ABC of the West to Become "Growing Heathly Churches"; Other ABC Leaders Deride Decision

As reported last week here, ABC of the West is de-denominationalizing its moniker. "Growing Healthy Churches" sounds more like a parachurch organization--which is, after all, what all denominations are any way. Equally interesting is the well, snide, response of Chicago's Larry Greenfield. Who's the status quo figure here? Borden or Greenfield? It fascinates me what conservative liberals can be.

American Baptist region renamed 'Growing Healthy Churches'

In recent decades, a congregation seeking unchurched members has often called itself a "center" or "fellowship" instead of a "church." It may also drop the name of the locality for a bucolic name like "Mountain View," and may erase the denominational identity from its name.

Now, as of January 1, the American Baptist Churches of the West, based in the northern California city of San Ramon, wants to be known as Growing Healthy Churches, or GHC for short.The decision stems partly from the ongoing struggle over homosexuality and local church autonomy in the denomination. Some ABC of the West congregations "find it difficult to be identified with a denomination that will not affirm biblical standards," the region's executive minister, Paul D. Borden, wrote to pastors November 30.

The denomination's General Board in mid-November voted 59-45 with five abstentions to add to a document "We Are American Baptists" a phrase affirming that sexual intimacy belongs in a heterosexual marriage and that homosexual practice is incompatible with biblical teaching. However, Borden and other conservative evangelicals are unhappy with denominational leaders who—on the grounds of traditional Baptist respect for local autonomy—have declined to adopt more punitive steps against clergy, congregations and associations deemed to be more permissive.

The adoption of the name Growing Healthy Churches "is a move to reflect more accurately who we are as well as losing any negative baggage that may be detrimental to the accomplishment of a mission," Borden wrote.In an "amused and deeply troubled" response, Larry Greenfield, interim executive director of the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago, wrote that he was amused by the implication that "the rest of us" are not committed to biblical standards when the GHC has "so radically reduced the Bible's message to something small and worldly."

http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=1598

No, This is Not a Parody

Live in suburban Philadelphia? No? Well, I don't either. If if you do, you wouldn't want to miss this inspiring event:

Main Line Unitarian Church and the Pagan Arts Initiative present a Winter Solstice Celebration in Song at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17. The event features the Spiral Song Feminist Vocal Ensemble and Delaware Valley Pagan Network’s spiritual community.The church is located at 816 Valley Forge Road, Devon. Admission is $10; $8 for church members; and $4 for senior citizens and children. Call 610-688-8332.

Source: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15766193&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17780&rfi=6

Never Ever Trust Anyone Who Doesn't Believe in Original Sin

I was musing the other day that one should never, ever trust anyone who doesn't believe in original sin--in human depravity. A strange thought? Let me explain.

Take the other side: rejecting original sin, we have to conclude that human nature is perfectible, or some approximation thereof. Therefore, the common state of the human soul is on the road to that better state. We are on the way to Nirvana (I mean that in the colloquial sense, not as it's meant in Hindu).

It is interesting that Islam rejects the idea of original sin. With that rejection comes a superficial understanding of the nature of sin, as well as the Islamic version of Utopianism. Islamic eschatology calls for the Islamization of the world--Muslim post-millenialism. Jihad can be used to achieve to that world-wide Islamization. There is an interior logic in Islam that make bin Ladin's way a viable option that is utterly absent from Biblical Christianity.

Liberal humanism also rejects original sin. As the apex of evolution, we, the human animal, are moving upward. This creates a terrible naivete'. This is exacerbated by the deep infection of Marxist ideas in western liberalism--ideas which are often expressed unconsciously.

To again to use the war on terror as an illustration, the liberal humanism's angst over what have we done to provoke the 911 attacks as well as over the prophylactic attack on Iraq is also derived from a rejection of the doctrine of human original sin. Capitalist America (here's the Marxist element) shares a portion, perhaps a majority, of the blame for the "desperate masses" rising up again the Great Satan. Liberals pains over Pres. Bush refering to the Axis of Evil arises less from a sense of disporpotionality as over the very concept of evil.

Iraq, we are told, was undeserving of attack since Sadaam was reforming and the UN (the cathedral of liberal humanism) would see to it that Iraq would shake off its despotism, which after all, was nothing but a part of the legacy of colonialism (if you can't blame the US, at least blame Great Britain).

A conviction held by virtually all conservatives (religious or not) is that the human soul is a deeply polluted well. This conviction leads to modest expectations as to what the state can and cannot do. To the extent that state alters the chemistry of the human soul, it's nearly always to make it worst. Apart from national defense, the conservative soul is nearly libertarian: that government governs best which governs least. That dictum saves us from much foolishness. Trust the person who knows that human beings are never angels, and prepares accordingly. But never trust anyone who doesn't take sin seriously, very seriously.

PSW Sets Date for Separation Vote

This was released today. Note that a date has been set for the vote--April 29 at FBC Pomona, a flagship church of the region.

The region continues to consider new names for the region. ABC of the West is reported to be on the verge of changing its name to Growing Healthy Churches which sounds like the name of a parachurch organization. The de-denominationalization of the evangelical majority of the ABC has begun.


December 14, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the strong name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On December 8, 2005, the Board of Directors of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest unanimously approved the following resolution:

The American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest Board of Directors recommends that the Region withdraw from the Covenant of Relationships of the American Baptist Churches USA.

Therefore, the Board of Directors calls for a Special Meeting of delegates from the churches. (Specific date to be confirmed the week of December 12, 2005) The purpose of this meeting of delegates from the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest churches is for the Board to receive an expression of the will of the delegates to provide the Board with the guidance and input it needs to make a responsible and informed decision on withdrawing from the Covenant of Relationships of the American Baptist Churches USA.

The Meeting of Delegates from the Churches of the Region has been set for April 29, 2006 at First Baptist Church, Pomona. Registration will begin at 9:30 AM. In addition to a main site, we will offer satellite sites, connected by telephone to enable those in the most distant parts of the Region to participate in this important meeting.

For the past three months the Region’s Executive Committee has studied the implications and ramifications of withdrawal from the Covenant of Agreements. Study included:
· Attempts to reach a resolution with the ABCUSA;
· Negotiation regarding future cooperation with ABC Covenant Partners if the region withdrew from the Covenant of Relationships;
· Obstacles that could hinder us in pursuing the Vision of the Region;
· Strategies to overcome those obstacles;
· The future of the Region as an autonomous mission agency.

On December 7 the Executive Committee met with a delegation from the ABC General Executive Council (GEC) in a final attempt to avoid withdrawal. While the Executive Ministers in the delegation communicated a strong desire for the Region to remain in Covenant, they had been given no substantive proposals for resolution by the GEC or the Office of the General Secretary. The ABCPSW Executive Committee therefore reported to the Region Board of Directors, “Nothing we have heard or discovered leads us to change direction or stop the process of withdrawal from the Covenant of Relationships.”

Delegates from every cooperating church in the ABCPSW will be entitled to vote at this important meeting. The number of delegates to which a church is entitled is based on its membership and mission giving, as determined by a formula in the Region Bylaws. The minimum number of delegates for a congregation is five (5). After the first of the year we will write to each church indicating the number of delegates to which it is entitled.

Deep differences of theological convictions and values between the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest and the American Baptist Churches in the USA have brought increasing strain on the relationship of the churches of the Region and the ABCUSA for many years. The Board of Directors is grieved that these differences have not been resolved.

The decision to recommend withdrawal from the Covenant of Relationships was made without animosity or malice. We continue to affirm that American Baptists are our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we love and respect. The withdrawal of the ABCPSW from the Covenant of Relationships will place some distance between the Region and the ABCUSA that will clarify the distinctiveness of these ministries, enabling both to carry out their respective missions.

