreted in categories that have no literal reference to a God who speaks.

Ecstatic: Sacraments or ordinances express the identity and unity of the ongoing life of the church.
Orthodox: In liturgical traditions, sacraments are concrete means of supernatural grace by which God transforms his people. In the free churches, ordinances are the God-ordained means by which believers show their faith in God's saving acts. Both focus on God's action.

Ecstatic: All religions are ultimately one since the faith of each is an expression of the Holy or Ineffable in the concrete forms of a particular culture.
Orthodox: The particulars of a religion matter, and therefore, the religions are divided by their specific content.

Ecstatic: The ascent to God is a mystical union beyond the objective boundary of self and God. At this highest level, dialogue, give and take with God, disappears. All is bliss. Humanity has ascended to God.
Orthodox: Spirituality is an encounter with God, mediated by Word and sacrament, in which God and the person know each other as distinct selves. God truly speaks to us and listens to us. God condescends to speak to humanity on our terms.

Ecstatic: Those who affirm a particular piety or religious preference constitute the church. Heresy is not as troublesome as schism, to claim ultimacy for one's own verbal beliefs while denying that the differing beliefs of others are equally expressive of the Infinite.
Orthodox: Those who have been called by the incarnate Jesus Christ and conformed to that Word by the Spirit constitute the church. Schism is not as much a concern as heresy, the denial of an objectively revealed tradition.

A Church of Both/And

Ecstatics do not deny Scripture, the creeds, or the great documents of their traditions. They consider the Scriptures to be the foundation of faith, their liturgies resonate with the Ineffable, and the various confessions are a cultural treasure. They simply revise these sources along ecstatic lines. That is why it is appropriate to call them "revisionists." They revise Scripture, creeds, and the faith in terms of a non-Trinitarian perspective that has no real sense of the Incarnation.

Since the revisionists "honor" Scripture and tradition, they can worship, study, pray, teach, and promote their agenda shoulder to shoulder with the orthodox while holding utterly different conceptions of the faith. Conflict only arises when the church must deal with concrete issues such as revision of our language for God, sexual norms, evangelism to those of other faiths, or who is welcome to take Communion. At that point, real differences emerge.

As a result, it is not enough for orthodox Christians to simply say that Jesus called God "Father," or that Scripture condemns homosexuality, or that Jesus commands us to evangelize, or that the universal tradition of the church requires baptism prior to Eucharist. Ecstatics know all this. They relativize these claims by viewing them as outmoded expressions of an evolving faith that progressively expresses the Indescribable.

The ecstatic approach is ideal for denominational leaders seeking to maintain institutional harmony in the face of profound theological and moral divisions. It allows them to affirm a transcendent unity while affirming the contradictory beliefs and actions of their constituents. Such leaders may or may not have studied Schleiermacher, but their theology articulates the deepest values of our pluralistic culture—diversity, tolerance, and unity. Once these values assume theological expression and legitimacy, they function perfectly in the North American religious context.

But for the orthodox, it isn't feeling that brings life. It is a God who spoke his living words to them in Jesus Christ. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Mt. 24:35)

Robert Sanders is associate rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He received his Ph.D. in theology from the Graduate Theological Union and the University of California Graduate School in Berkeley, California. More of his writings can be found at http://users.iglide.net/rjsanders.Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. October 2004, Vol. 48, No. 10, Page 55

Is Chris Matthews Running Valley Forge?

Perhaps the most disturbing things reported by Dale Salico at the Bakersfield conference is the actions taken by ABCUSA vis-a-vis PSW in the last month. To quote from Dennis McFadden's report:







ABCUSA’s Response

-Expressed sorrow over the decision by PSW

-ABCPSW members of GB EC asked to leave meeting when PSW situation was discussed

-ABCPSW delegates asked not to attend November meetings of the GB

-National Ministries immediately canceled the contract with PSW for cooperation in ministry with Native American Churches without notifying PSW EM

-National Ministries told Native American pastors they will lose their salary support if they remain with ABCPSW

-NM and OGS have organized meetings in the region without notifying EM

This is simply scandelous behavior on the part of National Ministries and the Office of the General Secretary. The actions with the Native American pastors say it all: Ministry takes a backseat to ABC loyalty. These guys mean to play hardball...

PSW ANNUAL MEETING OPENS IN BAKERSFIELD

By prior arraingment with Dennis McFadden (www.hisbarkingdog.blogspot.com) I am mirroring his reports on the PSW meeting here.

ABCPSW Annual Meeting
Thursday Report by Dennis McFadden

Dr. Dale Salico – Executive Minister, ABCPSW
“God’s Call to Change Our Worlds for Christ”
Rms 12:2; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 3:2

* For many people, life is a disappointment
· Some people are disappointed with God
· Young Americans are disappointed with the Church
· The problem is not that they were expecting too much
· The problem is that they expected too little

* God’s goal is not only our Salvation for the next world, but our Transformation in this one

* Metamorphosis is God’s portrait in nature for Spiritual transformation

* The problem: Your spiritual DNA has become disabled by sin

* We convince ourselves that this world is all there is and that it is good enough
* Satan blinds individuals
* Satan blinds churches

* Unlike caterpillars, we are responsible before God and before each other for how we conform to the world.

* Through Christ our spiritual nature can be energized by God’s Spirit

Gene Appel – lead pastor, Willowcreek Church –
“How to Change Your Church Without Killing It”

Why Change?
Why we have changed . . .
We were dying
We weren’t reaching many lost people
We weren’t communicating the gospel in an understandable language
We were producing too many church go-ers and not enough fully devoted followers of Christ
To whom much is given, much is required
The Gospel is about change

Why are we so resistant to change?
We glamorize the past
Fear of the unknown
Unsure of the skills needed to lead through change
We’ve heard too many “crash and burn” stories

How do we change?
1. Prepare the soil –
a. the need for raising urgency
b. form your “dream team” – need the right people on the bus
c. develop and cast a compelling vision
i. what is your target?
ii. what are your unique strengths that you bring to the task?
iii. is our vision simple enough to be understood?
d. gain some credibility
e. communicate, communicate, and communicate (otherwise people will connect the dots in the most pathological way of possible)

2. Plant the seed –
a. affirm whatever is affirmable from the church’s past
b. magic words: “trial basis”

3. Cultivate/Fertilize -

4. Harvest –

Annual Business Meeting
Brian Scrivens, President of the Region

Main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing
The main thing for PSW is our new vision

Dale Salico – ABCUSA Relationships

For 20 years the issue of homosexuality has divided the ABCUSA
Homosexuals in society have advocated for change in society’s perception of their orientation and behavior

AWAB has advocated for moral acceptability of monogamous homosexual relationships

The legal and moral edge of the debate is now same-sex marriage

Two groups in the church
Conservatives – God blesses monogamous heterosexual marriages
Revisionists – calling for openness to legitimacy of same sex intimacy and relationships

The issue before the ABCUSA
1992 Resolution – “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching”

Should “out of the closet” homosexuals be permitted in leadership positions and on boards and commissions of the ABCUSA?

What should be the standing of revisionists that advocate for legitimacy of homosexuality for roles of leadership and teaching in ABCUSA events?

November 2004 – 3rd consultant in 12 years recommends against church planting campaign due to deep divisions in the ABC resulting in the deep division over homosexuality.

Consultant urges EM to take painful action or see the ABCUSA continue to bleed assets

Several regions reported churches, associations, or even the entire Region upset by inability of ABCUSA to implement Resolution on Homosexuality.

REMC wrote a pastoral letter with voluntary actions for restraint, promising recommendations to GB by June 2005

April 2005 – San Antonio

REMC and GEC fail to agree on any steps to implement the Resolution on Homosexuality

GEC recommended the education of American Baptists regarding denominational structure and the “unique unenforceables” of ABCUSA life

ABCUSA – Separate corporation for International Ministries, Separate corporation for National Ministries, Separate corporations for regions, Separate corporation for MMBB, Separate corporations for 5,700 churches

Affirmed the right and responsibility of every Agency, Region, and Board to exercise its best wisdom and judgment in determining the most faithful way to honor the resolutions in their contexts.