We continue to ask the churches of the ABCPSW to observe the last Friday of every month as a time for prayer and fasting until the decision is finalized. Specifically, pray that the Lord will guide congregations and protect their unity as they discuss the issues before us and decide how their delegates will vote. Seek the Lord’s guidance for the future of the ABCPSW including our mission and our relationships with other parts of the body of Christ. If we are to honor Christ we need His Spirit to humble, cleanse, and empower us to recognize and accomplish His will in these challenging days. Pray that the Lord will use us to change our worlds for Christ!

May God bless you as you serve the King of Kings,

Sincerely,

Dr. Dale V. Salico
Executive Minister

Brian Scrivens
President

Source: http://www.abcpsw.com/

McFadden Blasts Medley in ABC Meltdown

Dennis McFadden posted this open letter to Roy Medley today at www.hisbarkingdog.blogpsot.com:

“Because schism in the church is grievous to our Lord, we have done—and will continue to do—everything we can to maintain the unity of the Body of Christ, which is so clearly taught in scripture,” Medley emphasized. (ABCUSA press release, 12/14/05)

Dear Dr. Medley,

With all due respect, Mr. General Secretary, you have not spoken the truth. Not only have you NOT done "everything [you] can" to maintain unity in the ABC, you have only made the problem worse and more intractable by some of the actions you have undertaken to do.

1. Your message at the Denver Biennial offered you a golden opportunity to extend an olive branch to those yearning for a return to biblical authority as a governing distinctive in the corporate life of the ABC. Instead you began with what has sadly become your signature approach to this topic: On the one hand I hold a certain view personally, BUT on the other hand I want to credit, accredit, and contribute my prestige to defending the opposite viewpoint.

You certainly don't have the same problem speaking univocally on any number of other topics, including some which have more American Baptists in the dissenting group than this one. You don't go out of your way to show support for those who for reasons of conscientious interpretation take a complementarian rather than an egalitarian view of male-female roles. Nor to you jump to the defense of those American Baptists who tend to be more supportive of the Bush administration on issues of national and international policy. My point is not to advocate for either of those views, merely to note that our polity has not prevented you from speaking with prophetic clarity on the topics.

Your bully pulpit works quite well on any number of controversial and even divisive issues, just not this one dealing with human sexuality. Why doesn't our polity prevent your prophetic pronouncements on the other areas where sincere sisters and brothers disagree? Rather than doing "everything" you could to bring peace, you were widely interpreted as insulting the very people you claimed to want to reach out to in your message.

2. Your visits to the PSW did not do "everything [you could]" to promote unity or reconciliation in any way. Instead, while they served to continue humanizing the image of Roy Medley the man (let me stipulate that we all agree that you are a gentle, genial, and caring pastor), it reinforced the worst stereotypes of Dr. Medley the General Secretary. At the September meeting in Covina, hundreds of pastors and church leaders spoke to you--respectfully, yet firmly--without receiving anything in reply but a rehearsal of the party line about "our polity prevents us from doing anything."

The meetings in the San Diego area, Redlands, and Pasadena offered you another wonderful chance to appeal directly to the church leaders. Along with your colleagues from National Ministries, International Ministries, MMBB, and your own deputy for regional relationships, you might have adjusted your presentation to take into account the reasons for the signal failure of the Covina gathering. Instead of doing "everything" you could, you served up more of the same tired and worn lines which had been aired with such a disastrous outcome in Covina.

Finally, the GEC delegation claimed to have discharged their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. As the authors of the report concluded: "We feel satisfied that we have done everything humanly possible to challenge and persuade PSW to reexamine their present course."

What they did, according to numerous eye witness reports, was to try to identify with some of the concerns of PSW, suggest that others in the denomination felt similarly, and that therefore the region should continue to stay the course within the "family." What they did NOT do was to offer even a shred of hope that attitudes in the GEC had changed such that PSW concerns would be addressed and acted upon in the near term. Indeed, Dr. Salico's oft-stated comment seems the more realistic evaluation. He opines: "It is neither biblical nor ethical to play 'let's pretend' when God calls us to lead."

3. Final, Dr. Medley, you have failed to do "everything" you could to resolve this schism-threatening situation because you have not done the least you should have done: spoken forth a clear and biblical message as the standard. Our ordination vows called upon us to be faithful to attending to the Word of God in our private devotions and in our public declarations.

Without first speaking forth a "Thus saith the Lord," attempts to make excuses clothed in the garb of "soul competency" only serve to vitiate the content of the Gospel. What stands at the end of the day is not a clear moral standard about which we may have some differences in application. Instead, we end up with a defense for believing and doing just about any fool thing we want to, all in the name of a revisionist interpretation of soul liberty. This strips the treasured Baptist distinctive of any meaningful and univocal biblical content. Rather than describing how Baptists work out the implications of sola scriptura, soul competency becomes an "on the other hand" value pitted against biblical authority in some sort of relativistic calculus.

Sir, I was an early supporter of your administration, have prayed for you (and still do), enjoyed the privilege of speaking many of these ideas to you directly and privately, and still hope that you will do the "everything" you can to prevent disaster. But, after watching events unfold during the past eighteen months, it is clear that not only have you not done "everything" you can, you have still to do the least you can.

Fondly but sadly,Dennis E. McFadden

[Only speaking for myself, not for any PSW entity; just about as likely to be official as Paul Crouch is to be a keynote speaker at a R.C. Sproul national conference]

Valley Forge Continues Flight From Reality in Understanding the PSW

What drives Valley Forge to continue to live in such pathetic denial of reality? In VF land, everyone does what is right in their own eyes, unity is more important than truth and those who stand with Scripture are schismatics. Particularly absurb statements are bolded.

ABC LEADERS EXPRESS REGRET, CONCERN OVER PSW RECOMMENDATION

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS)—American Baptist leaders have responded with profound regret and concern over the recommendation issued on Dec. 8 by the Board of Directors of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest to withdraw that region from the denomination’s Covenant of Relationships.
A regional meeting of its churches to advise the leadership is tentatively scheduled in May 2006. After that meeting, the Board will make its final decision. If approved, the recommended action would effectively remove the region from a formal relationship with the American Baptist Churches in the USA.

“American Baptists are deeply disappointed at the decision of the leadership of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest to recommend a break-away from the denomination,” General Secretary Dr. A. Roy Medley said today.

The conflict American Baptists find themselves in is sometimes described as a liberal/conservative division over the issue of homosexuality. In reality, American Baptist statements on human sexuality and marriage have consistently been conservative, evangelical and traditional. We all hold biblical authority as primary for Christian discipleship and church life—but we have always respected dissent in interpretation.

When the proposal was first made to break Covenant, one of the region’s own Board members wrote, “ I voted against withdrawing from the ABCUSA because I do not agree with the idea of requiring uniformity in the matter of interpretation of scripture, in this case, in the area of human sexuality. If there is one principle that drew me to become an American Baptist, it was the belief that each person can read the Bible and form his or her own conclusions without any imposition from others. As Baptists, we agree on a number of central Bible doctrines but still affirm the freedom of each individual to interpret scripture for himself or herself, under the leading of the Holy Spirit.”

Even though Baptist churches have been organized in America from the 1600s until the present, it wasn’t until 1907 that the Northern Baptist Convention, now American Baptist Churches in the USA, was formed. In structuring a national denomination, these Baptists were careful to safeguard the primacy of the local church so that the national body could not usurp the rights and privileges of the local congregation to exercise authority over them. These basic principles were derived from the Bible and represented early Baptist desire to properly reflect the New Testament teaching concerning the nature of the church. The principle of the primacy and autonomy of the local church is reflected in the name—the denomination is not the American Baptist Church—it is the American Baptist Churches.

Whoa there--what we are dealing with is the unwillingness of VF to stand with Scripture as well as a majority of the churches.

“Because schism in the church is grievous to our Lord, we have done—and will continue to do—everything we can to maintain the unity of the Body of Christ, which is so clearly taught in scripture,” Medley emphasized.