ABCPSW Response

Deep dismay over San Antonio

If no action by Biennial

Remain a full covenanting partner, but reduce participation in ABCUSA meetings

Establish parallel relationships with other bodies to help us advance our vision and mission priorities

Withdraw from the ABCUSA Budget Covenant, but continue as a Covenanting Partner in the ABCUSA [Dr. Medley said the Covenant is a seamless whole; to withdraw from one is to withdraw from all]

Biennial Meeting, Denver, June 2005-10-13

GB received IN/KY report

No action until Nov 2005

GB called for unity while rejecting enforcement of Resolution in the name of soul liberty

Speakers and a Statement of Concern blamed conservatives

Regional Listening Conferences

14 conferences with over 300 persons

Overwhelming support for board’s position (95% expressed support)

Sept 7 – President Peggy Johnson and Dr. Roy Medley met with pastors and church leaders of ABCPSW (250+ present)

Because of respect for local church autonomy and soul liberty the ABCUSA does not implement policies related to Biblical, theological or moral issues

ABCUSA DOES implement policies related to finance and the Budget Covenant

Differences in Core Values revealed in meeting of Board and Dr. Medley/President Johnson

ABCUSA – local church autonomy and soul liberty
ABCPSW – biblical authority and local church integrity

Board passed resolution the next day

Irreconcilable differences

Will initiate process to withdraw from the Covenant of Relationships (39 partners to covenant may withdraw at any time)

Executive Committee to study the implications and report to Board on Dec 8, 2005

Upon approval, Board will call for special regional meeting in 2006 to vote on the resolution.

Our board has the authority to withdraw but felt that the churches should be entrusted with this decision on their own. (soonest this could happen is March of 2006, 90 day notice)

Churches must remain members of both the ABCPSW and ABCUSA to be able to vote on this issue.

The board also said that we continue to recognize our brothers and sisters in Christ in the ABCUSA as beloved friends and co-workers in the body of Christ. Because of our long history and many common concerns in gospel ministry, we will have opportunities for continued fellowship and partnership

What’s the issue?
Homosexuality is the issue above the water line (tip of the iceberg)
Below the water line: biblical authority and accountability

Three mental models

Denominational split – anger, accusation, hostility.
Corporate spin-off – creating distance and distinct identities with the possibility of future mutually beneficial relationship
Networking – forming and developing mutually beneficial partnerships to advance a cause embraced by all partners

For the record
I [Dale Salico] have advocated for a balanced biblical policy regarding human sexuality and unity in the ABCUSA for over two decades

NM Grow by Caring Task force and writer

ABCUSA Commission on Denominational Unity

Common Ground Conference Leader

Many calls to pastors to urge them to stay in the ABCUSA

On GB and International Ministries Board

Called to PSW to cast vision, uphold theological convictions, and maintain unity with the ABCUSA

On writing committee for the new ABCUSA Budget Covenant

Advocated for implementation of Resolution on Homosexuality while maintaining unity.

Written letters, position papers regarding this issue + hours of phone calls

Parchment Valley Agreement member

11 ABC EMs

Covenant to work together

Three hour meeting with Dr. Medley on Sept 27; one hour meeting with Charles Jones same day

ABCUSA’s Response

-Expressed sorrow over the decision by PSW

-ABCPSW members of GB EC asked to leave meeting when PSW situation was discussed

-ABCPSW delegates asked not to attend November meetings of the GB

-National Ministries immediately canceled the contract with PSW for cooperation in ministry with Native American Churches without notifying PSW EM

-National Ministries told Native American pastors they will lose their salary support if they remain with ABCPSW

-NM and OGS have organized meetings in the region without notifying EM

MMBB will continue in partnership with the ABCPSW
Augie Bau invited to share MMBB’s commitment
Core benefits will remain the same
Non contractual benefits may be jeopardized (Center for Ministry subsidies, emergency fund, thank you check)
Benefits for retirees do not change regardless of the actions by PSW

International Ministries' partnership PSW churches will still be able to have their members appointed as missionaries in the future

PSW Board Action 10-13-05

Call for prayer and fasting for God’s guidance for ABC relationship on last Friday of every month until decision is made

Accepted into its record a statement by the Black Caucus calling attention to the historical relationship of ABCUSA and African American and other minority persons

ABCPSW will remain in the Budget Covenant until the churches vote the region out of the Covenant of Relationships (otherwise VF will interpret the end of the year as the end of our ABC relationship which the Board does not want to appropriate for itself)

With all the needs and issues we face in our nation and world today, why has the issue of homosexuality so important today?

To answer the question, Dr. Salico's responds with the quotation often attributed to Magisterial Reformer Martin Luther:

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the Devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

Source: www.hisbarkingdog.blogspot.com

PSW Conference Meets in Bakersfield Today Through Saturday

The annual conference of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest meets today through Saturday at Olive Drive Church in Bakersfield, CA, amid a background of controversy and likely separation from the American Baptist Churches, USA.

Your humble blogger cannot be there due to my wife's recent surgery (she's doing fine, thanks; it was a total knee replacement), so I am relying on the reporatage of others for any goings on related to the PSW/ABC impasse.

Please stay tuned for further developments...

By the way, it's 95 in Los Angeles today, which means it's probably 105 in Bakersfield. That and they may well have the ugliest downtown in the whole USA.

ABE to Make Next Move

My sources say ABE will be making an announcement within the next few days that may well change the current dynamic. All I can say at this point is...stay tuned...

McFadden Exegetes Dr. Medley's Epistle

Parsing Dr. Medley's "Clarifying" Remarks

Several writers have taken up pen to comment on the pastoral letter from Dr. Roy Medley, dated October 3, 2005. In it he reviews several policy statements which he feels accountable for as our denomination's chief spokesperson.

1. The Family Life Policy Statement (1984) - "marriage intended to be monogamous, life-long, one-flesh union of a man and a woman."

2. General Board Resolution of 1992: "we affirm that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."

3. General Board Resolution of 1993 calling for "continuing dialogue on human sexuality."

4. Affirmation of the long-held insistence on local church autonomy and the priesthood of believers.

5. The affirmation of the principle of voluntary association in mission that declares "that we need each other if we are to accomplish God's purposes for us."Each of these statements, resolutions, and declarations are rooted in history, action by the General Board, official By-Laws, and the like. But what do they mean? Why recite these specific points out of all the possible ones that could be adduced to afford guidance to Dr. Medley as he "clarifies" the direction of the ABCUSA at this critical juncture?

Notice how finely (if not perfectly) the points cancel each other out:

* We believe marriage is heterosexual and that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching BUT we call for on-going dialogue rather than premature judgment on the issue.

* We believe that we will only be able to accomplish God's purposes for us when we work together since we "need each other" BUT our principle is that each church practices total local church autonomy and a individualistic view of the priesthood of believers.

Some might call these the inevitable tensions of life in a congregational system of polity. However, all that Dr. Medley has "clarified" is that, as our corporate spokesperson, he has no authority to say anything meaningful on this topic whatsoever. Every strong statement of belief and the need for association are couterbalanced by equally valid and binding principles (in his mind anyway) leading in the opposite direction.

Some observers might be tempted to see this paralysis of analysis as an instance of what the Regional Executive Ministers Council dubs the "unique unenforceables" of ABC life.

Others might just as validly (in good ABC fashion) reach the conclusion that this proves why we MUST separate into two different missional bodies if we ever intend to accomplish anything in the service of our Lord.

Dennis E. McFadden

Source: www.hisbarkingdog.blogspot.com.

Leftward Ho! We Didn't Say It. Christian Century Did...in 1996

Please Note: Christian Century is the flagship publication of the mainline church establishment. It is the CNN to Christianity Today as Fox News...

From
Taking stock of divisions among U.S. Baptists
Christian Century, Jan 17, 1996

...At its sesquicentennial convention in June [1995], the 15-million-member SBC adopted a resolution repenting for past racism and asking for forgiveness from African-Americans. But that doesn't mean that Baptists in the north and south can expect to get back together soon, agreed speakers at the meeting. The two bodies have become increasingly estranged as the SBC has grown more conservative and the 1.5-million-member American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. has moved to the left.

Historian Bill Leonard, a professor at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, also said reconciliation between moderate and conservative Baptists is unlikely. He urged Baptists to seek unity by returning to a "voluntary society" approach to missions and ministry that would allow churches to work together on selected shared interests.

But Luther Copeland, a former Southern Baptist missionary, expressed doubt that most Baptists are interested in transcending differences. "The fundamentalists already have a cohesiveness which they find in their southern culture and don't see much need to work with others," he said. "Even among moderates, I don't see them wanting to work ecumenically."

The colloquium was sponsored by the host church, the Alliance of Baptists, the American Baptist Board of National Ministries, the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, the American Baptist Historical Society and the William H. Whitsitt Baptist Heritage Society.