In order to clearly understand the concerns of the Pacific Southwest, and in the hope of maintaining the desired unity of Christ’s Body, many national and regional officers and staff have devoted extensive energy, time, resources and prayer in continuing dialogue with the region. In addition to previous visits by the President, the General Secretary, and the National Executive Council, Dr. Dale V. Salico, Executive Minister of the Pacific Southwest, has had multiple opportunities to speak to the concerns of the region, including meetings with the Regional Executive Ministers Council, the General Board Executive Committee, and the full General Board—the denomination’s governing body.

Am I the only sick of that word--dialogue. Let me translate it for you. Dialogue is when liberals talk an issue to death until conservatives cave.

One result of these meetings was a decision by the General Executive Council to send a delegation to meet with the appropriate leadership groups of the region. Dr. Alfred Fletcher of the American Baptist Churches of Maine and Dr. Desmond Hoffmeister of the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains, were appointed and made themselves available for whatever meetings would be most helpful to the region leadership. They spent six hours of discussion with the five-member Executive Committee. There was a meeting of the full Board that followed, to which the two Executive Ministers were not invited.

Fletcher and Hoffmeister, in their meeting with the Executive Committee, expressed the deep care and concern of all mission partners in the denomination toward what, for over 100 years, has been one of the strongest regions in the denomination. They reported: “We made a pastoral and passionate appeal on behalf of the GEC for PSW to remain at the ABCUSA table. We challenged some of their assumptions, were surprised by some of their assertions, and they were surprised by some of the information that we shared. They were encouraged by the fact that we represented all the covenanting partners. Notwithstanding the positive tone of the meeting, we left feeling that it will take a monumental effort to reverse the advanced and propelling momentum of their intended process.”

If the region withdraws, it will assume control of the disbursement of mission money historically given by the churches in support of American Baptist missions. In 2004, that amount was over $2.9 million. At the same time, as the region is distancing itself from the denomination and expressing the intent to formally break covenant, the Pacific Southwest is negotiating ways to continue doing ministry with American Baptists—specifically the pension/benefit and mission boards of the denomination.

In the final analysis, each of the 300 churches in the Pacific Southwest will make its own decision regarding its continuing relationship with ABCUSA. Each church—in the Baptist way of decision making—will have the opportunity to choose for itself.

“Regardless of the region’s decision, there will be a continuing American Baptist presence in southern California,” Medley said. “Every effort will be made to enable and support churches wishing to remain in covenant with us.”
In addition, Medley stated, “The Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society, one of the most racially and ethnically diverse evangelical mission organizations in the nation, is a cooperating American Baptist region, and has given us assurances through its Executive Minister, Dr. Samuel Chetti, that it will stay at the table.”

Get the hint: PSW is run by a bunch of racists!

In reflecting upon his visit to southern California, Fletcher said, “Hope keeps bringing us back.”

Medley added, “And in that hope we press on.”

Polly Toynbee, Like Queen Jadis, Hates Aslan

God love her (despite herself), Polly Toybee must be the long lost great-great granddaughter of an unrepentant Ebenezer Scrooge. Here is her windbag of old humanist objections to Christianity disguished as a cultural review of "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" in its insufferable entirety. FYI: she has a history of columns that spew pure venom on believers of any sort.

'Narnia represents everything that is most hateful about religion'

Children won't get the Christian subtext, but unbelievers should keep a sickbag handy during Disney's new epic, writes Polly Toynbee

Monday December 5, 2005

Aslan the lion shakes his mighty mane and roars out across Narnia and eternity. Christ is risen! However, not many British children these days will get the message. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe opens this week to take up the mantle left by The Lord of the Rings. CS Lewis's seven children's books, The Chronicles of Narnia, will be with us now and for many Christmases to come. Only Harry Potter has outsold these well-loved books' 85 million copies.

How suitable that one fantasy saga should follow on from the other, despite the immense difference between the writings and magic worlds of these two old Oxford dons. It was JRR Tolkien who converted CS Lewis to Christianity during one long all-night walk that ended in dawn and revelation. Narnia is a strange blend of magic, myth and Christianity, some of it brilliantly fantastical and richly imaginative, some (the clunking allegory) toe-curlingly, cringingly awful.
This new Disney film is a remarkably faithful rendition of the book - faithful in both senses. It is beautiful to look at and wonderfully acted. The four English children and their world are all authentically CS Lewis olde England. But from its opening scenes of the bombing of their Finchley home in the blitz and the tear-jerking evacuation from their mother in a (spotlessly clean) steam train, there is an emotional undertow to this film that tugs on the heart-strings from the first frames. By the end, it feels profoundly manipulative, as Disney usually does. But then, that is also deeply faithful to the book's own arm-twisting emotional call to believers.

Disney is deliberately promoting this film to the religious - it has appointed Outreach, an evangelical publisher, to promote the Christian message behind the movie in British churches. The Christian radio station Premier is urging churches to hold services on the theme of The Gospel According to Narnia. Even the Methodists have written a special Narnia-themed service. And a Kent parish is giving away £10,000 worth of film tickets to single-parent families. (Are the children of single mothers in special need of the word?)

US born-agains are using the movie. The Mission America Coalition is "inviting church leaders around the country to consider the fantastic ministry opportunity presented by the release of this film". The president's brother, Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida, is organising a scheme for every child in his state to read the book. Walden Media, co-producer of the movie, offers a "17-week Narnia Bible study for children". The owner of Walden Media is both a big Republican donor and a donor to the Florida governor's book promotion - a neat synergy of politics, religion and product placement. It has aroused protests from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which complains that "a governmental endorsement of the book's religious message is in violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution".

Disney may come to regret this alliance with Christians, at least on this side of the Atlantic. For all the enthusiasm of the churches, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ bombed in Britain and warehouses are stuffed with unsold DVDs of that stomach-churner. There are too few practising Christians in the empty pews of this most secular nation to pack cinemas. So there has been a queasy ambivalence about how to sell the Narnia film here. Its director, Andrew Adamson (of Shrek fame), says the movie's Christian themes are "open to the audience to interpret". One soundtrack album of the film has been released with religious music, the other with secular pop.

Most British children will be utterly clueless about any message beyond the age-old mythic battle between good and evil. Most of the fairy story works as well as any Norse saga, pagan legend or modern fantasy, so only the minority who are familiar with Christian iconography will see Jesus in the lion. After all, 43% of people in Britain in a recent poll couldn't say what Easter celebrated. Among the young - apart from those in faith schools - that number must be considerably higher. Ask art galleries: they now have to write the story of every religious painting on the label as people no longer know what "agony in the garden", "deposition", "transfiguration" or "ascension" mean. This may be regrettable cultural ignorance, but it means Aslan will stay just a lion to most movie-goers.

All the same, children may puzzle over the lion and ask embarrassing questions. For non-CS Lewis aficionados, here is a recap. The four children enter Narnia through a wardrobe and find themselves in a land frozen into "always winter, never Christmas" by the white witch, (played with elemental force by Tilda Swinton). Unhappy middle child Edmund, resentful of being bossed about by his older brother, broods with meanness and misery. The devil, in the shape of the witch, tempts him: for the price of several chunks of turkish delight, rather than 30 pieces of silver, Edmund betrays his siblings and their Narnian friends.
The sins of this "son of Adam" can only be redeemed by the supreme sacrifice of Aslan. This Christ-lion willingly lays down his life, submitting himself to be bound, thrashed and humiliated by the white witch, allowing his golden mane to be cut and himself to be slaughtered on the sacrificial stone table: it cracks in sympathetic agony and his body goes missing. The two girls lay down their heads and weep, Magdalene and Mary-like. Be warned, the film lingers long and lovingly over all this.