COPYRIGHT 1996 The Christian Century Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Source: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_n2_v113/ai_17864209

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain

American Baptists cutting staff, but 'not collapsing,' says Medley






Date: 10/11/2005

By John Pierce

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) -- The American Baptist Churches USA is shutting down its communications department -- the latest step in budget cuts and restructuring brought on by declining funds and theological division in the denominational group.

Although the ABC national office is experiencing funding losses due to divisions over homosexuality, the venerable denominational group, based in Valley Forge, Pa. is not collapsing, said Roy Medley, ABC general secretary.

Richard Schramm, spokesman for the 1.5 million-member denomination since 1996, will leave his position Oct. 31, along with an associate director and a media assistant in the office of communication. Schramm will serve as a consultant to the ABC.

Medley said the cuts were based on recommendations from consultants McConkey and Johnston and resulted in the merger of two divisions -- communications and missions/stewardship development.

"We have formed a new division called mission resource development," said Medley. "This new entity will be responsible for communicating the ABC story effectively with our family and the larger church as well."

Medley said the restructuring is similar to what the Baptist World Alliance did following the withdrawal of funding from the Southern Baptist Convention. The new effort, he said, will focus on electronic communication.

Tensions over the issue of homosexuality have come to a head in recent months in the ABC, which counts 5,836 churches. Although the group adopted a resolution opposing homosexual conduct in 1992, many conservatives in the denomination have complained ABC leaders have done little to "enforce" it on the denomination's agencies or congregations.

In September, directors of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest, which includes Southern California, initiated the process of separating from the denomination by the end of the year. While some other regional bodies of American Baptists still debate the issue, the full impact of the controversy remains undetermined.

Regional fellowships are the channel through which local congregations relate to the national body, known earlier as the Northern Baptist Convention. In recent years, several gay-friendly churches have been expelled from some of those regional bodies.

But Medley said talk of the ABC's demise is unfounded.

"Some of the headlines, like in a Christian Century web article, which speak of a stampede are just untrue," said Medley. "At our biennial meeting, which was held in Denver this past year, two-thirds to three-fourths of the delegates clearly expressed their commitment to remaining united through this time of dissension."

[What about the people who weren't there? If you only get the party regulars, you don't get the real pulse. This is looking in the mirror to take a poll! What a failure of logic!]

Medley said he and Pacific Southwest executive minister Dale Salico have sought to avoid "an atmosphere of charge-countercharge" in the media. "We have consistently communicated to PSW that it is not our wish that they withdraw from the covenant of relationships," said Medley. "Our polity grants them the freedom to order their life as a region as they choose, as it does other regions."

Often the press does not understand a church structure that is not hierarchical, said Medley, and that the rights and privileges of local congregations can never be usurped by an over-reaching General Board or general secretary.

"I have consistently stressed that the inability of the General Board to impose any resolution upon our member churches is not a flaw in our system," said Medley, "but was an intentional design in the denomination."

[No, the flaw is the lack of a robust and significant statement of faith.]

Despite dealing with significant fallout over the homosexuality controversy, the ABC has adopted a new mission statement, Medley said. He added that American Baptists are "energized" by growing relationships with other groups such as the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Church of the Brethren.

"ABC is not collapsing," said Medley. "Our mission focus and call are clear. We intend to focus on them like a laser beam."

- This article includes information from Rob Marus.

Yes, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...

Source: http://www.abpnews.com/news/news_detail.cfm?NEWS_ID=974

Hats off to the American Baptist Men of West Virginia

Mid-Ohio Valley answers the call for Hurricane Katrina relief

By MELINA HUDDY

PARKERSBURG - West Virginians are generous givers, a sentiment shared by leaders of area congregations participating in Katrina relief efforts.

Christians of all denominations from churches large and small answered the call with goods, services, volunteers and financial support that will continue for months to come.

Churches of Christ met in the aftermath of the storm and decided to offer the community a way to help support people forced from their homes and communities.

''We spoke with the managers of the Vienna Wal-Mart who agreed to let us set up in their lot. Bob Frazier of Atlas Trucking donated the semi trailers and within four-and-a-half days we had filled that truck with 70,000 pounds of supplies,'' said Teddy Tackett, with Lynn Street Church of Christ who worked with John Spivey of the Grand Central Church of Christ on the project.