But so far, so good. The story makes sense. The lion exchanging his life for Edmund's is the sort of thing Arthurian legends are made of. Parfait knights and heroes in prisoner-of-war camps do it all the time. But what's this? After a long, dark night of the soul and women's weeping, the lion is suddenly alive again. Why? How?, my children used to ask. Well, it is hard to say why. It does not make any more sense in CS Lewis's tale than in the gospels. Ah, Aslan explains, it is the "deep magic", where pure sacrifice alone vanquishes death.
Of all the elements of Christianity, the most repugnant is the notion of the Christ who took our sins upon himself and sacrificed his body in agony to save our souls. Did we ask him to? Poor child Edmund, to blame for everything, must bear the full weight of a guilt only Christians know how to inflict, with a twisted knife to the heart. Every one of those thorns, the nuns used to tell my mother, is hammered into Jesus's holy head every day that you don't eat your greens or say your prayers when you are told. So the resurrected Aslan gives Edmund a long, life-changing talking-to high up on the rocks out of our earshot. When the poor boy comes back down with the sacred lion's breath upon him he is transformed unrecognisably into a Stepford brother, well and truly purged.

Tolkien hated Narnia: the two dons may have shared the same love of unquestioning feudal power, with worlds of obedient plebs and inferior folk eager to bend at the knee to any passing superior white persons - even children; both their fantasy worlds and their Christianity assumes that rigid hierarchy of power - lord of lords, king of kings, prince of peace to be worshipped and adored. But Tolkien disliked Lewis's bully-pulpit.

Over the years, others have had uneasy doubts about the Narnian brand of Christianity. Christ should surely be no lion (let alone with the orotund voice of Liam Neeson). He was the lamb, representing the meek of the earth, weak, poor and refusing to fight. Philip Pullman - he of the marvellously secular trilogy His Dark Materials - has called Narnia "one of the most ugly, poisonous things I have ever read".

Why? Because here in Narnia is the perfect Republican, muscular Christianity for America - that warped, distorted neo-fascist strain that thinks might is proof of right. I once heard the famous preacher Norman Vincent Peale in New York expound a sermon that reassured his wealthy congregation that they were made rich by God because they deserved it. The godly will reap earthly reward because God is on the side of the strong. This appears to be CS Lewis's view, too. In the battle at the end of the film, visually a great epic treat, the child crusaders are crowned kings and queens for no particular reason. Intellectually, the poor do not inherit Lewis's earth.

Does any of this matter? Not really. Most children will never notice. But adults who wince at the worst elements of Christian belief may need a sickbag handy for the most religiose scenes. The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw gives the film five stars and says, "There is no need for anyone to get into a PC huff about its Christian allegory." Well, here's my huff.

Lewis said he hoped the book would soften-up religious reflexes and "make it easier for children to accept Christianity when they met it later in life". Holiness drenches the Chronicles. When, in the book, the children first hear someone say, mysteriously, "Aslan is on the move", he writes: "Now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don't understand but in the dream it feels as if it had enormous meaning ..." So Lewis weaves his dreams to invade children's minds with Christian iconography that is part fairytale wonder and joy - but heavily laden with guilt, blame, sacrifice and a suffering that is dark with emotional sadism.

Children are supposed to fall in love with the hypnotic Aslan, though he is not a character: he is pure, raw, awesome power. He is an emblem for everything an atheist objects to in religion. His divine presence is a way to avoid humans taking responsibility for everything here and now on earth, where no one is watching, no one is guiding, no one is judging and there is no other place yet to come. Without an Aslan, there is no one here but ourselves to suffer for our sins, no one to redeem us but ourselves: we are obliged to settle our own disputes and do what we can. We need no holy guide books, only a very human moral compass. Everyone needs ghosts, spirits, marvels and poetic imaginings, but we can do well without an Aslan.

Methinks she doth protest too much. Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1657942,00.html

The Narnia Film: The Vision of C.S. Lewis Realized

TODAY, my day off, Lynann and I saw "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Or should I say, we saw it again.

THE SCENE in which little Lucy first discovers the wardrobe, with the light streaming in from the window on the left is one that has played in my mind for years. I have read the series four times, once in college, once shortly after seminary, and twice to my children when they were young. This is familiar territory for me. That means that four times--no, five now, I wept when Aslan laid his life down for the traitor and again at the apocalytic conclusion in "The Last Battle."

THE FILM faithfully represents the spirituality of C.S. Lewis. "Jack" Lewis (his real name was Clive Staples; no wonder his friends called him Jack) was a master of creating an alternate world to explore the realities of spirit. He did this in his Space Trilogy as well as his little masterpiece, The Great Divorce. He did not set out to write allegory, but a parallel world; some say that he was actually somewhat disappointed with the way The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe turned out: too close to allegory. His friend, J.R.R. Tolkien is said to have dislike it for that very reason. Tolkien also used Christian concepts in his writing (temptation, courage, facing death, blood sacrifice) but buried the elements far more deeply in the story. In the case of The Lion, the elements are all pretty much on the surface.

THAT REMAINS in the film version. Any child raised going to Sunday School can see it: The Lion (of Judah) lays down his life; sin requires an atoning death; He dies but is raised to life and triumphs over evil. Liam Neeson voices Aslan fully respecting the Christ-figure which Lewis created. He is (oddly enough) the most human and (most divine) figure in the film. To fail to see his night journey up to The Stone Table as both a Golgotha and a Via Dolorosa is to be either dull or Biblically ignorant--or both. Tilda Swinton nails Lewis' Jadis, the White Witch perfectly, that Satanic ability to charm, tempt, cajole and intimidate simultaneously.

IT IS GRATIFYING to see the fullness of C.S. Lewis' vision on the screen. The phrase that kept coming to mind is "fully realized." It is amazing, and a testament to the imagination and genius of Lewis that today, forty-two years after his death and nearly sixty years since Narnia first appeared. I cannot help to think that Jack would be pleased--and grateful.

"Angel Alert" Provokes Ethnic Thoughts

I just returned from "Angel Alert," our children's Christmas program (and I forgot my camera!), and thought it would make interesting reading for DD readers who think that I expound conservative evangelical Baptist theology from the confines of suburban sanctity.

I couldn't help but notice the ethnic composition of the kids. I jotted it down: 15 Asian kids, 14 Euros and 2 Hispanics--a close match to the community I serve. The San Gabriel Valley, just east of Los Angeles, is becoming an increasingly Asian community. (Our church is located 13 miles from downtown Los Angeles.) One of the great challenges we face is learning how to "do church" in such an environment. Currently, we have two "side-car" churches we share the church campus with--one is Chinese/Mandarin-speaking; the other is Kachin Burmese.

So we're developing new programming to meet the challenge: for 2006, a new Sunday morning Bible study done ESL style (we currently have about 75 people enrolled in two ESL classes) plus simutaneous translation available for at least one of our morning worship services.

The message of Christ is international. That's why Magi came to see the Messiah Child--from the beginning, the Gospel is for all nations.

And, by the way: all our wise men really were from the East. And I don't mean Pittsburgh.

Los Angeles Times Reports on PSW Separation

Region's American Baptists Seek Vote on Break With Church

Conservative leaders of 300 congregations in the Southwest are ready to bolt over homosexuality.

By Larry B. Stammer, Times Staff Writer

In a new move toward a break with their national denomination over homosexuality, conservative leaders of 300 American Baptist congregations in Southern California and elsewhere in the Pacific Southwest called Friday for an advisory vote by local churches next May on whether to leave American Baptist Churches USA.

The regional board said it was calling for a vote because it wanted the "guidance and input" of local congregations. Regardless of the vote's outcome, the board has the authority on its own to pull out of the 1.5-million member national denomination.

After two days of closed-door meetings, the regional board issued an unambiguous statement Friday that it wanted to withdraw.

"The American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest Board of Directors recommends that the region withdraw from the Covenant of Relationships of the American Baptist Churches USA," said a statement posted on the region's website. A telephone call and an e-mail seeking comment from the denomination were not answered.

American Baptist Churches USA is separate from and generally more liberal than the better known Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, which claims 16 million members. In September, regional officials served notice that "deep differences of theological convictions and values" were propelling them toward a possible break because the national church, they said, was not living up to its own 1992 statement that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."

For example, some conservative officials are upset that congregations around the country have not been held accountable for blessing same-sex unions. Other congregations say the issue does not touch on their core beliefs and should not divide the church.

Under Baptist governance, however, the 1992 resolution was not binding on local congregations or regions. The national denomination has acknowledged "deep divisions" among American Baptists.

In a move to head off schism, the General Board of American Baptist Churches USA, meeting last month in Green Lake, Wis., approved another statement against homosexuality and same-sex marriage on a 59-45 vote. The statement was inserted into a document titled, "We Are American Baptists." It described American Baptists as those "who submit to the teaching of Scripture that God's design for sexual intimacy places it within the context of marriage between one man and one woman, and acknowledge that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with biblical teaching."

However, the action was not sufficient, according to the Rev. Glenn Layne, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Temple City, who favors secession. "A lot of people really believe it wasn't adopted out of conviction, but out of fear of what we may do," he said.

The decision by the regional board to call for a vote by congregations also came despite unity appeals by the executive ministers of the American Baptist's Rocky Mountains and Maine regions.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-baptists10dec10,1,3321719.story?coll=la-headlines-california

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM PSW

At the Thursday, December 8, 2005, meeting of the ABCPSW Board of Directors, the following resolution was unanimously approved.

The American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest Board of Directors recommends that the Region withdraw from the Covenant of Relationships of the American Baptist Churches USA. Therefore, the Board of Directors calls for a Special Meeting of delegates from the churches. (Specific date to be confirmed the week of December 12, 2005) The purpose of this meeting of delegates from the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest churches is for the Board to receive an expression of the will of the delegates to provide the Board with the guidance and input it needs to make a responsible and informed decision on withdrawing from the Covenant of Relationships of the American Baptist Churches USA.

Source: PSW Website.

"We Have Done Everything Humanly Possible": Hoffmeister and Fletcher Report on Meeting with PSW Leaders

One day prior to the meeting of the PSW board, a delegation of representatives from the GEC met with the board. Here is the first official report of that meeting.

REPORT OF GEC DELEGATION TO PSW

We met with the Executive Committee of PSW, comprising Brian Scrivens, Doug Copeland, Daniel Huerta, Jerri Hubbard and Dale Salico on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 from approximately 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the PSW Resource Center.

We were received with grace, kindness and hospitality. The conversation was conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect, characterized by a spirit of openness and honesty. We listened, laughed, challenged, questioned, disagreed, dreamed, lamented and exchanged unscripted thoughts together in an atmosphere of fragile trust. As your delegates, we sought to faithfully represent, the spirit and intent of the recently adopted GEC resolutions.

Accordingly we made a pastoral and passionate appeal on behalf of the GEC for PSW to remain at the ABCUSA table. We communicated both the support of PSW’s sympathizes, as well the anger of those who feel the pain, agony and frustration of broken relationships built over a century in pursuit of a shared vision for ministry. We heard their frustration of their perception of being misunderstood, disrespected and undermined.

We challenged some of their assumptions, were surprised by some of their assertions, and they were surprised by some of the information that we shared. They were encouraged by the fact that we represented all the covenanting partners.

Notwithstanding the positive tone of the meeting, we left feeling that it will take a monumental effort to reverse the advanced and propelling momentum of their intended process. We nevertheless appealed to them to consider a postponement of any continued action until their next scheduled board meeting in February.

The motivation would be a clearer implementation process of the third GEC resolution. We are convinced that the development of such a plan has become essential regardless. We have not excluded God's intervention, knowing that many continue to pray for this process. We now await the actions of the Board meeting to be held later today.

At the end of the process we felt satisfied that we faithfully executed your mandate. We feel satisfied that we have done everything humanly possible to challenge and persuade PSW to reexamine their present course. We felt the power of your prayers and support. For this we thank you.

Your partners in the gospel.

Desmond Hoffmeister and Al Fletcher

(FYI: Hoffmeister is Exec in the Rocky Mountains region; Fletcher, an old friend of mine, is Exec in Maine.)

PSW TO PROCEED TOWARD SEPARATION; VOTE SET FOR MAY

After several hours of discussion and respectiful debate, the regional board of Directors decided to call the churches of the PSW together on May 6 to consider their recommendation that the region of the ABCPSW withdraw from the covenant of relationships with the ABCUSA.

At a critical point in the discussion, Mr. Brian Scrivens, board chair, declared a recess in the deliberations to spend a season in prayer. From that point in the meeting, grace flowed in new directions and a spirit of unity of conviction prevailed.

I am deliberately leaving out any details of this meeting except the outcome and the prayer meeting because it was conducted in an executive session which the CRMs were asked to participate in.

To God be the glory . . . let us pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the ABC. This decision may have repercussions way beyond the PSW. May true spiritual renewal come in God's time and patience.

Source: PSW Resource Minister Mark Lambert, in a posting on the ABE message board.

The Purple Finger of Freedom

And now for something completely different. I cannot but admire the bravery of the people of Iraq. In a few days, they will have gone to the polls not once, not twice but three times in defiance of the Islamo-Fascist terrorists. Here's a great idea I heard about today.

Raise a Purple Finger for Freedom - Show Solidarity with Free Iraqis in Their Upcoming Election

From www.purplefingerforfreedom.org

On December 15, the people of Iraq will do what no American should ever have to contemplate. They will risk their lives to vote. For the third time this year, the brave people of Iraq will go to the polls to determine their future. This time they will do so to elect a new government under the constitution that they approved in an October referendum.

On January 30, 2005, AP photographer Andrew Parsons took this iconic photo to the left of an Iraqi woman flashing a "V" for victory after she voted. Her finger stained purple by poll workers to show that she voted became a symbol of defiance to the terrorists, a symbol of pride, and a symbol of freedom.
Last January, 10 year-old Shelby Dangerfield from Montana demonstrated her solidarity with the freedom-loving Iraqis by inking her finger.

Join Bill Bennett, Sean Hannity, Martha Zoller and other radio hosts who are encouraging Americans to follow her example by asking them to ink their right index finger purple from December 12-15 to show support for the freedom loving people of Iraq as they prepare to vote on December 15th.
Here are some other things you can ask your supporters to do to show support for a free Iraq:

From December 12 - 15 ask your supporters to ink their right index fingers purple or wear a purple ribbon.

Tell them to encourage their family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.
Ask them to email photos of themselves flashing their "Purple Finger 'V' for Victory in Iraq to Pictures@PurpleFingerForFreedom.Org for posting to the http://www.purplefingerforfreedom.org/ web site.

"Look at how long it took us to move from independence to the Constitution. Well, let’s see 1776 would be a good place to start with independence. It was 1788 before we had our first election under the constitution. So, we should take such pride in what’s going on in Iraq because it was the process we’ve gone, we went through as a new nation that has set a model for the world. And the Iraqi people of course we should very proud and supportive of what they’re doing, but we should notice that it is the American example that has led people to the idea of constitutions all around the world, the idea that you need a plan of government, a framework for governing. And, gosh, it makes me almost want to be a teacher, you know, on December 15th to be in classrooms across this country and talking to kids about what’s happening in Iraq and how our own history is reflected in it.”

--Mrs. Lynne Cheney, Diane Rehm National Radio Show, November 30, 2005

Let's show the world that freedom loving peoples are united.

Thanks for your support.

The Ad Hoc Committee in Solidarity with Free Iraqis
http://www.purplefingerforfreedom.org/

Christianity Today Opines on the Wisdom of Denominational Splits

Christianity Today, December 2005

Intelligent Church Redesign

It's a sad but necessary reality that some denominational splits are justified.

A Christianity Today editorial

A third-century critic of Christianity named Celsus mocked Christians because they were divided into competing sects. He was referring mainly to the divisions between Gnostic and orthodox Christians. The great defender of Christianity, Origen, wondered what was Celsus' problem. These divisions were not over "small and trivial things," he argued, but about "the most important matters," and thus, as any philosopher would agree, a mark of intellectual seriousness.