''The community support was phenomenal. I have never been a part of anything like it, to watch the people come forward, some with as little as a bar of soap, some with money for the gas to get the truck there," he said. "The people of this valley have great heart.''

Water, paper products, cleaning supplies and baby items were dropped off at the collection site. Word quickly spread and as far away as Pennsylvania where wives of the Pittsburgh Pirates sent five baby beds and cases of baby food to be loaded on the truck.

The truck was driven by John Fordyce and his brother to Gulfport, Miss., where the Orange Grove Church of Christ established a drive-through distribution center.

John and Chris Fordyce had taken a truck to Baton Rouge, La., the week before in a combined effort of Beechwood Presbyterian, Cornerstone Gospel and Holy Mountain Ministries churches.

''We set up a number of collection sites and there was huge community involvement. Before we pulled out, we got a call that food and water was needed right away in Biloxi, Miss. and took 10 pallets off the trailer and loaded them on a smaller truck to be taken there, then refilled the 53-foot trailer and my husband, John, and his brother, Chris, drove it down,'' Tammy Fordyce said.

Support came from numerous sources. Noah's Ark supplied children's clothing, Criss and Martin schools held collection drives, Dollar General donated two barrels filled with items and K-mart, Hallmark and other retailers pitched in.

The local parish of United Methodist Churches filled a truck that was taken to evacuees at Camp Dawson, while the United Methodist Council on Relief donated funds to the American Red Cross.

''Many of our smaller churches cannot fill a truck and have it taken where it is needed, but they are helping fill other trucks when they find out there is one going,'' said Lisa Taylor at Parkersburg Urban Ministries. ''This is not a one-time thing, but an ongoing relief effort that will continue into the foreseeable future. For instance, Zion Baptist is collecting items right now and will add them to the next load they hear of leaving.''

The West Virginia Baptist Convention headquartered in Parkersburg has coordinated efforts of its churches to collect health kits with more than 2,000 already delivered and another 2,000 ready to be sent.

''The American Baptist Men's disaster relief team was deployed two-and-a-half weeks ago. Twenty-four men went to Wiggins, Miss., just north of Gulf Port, where they worked clearing trees and minor home repairs. Those men returned last week and 28 others went to relieve them,'' said John Simmons, minister of mission support for the conference. ''We expect to continue rotating workers in that are for at least three months. Those volunteers are supported because of the generosity of our people, it costs about $100 per man per week to keep them there.''

The conference offered its camp and conference center as emergency shelter for evacuees, though the facilities were not needed at this time, they remain on the primary list through Homeland Security as emergency relief in West Virginia.

''Several of our people have visited evacuees at Camp Dawson and provided, either as congregations or as individuals, a number of goods and services. West Virginians give because they know what it is to need, whether it's a toy for a child or counseling for the grieving,'' Simmons said. ''Parkersburg churches have put together hundreds of those health kits and at least two of our local churches, Williamstown and North Parkersburg, are taking groups down to assist in relief efforts.''

Financial support has come in all amounts and from numerous sources.

''We had children come to us with a handful of change from their banks and those donations meant as much as the thousands given by congregations because it means doing all that you can,'' Tackett said.

The Camden Avenue Church of Christ sent a check for $17,000 to support relief efforts in Tyler, Texas, where Jay Lockhart, a Parkersburg native who grew up in the church, preaches in a Church of Christ. The Belpre Church of Christ sent $16,000 to the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Fund in Nashville, Tenn.

The Baptist convention's One Great Hour of Sharing offering resulted in donations of $120,000 in West Virginia alone.

''There was $30,000 donated for relief efforts here in West Virginia and another $50,000 donated that should be received in the next few days. We have contacted the executive minister of southern American Baptist Churches and offered to help rebuild churches as they move into the reconstruction phase, still in the early stages of planning,'' Simmons said.

All agree that efforts will continue for months to come and that any contribution, large or small, will help rebuild the lives of those displaced by what is being called the worst natural disaster in American history.

Source: http://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/story/109202005_new02_katrinachurches100905.asp

An Open Letter to My Church

An open letter to my church, First Baptist of Temple City, CA:


My dear church family:

As I write this, the denomination our church has been a part of since its founding in 1941 is in the midst of the severest trial in generations. Our region, the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest, is in the process of separation from the American Baptist Churches USA.