Origen's point seems lost today as many observers criticize the breakup of a number of venerable denominations. The latest statistics for the Episcopal Church (USA) show a loss of 100 members per day in 2003—and this before the major defections following the 2003 General Convention that made a bishop of a man who had left his wife and children for a gay lover. We would not place our bets against a worldwide fissure in Anglicanism, the third-largest Christian body on the planet.

Similar defections are now occurring in the American Baptist Church and the United Church of Christ. As with the Anglicans, the core issues are biblical authority, salvation, sanctification, and church discipline, with the presenting issue being the increasing acceptance of homosexual behavior. In some regions, homosexual behavior is openly affirmed; in others, it is quietly tolerated but never disciplined, even if church law forbids it.

Nothing in John 17 nor the rest of Scripture suggests that oneness demands institutionalized unity.

Some argue that leaving a church body is always the greater sin. They point to the lamentable, historical fact that many church splits have been over "small and trivial things." But surely the authority of Scripture, the meaning of salvation, and the integrity of the church are not small and trivial.
"But it's premature," they reply. "You've got to give reform a chance." In some instances, like the Episcopal Church (USA), reform has been attempted for 40 years—and things have only gotten worse. Theological and moral apostasy is so entrenched in some places that many have concluded it is a fool's errand to seek to unseat it. Intellectual seriousness, they say, demands an honest appraisal of the situation.

"But look at Jesus' prayer in John 17," some say, "and how urgently he prays that his disciples will be one." Indeed, that is the reason we should lament even the most justifiable of church splits. But nothing in John 17 nor the rest of Scripture suggests that oneness demands institutionalized unity, certainly not where unity of belief is lacking.

The paradox today is that biblically minded Congregationalists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, and Roman Catholics experience more genuine unity across organizational boundaries than they do within their own traditions. Many fail to recognize that Christ's prayer for unity is indeed being answered, though the shape of that unity is not what we had imagined.
This is not to deny that in the long run, we should seek greater unity among the faithful. What that unity looks like this side of the kingdom may be subject to debate, but the goal should not be. We continue to applaud reformers in troubled denominations where there is clearly cause for hope. For example, United Methodist courts recently upheld orthodox practice (see "Deciding for Orthodoxy," p. 20). But given the crisis of some situations, we do not feel a one-style ecumenism fits all.

Finally, if there has to be a split over "the most important matters," can both parties agree not to impugn motives or practice character assassination? And can they settle their property differences out of court—or even display uncommon generosity in simply giving to him who asks, as Jesus commands (Luke 6:30)?

This would not only be a mark of intellectual seriousness, but also of genuine Christian charity.

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. December 2005, Vol. 49, No. 12, Page 27

Source: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/012/16.27.html

ABE Continues to Chart New Course

While the PSW region considers ABCUSA entreaties (see www.hisbarkingdog.blogspot.com), ABE is forging ahead. The following two items were released by ABE today:

Creating a New Future

by Bill Nicoson

ABE continues toward a transition that will spawn a new movement of churches dedicated to living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandments of scripture. On January 17-18 and February 8-9, the Vision Architects team will meet for two full days (each month) of intensive work focused on developing a structure and means to carry out our new vision. I am excited about the prospects of this new beginning, but I want to share my concerns that are ever present in this genesis of the movement.

First, we are in spiritual warfare (Eph. 6). If we are not in a constant state of prayer, continually asking God for His protection, discernment and wisdom, we are lost. I hope that you are praying for me, the Vision Architects and for Bill Hoyt, who has been a great instrument of help during this time. Prayer must be the foundation of the new movement. Will you consider joining me in prayer on a weekly basis (at least one day a week, during which you can focus on our new movement in your prayer time), asking God to direct us and give us a clear picture of His heart for us?

Second, the end result must benefit the local church. Our focus and structure must serve the church. Our organization has to be a network that, as Paul says in Ephesians 2:21-22, “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you are too being built together ….” We must rely on the Holy Spirit to help us major on the majors and minor on the minors.

Third, I am concerned that we have been dependent on the denomination to the point that we suffer from spiritual atrophy. Since we met in Lombard, there has been much grieving over the denomination and the separation from it. I am aware of the trauma and setback many of us have felt. I know that “closure” will come more quickly for some than others. However, if we do not focus on the future and think about our vision and what we can aspire to be, we will be forever lost in the conundrum of trying to fix things or still “have it our way” in our own minds. In other words, don’t let the past impair your spiritual eyesight.
Fourth, this movement must be missional. As Dr. Charles Revis challenged us in Lombard, “We must believe this Gospel has the power to change the world.” One of the reasons I enlisted Bill Hoyt to help us in this transition is that he has, in my opinion, an incredible world view. One of the questions I have been asking is, “What can we do collectively that one church cannot do by itself?” That question hasn’t quite been answered satisfactorily; however, I think the answer is becoming clearer to me. The ONLY THING that can have a thousand times more impact in our world than a single solitary church is a group of churches with a mission-centered focus.

Finally, I want to reiterate what Dr. Revis shared with us concerning birthing a new movement. He challenged us to operate more like a network than a denomination. Networks are appearing daily through the internet as well as other means. Every local church has access to some form of network or another. Dr. Revis also stated that we should continue to adhere to the Baptist form of associationalism. The Philadelphia Baptist Association that was formed in 1707 influenced Baptists for the next hundred years. They knew they could accomplish more for the kingdom together than they could individually. The association provided recruitment, ordination, education, printed materials, home missions (sharing funds to financially starved churches and relief of widows), models for preaching, fellowship for those who felt isolated because of their beliefs of biblical authority, etc.

I continue to be deeply grateful to Dr. Revis for his challenge. It was exactly what we needed and I contend that it will be an historic piece in the new movement’s history. (If you missed reading or would like to reread Dr. Revis’ message, visit our web site at http://www.abeonline.org/ and select “Resources,” then “Articles.”) I am so hopeful for the future, but it can happen only if we are totally dependent on God and his leading. We must not let the past guide us; it should serve only inform us as we create a future of dynamic churches presenting a dynamic gospel to a broken and fallen world.

Separtely, this was also released:

So, Where Are We Now?

Your Vision Architects have hammered out many of the essentials as we move toward a new organization. Two additional meetings are planned that will encompass two full days each: January 17-18 and February 8-9. The meetings, which will take place at Northern Seminary, will continue to focus on strategy, structure, vision and implementation.

Brenda Madsen, ABE’s Director of Communication, and Bill Nicoson have enlisted the services of Jeff Dailey and his company to help us with name development, a new logo, and printed and electronic media (including web design, etc.). We’ve completed a “Creative Brief” that gives Jeff information and strategic direction about who we want to be and what we want to do.

We are assembling a list of targeted partnerships, associations, organizations that we will be able to offer to churches at heavily discounted prices. When we have our new name, and implement other critical elements needed to qualify us as an organization, we hope to announce our first national gathering soon.

As we go through this transition, many things are being reevaluated and changed. And even though ABE is closing up shop as an organization, we can’t stress enough how much your participation and financial support are needed during this period of transition. We realize it’s difficult to support something that hasn’t been born yet! But we can assure you God is in this. Our previous two meetings have been blessed by the presence of the Lord, and God is moving among us.

Cleveland, Part II

Here's more of that exchange from www.abeonline.org on "The Politics of a PSW delay", as promised...

...I am the Interim Executive Minister for the Cleveland Baptist Association. I did attend the most recent meeting of the GEC in Green Lake in November. I did not attend the April 2005 San Antonio meeting of the GEC, as I was not yet then serving as Interim Executive Minister. I do not claim to fully understand the organizational structure of the GEC and its operational policies. I was disappointed in the results of the San Antonio meeting and the inability or unwillingness to develop some minimal implementation guidelines for our national resolution on homosexual practice. I do think this is properly the responsibility of the GEC...and I believe that this matter can and should be revisited within the GEC.

As to my earlier statement that the recent GEC actions related to seeking to retain the membership of the ABCPSW within the ABC/USA, perhaps it would have been more accurate if I had said they were not initiated by "Valley Forge leaders" or by the Office of the General Secretary or the corporate executive staff of the national boards. (These are the folks who seem to have drawn the greatest ire and suspicion about their actions and their motivations.) These proposals were initiated by a number of regional representatives who are very sympathetic with the concerns of ABCPSW, consider themselves friends of the ABCPSW, and earnestly want to see this region, its churches, and its people remain within the ABC/USA. My primary point was to say they were not initated by people who are hostile to ABCPSW or who are seeking to use these proposals as a way of doing any harm or hurt to the region.

Dennis [McFadden], I understand your comment, that even if not intended for this purpose a delay in ABCPSW's intended action could provide additional opportunity for whomever is so inclined to seek to convince individuals or churches within ABCPSW to oppose the withdrawal from the denomination. However, if this withdrawal cannot stand on its own merits and be validated by a more extended period of examination, then perhaps it should not be acted upon this quickly in the first place. A number of local church constitutions with which I am familiar require such steps as a long waiting period (in some cases up to one year), a super-majority (2/3 or 3/4 vote), and an expressed opportunity for a representative of the ABC/USA or the regional affiliate to speak to a congregation, before a vote to sever affiliation with the denomination can be taken. Surely, the withdrawal of an entire region from the ABC/USA (which has never even been on the table before in the 98-year history of the denomination) ought to proceed with the same kind of deliberation and care. I realize that nothing in the present ABC/USA Covenant of Relationships requires these steps, I am just suggesting they are prudent and wise. It is much more difficult to put something back together once it is broken than it is to take a little extra time to prevent a fracture in the first place...

Dennis, with respect to your comment about Dale Salico, I just wanted to state that although I did hear some remarks during the course of the meetings in Green Lake that I considered unfair and inappropriate with respect to Dale, the overwhelming majority of the public statements I heard made either about or directed to Dale, even by those who did not necessarily agree with his position(s), were affirming and positive with respect to his character and his leadership. This is certainly my perspective and I am deeply grateful for his presence and participation in this series of denominational meetings, even with the possibility of ABCPSW's withdrawal from the Covenant of Relationships looming in the background.

It is extremely unfortunate that the current division with the ABC/USA has reached the level of frustration and polarization that it has. On all sides of the issue of how to honestly, fairly, completely and compassionately implement ABC's statements related to sexual integrity within historic Baptist free church polity, too much of the rhetoric has become dismissive, contemptuous, and sarcastic. Individual Christian leaders, including Dr. Salico on the one hand and Dr. Medley on the other hand, have sometimes been ridiculed and demonized in a manner that makes me terribly uncomfortable. I must believe, and I continue to believe, that we can discuss and debate, even passionately, strongly-held convictions with one another without resorting ways of speaking about each other, about brothers and sisters in Christ, that are not in keeping with biblical standards nor congruent with a genuine presence of "the mind of Christ" in us.

As regards the suggestion that the desire to retain ABC/PSW is all about dollars, I just don't think this is the major concern of most. As it is now, within the revised ABC/USA Budget Covenant, individuals and churches are free to pretty much target or direct their gifts and contributions to those ABC/USA entities and ministries they endorse and to withhold them from those they don't. Even if ABCPSW withdraws from the Covenant of Relationships, ABCPSW individuals and churches will be free to support those ABC/USA entities and ministries they find compatible and effective, and I feel certain that in many cases they will, so I don't really look at a change in dollar flow as the main concern. What I am most interested in is keeping ABCPSW within the fellowship, the witness, the representation, the leadership, and the governance functions of the denomination, and these will be much more difficult, if not impossible, to achieve if there is a withdrawal from the Covenant of Relationships.

I hope that ABCPSW folk will recognize that there are a lot of people in many different regions throughout the ABC/USA that share your concerns and are working, perhaps more diligently and cooperatively than in the past, to see them addressed. A number of regions have formal studies underway designed, at least in part, to determine if they can still comfortably be related to the ABC/USA as it presently is functioning, and, if not, what changes would be required in their estimation. ABCPSW has become the first to put their position officially before the denomination. But does ABCPSW really need to act independently and unilaterally right now to sever all relationships, not only with the national denomination but also with its many regional friends and partners as well, or would it not be better to suspend the withdrawal action at this time and wait to see what emerges out of IN/KY, WV, MI, and a number of other regions over the course of the next year or so? The composite weight of multiple declarations of concern out of different geographical areas of the country might have a much more significant effect than can be envisioned at this point in time.

Twice before in the history of the ABC/USA, significant numbers of individuals and churches left the denomination seeking to create a purer and more homogenious biblical and theological climate and culture. Without disparaging these folks and their intentions in any way, the result was, in each case, multiple weaker bodies, less able to fulfill the mission God had for them, plus continuing resentments and recriminations among the parties that have in some cases carried on to this day. As a someone who has been an American Baptist since birth (58 years), I sincerely hope and pray that we will not see a repeat of this process in my lifetime.

Thank you for the opportunity to share in this forum.

Jim Oldham

Dennis McFadden replies:

Jim,

Thanks for your thorough and thoughtful responses. As they say, though, the devil is in the details.

The San Antonio meetings were determinative and decisive. To say that you were not there but that things look encouraging now would be like asking Mrs. Lincoln: "Other than 'that,' how did you like the play?" Dr. Salico made a VERY thorough case to the covenant partners in the GEC. It has been widely distributed and studied. He could not summon support for ANY of the proposals for which he advocated, even though he was clear regarding the consequences for continued PSW participation in the Covenant of Relationships if something meaningful did not flow from the meeting.
The events in the Biennial struck most of us on the right as a declaration of war on evangelicals. Tell me honestly that the Bill Herzog address to the Roger Williams Fellowship (and cheered by numerous VF leaders) was not an abusive attack on all evangelicals by implication and even naming some names.

It seems to me that when it is convenient, VF is quite capable of declaring in absolutist terms what is "Biblical," "moral," "right," and "consistent with the Gospel" even when large numbers of actual American Baptists disagree with the point. However, on an issue where we have supposedly voted and decided (overwhelmingly I might add), Dr. Medley continues to couch, accommodate, explain away, relativize, and temporize his words. Show me even one instance where he has boldly declared the traditional view to be biblical WITHOUT in the same speech, editorial, or article going out of his way to affirm the other side as well. He doesn't do that on other controversial issues where American Baptists are divided.

Calls to continue "dialog" would have been appropriate and sounded legitimate had they not been prefaced with decades of stonewalling on this subject and persistent rejection of the efforts of our representatives to mediate a compromise.

No, I do not believe that the motivations are fiscal -- by any of the parties. VF has always (at least during my 52 years) adopted a remnant theology that finds honor in upholding unpopular causes as ethically and theologically superior regardless of the consequences. Losing the PSW does more to offend the honor of VF than its pocketbook.

BTW - I was a "stay and fixit" guy until this year. But, the repeated rejection of even the most tepid of measures left me despairing that ANY hope remains. Jim, my opinions may be strong, but my credentials for working WITHIN the system are equally serious. A lifelong American Baptist, ten years on the MC Senate; almost a half dozen years on the Ministerial Leadership Commission (including nearly a half dozen on the executive committee), a quarter century on the standing regional ordination committee for PSW (including a dozen years as chair), a 500+ dissertation on ABC leadership with an enormous statistical study of the largest sample of ABC pastors ever conducted, and now serving as CEO of an ABC related institution with a nearly $13 million budget. These are not the hallmarks of a flake. My blood flows in institutional veins. But, sadly, enough is enough!

...Jim, I resonate with your pleas and your arguments. They echo my own words of past years. But, having seen the response the GEC made in San Antonio, "continuing dialog" is irrational.