This action was not taken rashly or rapidly. Over the course of many years, we have treasured the ethnic, racial and geographic diversity of the ABC. Yet many of us have been troubled by the theological diversity within the denomination. This is not merely diversity on unimportant matters, but on core issues such as the nature of God, the how a person is made right with God, and the meaning of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.

The evangelical majority of the denomination, for many years, tolerated this diversity because of our polity. That may be a new term for you so let me explain. Polity refers to how we are organized as a denomination. For example, the Episcopal Church has a highly structured “command” style of polity in which a bishop has great authority over clergy and churches. We have a very “loose” polity, where there is virtually no “top down” authority. We believe that Jesus rules his church by His Word and through the Holy Spirit.

This is an effective and Biblical way of doing things—so long as the word of God is centrally honored as having full authority. But when churches, pastors, theological seminaries and denominational official depart from a robust allegiance to the word of God and resort instead to personal experience, new theological trends and a theology that values acceptance and unity over God’s own revelation, crisis results.

We have reached that point of crisis. This is a personally difficult time for me. I was ordained as an American Baptist pastor in 1983. I have always been a reformer, not a separatist. I have always said, if anybody leaves, let it be the liberals! I’m staying and I’m reforming.

This reforming impulse has guided my own stance to the denomination throughout my years in pastoral ministry. Yet now my region—our region—is taking steps to separate from the denomination I have sought to reform for all these years.

What has become apparent to me is that the American Baptist Churches USA has failed as an effective organization for mission and evangelism due to a fatal flaw in its polity. Lacking a clear, binding, Biblical confession of faith has opened the door to churches, regions and denominational officials who will not affirm basic standards of Biblical doctrine and morality based on our polity.

Let me say again, that I believe that our basic polity is good, solid and Biblical. But it must be coupled with a clear allegiance to the authority of the Scriptures. We need a confession of faith that is binding on the institutions that seek to be a part. That would include churches, pastors, and institutions such as seminaries.

Being “non-creedal”, however, is the one creed that those in authority in ABC/USA can agree on. There appears be no possibility of changing that. Therefore, I support the decision of the Region Board to begin a process of separation from ABC/USA.

If you read press accounts of this, they will say that the “split” is all about homosexuality. This is about 10% correct. It is like the 10% of an iceberg that is above water. Below water is the bigger issue of the authority of Scripture. Will we take a stand for the Word of God in an area in which it speaks with uncomfortable clarity and in which it speaks with a voice that is radically different from the voice of modern culture? We must say with Peter—we must obey God, not man.

The next few months will reshape our region in ways that I cannot predict. And the next few years will reshape Baptists in the United States in ways I cannot foresee.

But I want to offer some hope, and an opinion.

First of all, many, many American Baptists across the country are with us in the Pacific Southwest. The theological heart of the America Baptist churches is where ours is. I saw this dramatically at the conference I attended at Northern Seminary in Chicago in September, as pastors and leaders literally from Maine to California gathered to seek God about the future.

We are far from alone, here in the Pacific Southwest. I believe that will lead to many other regions following our lead and separating from ABC/USA to create a new movement of theologically sound and mission focused Baptist followers of Jesus. Further, I believe that this “new movement” (it really doesn’t have a name yet) will within a few years include up to 70% of the current ABC/USA.

This new movement will then be in a position to evangelize, plant churches and send missionaries without the baggage of a crippling theology dragging us down.

I am convinced that the net effect with be to the benefit of the kingdom of God.

Please be very much in prayer for the times we are in.

God, grant us wisdom! Keep us humble so we can hear you, and so that we don’t let human anger or ambition interfere with the new chapter You are opening.

Yours in Jesus,

-Pastor Glenn

And Now For Something Completely Different

This is the story from a "hard-right" perspective. Since we all engage in a mental error called the fallicy of the false center--we tend to believe that we are at the dead even point of reason--perhaps the tone of this reportage will serve to remind all that (1) there are most certainly "heresies of the right" (especially legalism) and (2) the position of the PSW and its allies really are pretty much in the theological center. I say that as a mere PSW pastor, not as a spokesperson for PSW.

BAPTISTS SPLIT OVER HOMOSEXUALITY

By J. Grant Swank, Jr.MichNews.com
Oct 6, 2005

Now the disease has spread. It’s come to the Bible-oriented Baptists. Not the Southern Baptist Convention but to the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA).

The biblically moored won’t spend any more time and energy battling the issue. They are leaving in order to witness consistently to the Bible as divine revelation. That Book states emphatically God’s abhorrence for homosexual activity.

The more lenient Baptists within ABCUSA are willing to let each congregation decide for itself what to do about homosexuality. Each Baptist congregation already is autonomous and always has been. That’s the polity tradition within that denomination. No overarching organization can tell a local congregation what to do on any measure. It’s all up to the locals as to what goes on, where money is spent, what ethical positions to take, and so forth.

With all the dialogue on the homosexual issue, there are those Baptist churches who have concluded it’s time to wrap things up. Their main concern is maintaining allegiance to the Bible, not simply fighting over homosexual lifestyles. They see it as not regarding the Bible as fully the Word of God, by faith receiving the Bible as the Book one must not add to nor subtract from, as the Book itself warns.

Looking at other denominations that have kept up the internal battle — wasting time and energy when God has already spoken in His revelation — the exiting Baptists have concluded they have more divinely appointed missions to see through. One is preaching salvation through Jesus Christ. Another is teaching the Bible to the constituents. Still another is keeping on top of world missions outreach.

All such church programs suffer when a denomination battles daily long and hard over the homosexual issue. Instead of living out the prime call of God, the denomination mires down in an evil that should have been settled by researching and regarding the Bible. Instead, theological liberalism takes scissors to the Bible, cutting out what they consider inconvenient. That leaves the Bible accommodating to their conclusions, many times permitting outright sin.

Those aligned with the Bible as divine revelation have no patience with such apostasy; therefore, for the Bible-aligned Baptists, time is up. It’s now a move out. So they are leaving, hundreds of local congregations. They are making it known that they can no longer fellowship with so-called Baptists who compromise the ethics of Scripture. They cannot continue to meet with so-called Baptist who no longer believe in the deity of Jesus, the Trinity, the sanctity of the Bible and the morality base of traditional biblical understanding.
Various regions of Baptist congregations are leaving or have already left. "Gay-affirming congregations" have set up the battle lines. There is one such church near me in Portland, Maine. They have brought much contention to other local congregations by being unyielding in their persistence to welcome practicing homosexuals into their sanctuary as well as encourage their activity by saying it is a divine blessing. This has irritated long-time members who reason their church has been stolen from them by theological apostates. It can lead to much hurt, dissension and finally splits.

The biblically moored Baptists are saying that they are no longer going to tolerate the hurt, the dissention, the arguing and the unreasonableness of the theological liberals. Therefore, they are leaving to continue God’s mission unhindered. They will not permit the evil. They call sin "sin" and move onto the righteous life proclaimed as the gospel of Jesus Christ. Serving God by declaring redeeming grace to the repentant is why these Baptists worship, not to heatedly debate constantly a wicked trend they perceive as instigated by Satan.

Bill Nicoson, executive director, American Baptist Evangelicals (ABE), has led the breakaways. The endeavor dates back 13 years and now is becoming increasingly vocal and forceful. Again, he states that it’s not only the issue of homosexual practice but whether or not the Bible is taking seriously as divine revelation.

[As a friend of Bill's I'm sure he would reject the characterization that he is the leader of the "breakaways". If he is, he is a most reluctant revolutionary. The only person I know involved in all more reluctant is Dale Salico Exec of PSW, a man of gentle and gracious spirit above all.]

ABE president Scott Gibson, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary professor of preaching, is gearing up to create the breakaways into an actual denomination. The new group could include over 2,000 local congregations.

[Full disclosure again: I have known Scott for 25 years. (We went to seminary together.) Again, he is man of reserve and caution--not a "fightin' fundy."]

Remember all: your humble blogger is just a pastor with a Blog. I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet. The people who are leading the way toward a more historic, confessional Baptist movement for the American Baptists who've just had it up to here with false teaching, poorly placed priorities, and misuse of office are, I readily admit, better people than I. Above all, they are not hotheads, but people deeply saddened by the decline and death of a once great denomination, and are determined to break through to a higher place of ministry and mission than ever before, under the Lordship of Jesus and the authority of the Word of God.

Source: http://www.michnews.com/artman/publish/article_9785.shtml