We have two mindsets of what a real Baptist is all about: one group holding to sola scriptura as the organizing distinctive, the other clinging to a view of Christian experience (dating from 1905 and E.Y. Mullins) as the ultimate value. Unless Roy has a major change of heart, he will not be able to lead us through this thicket. His own wife rendered testimony before her denomination's equivalent of the GB five years ago. She argued strongly for a view quite similar to our own AWAB positions. I would not expect any man to repudiate the position of the mother of his children in order to make a few conservatives happy. Roy is a kind and gentle man. He does not deserve to be slandered. But, neither can I support him in good conscience.

Thanks again for caring enough to interact with this message board.
Dennis E. McFadden

Pastor Chuck Layne (no relation!) of Bunker Hill First Baptist of Indiana:

...With all due respect, exactly how much more time is supposed to be devoted to this issue of Biblical authority vs. denominational authority? I have been active in ABC ministry as an ordained clergy for 19 years now (part of that time as an active duty military Chaplain), and I have seen these issues grow from their near-bginning rumbles to the crisis before us now.

Throughout this time, the most frustrating and angering component for "evangelicals" within the denomination has been, and remains, significant leadership who constantly and consistently place the blame for disunity on our backs. Biennial address after address have been little more than tongue-lashing criticism directed at this denomination's "evangelicals."

For me, the pinnacle of hypocrisy came when a Focus on the Family episode named the ABCUSA as one of the denominations harboring the homosexual agenda and then having our OGS send out damage control letters telling us how poorly informed and unfair Dr. Dobson was to the ABCUSA by including us in his list. This letter also informed all of us that we really do have a resolution in place that states that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, when we all know very well what weight (none) that has carried all these years with our national leadership.

Only when concrete, positive, drastic action has been taken by an entire Region has our leadership begun to sit up and take notice. But what do they give us? More of the same! More calls to study, dialogue, form commissions, hire consultants... They decry that the ABCPSW is "moving too fast." How many decades must it take before it can be considered not "too fast?"
Seems to me that certain criteria was beginning to be made known prior to the last Biennial and, as before, it was ignored. Even the IN/KY proposal has been mistreated and mishandled at the national level as they tell the Region one thing about its legal standing and then spring a completely different judgement at the GB meeting.

Is there little wonder that denominational "evangelicals" perceive Valley Forge responses to be nothing more than stalling tactics not worthy of consideration?
Chuck Layne

Finally, from "the other Glenn", Glenn Wade of North Park Baptist of San Diego...

The appeals for the PSW to take more time sound exactly like an violently abusive husband in my church repeatedly pleading for his wife to come back home after he beat her up. He kept claiming it would change. She kept going back. It didn't change. Ever.

When Jesus saw the condition of the temple and those changing money and selling sacrifices, he did not call for a committee to dialog and study the situation. He made a whip. And used it.

The Origin of Schism

ONE POWERFUL ARGUEMENT against the separation of the PSW from the ABCUSA (and by extension, the regions and churches that would follow over the next few years) is that such an action is schismatic and unnecessary. It is schismatic in that it breaks the unity fellowship we have in Christ; it is deemed unnecessary because either the ABC is indeed reforming (as seen in the passage of the Indiana Inititive--at least in its skeletal form) or because the issue of homosexuality is such a peripheral issue that breaking fellowship over it seems peevish and well, homophopbic.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT ANALYSIS is that it misses two critical points. The first is, as we have always said, the real issue isn't homosexuality. It's Biblical authority. Does Scripture speak to us even when it runs up against our current cultural preferences, or must it yield to the Zeitgeist of the moment?

THE SECOND PROBLEM is that this view fundamentally misunderstands the nature of schism. I am currently working through 1 John in my preaching (I write my sermons about two months ahead). The ecclesiastical situation that John writes to is that a section of the church has asserted that they are more advanced than "common" believers. (What we have here is Gnosticism in its earliest forms.) The holders of false doctrine (and false practice) are the schismatics. As a matter of fact, the fact that they have perverted the apostolic teaching makes them schismatics.

SCHISM DOES NOT ORIGINATE in an action to separate. Was Luther a schismatic? No, the Roman church was the schismatic; Luther was the one groping his way back to Biblical orthodoxy. The same could be said for generations of believers sincerely making their way, as best they know, to the robust soul-satisfying richness of the testimony of Scripture.

SO, SHOULD PSW separate, are they--are we, since in am in the PSW--schismatics? I say no; schism in the ABC goes back generations to the embrace of false unbiblical and sub-biblical beliefs, values and practices. In manifold ways, none perhaps as bold or current as the address William Herzog gave to the Roger Williams Fellowship this past summer at the Denver Biennial. The theological perspective of Mr. Herzog--its arrogance, condesending attitude, its bold break with clear Biblical teaching disguised as "deeper knowledge" is remarkably similiar to the schismatics John grapples with in 1 John. We are not the schismatics: those at war with the manifest teaching of Scipture are.

Please, PSW, Don't Leave Us Now

An interesting exchange is underway on the message board of the ABE website (www.abeonline.org). A thread devoted to the possible delay of action by the PSW region board has been up since Wednesday 30 November. This morning, an entry apparently by the Exec of the Cleveland Association appeared:

The General Executive Council actions were not initiated by the ABC/USA leadership but were introduced from the floor of the GEC meeting by those representing regions, churches, and individual American Baptists throughout the country who are heartbroken and distraught at the possible withdrawal of ABCPSW from the denominational family.

Contrary to some suggestions, these proposals were not advanced to buy more time to "pick off" individual ABCPSW churches, caucuses, or leaders. Those who put forward these proposals, and the majority of those who supported them, want the ABCPSW in its entirety, and all its affiliated congregations, to remain part of ABC/USA, and are sincere in wanting to address ABCPSW concerns as fully as possible.

As I understand it, the GEC "contact group" has already been appointed and is prepared to meet with ABCPSW leadership this week in advance of and/or as part of the scheduled Board meeting.

It is my hope that those who seem so "hell bent" on pushing this separation of ABCPSW to finality can slow down long enough to consider the potential long-term negative consequences of this action. The ABC/USA needs the gifts, talents, experiences, and perspectives of the leaders, people, churches, and institutions of ABCPSW. Together we have created a vast number of children--colleges, seminaries, Christian centers, mission agencies, national men's and women's organizations, a national conference center, a publishing house, an historical society, etc.--not to mention thousands of individual sons and daughters in the ministry serving as pastors, chaplains, missionaries, and other leaders. For the sake of these that God in His grace has permitted us to birth and parent, we should make every effort to find a way to remain in covenant together. Even though it may not be as readily apparent, there are also aspects of what ABC/USA has to offer that are very important to the effectivness of ABCPSW in its own life and ministry. How do these words of scripture "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!'" concerning the Body of Christ apply to this situation?
I am an outsider to the deliberations and decisions of ABCPSW and I accept that. However, with this very important Board meeting coming up this week, I think it important for ABCPSW folk to know that there are many who will be fasting and praying that ABCPSW will not decide to leave, at least not yet, and that the actions taken at the recent GEC meeting will be the start of addressing what may not yet have become the "irreconcilable differences" that they may have been perceived to be.

Indeed, I plead with you who are part of ABCPSW: Chart your own vision and course as a region. Set the rest of us the kind of example of biblical integrity and faithfulness you are led to pursue. Continue to raise your concerns about the national denomination and work with the many others from within who are similarly concerned. Limit your participation and financial support in those denominational endeavors that are contrary to your vision and values, as our polity and procedures allow and encourage you to do. But don't break formal fellowship and relationship with your long-standing brothers and sisters in Christ in ABC/USA. Don't be a part of an "evangelical abandonment" of the ABC/USA when the denomination needs the witness and engagement of the evangelical perspective and community so desparately. Don't turn your back on a sincere offer from your covenant partners to listen to your concerns and seek determine how we can address them together. Don't let the fallen world, for whom Christ died and to whom we are called to minister, observe and gloat over another fracture in the body of Christ. Don't let pride keep you from taking a second look at the options before you or from going the second, or even third, mile to insure no effort has been spared to prevent what might prove to be an unnecessary division and harmful disruption to the life and ministry of both ABC/USA and ABCPSW.

May God grant us all an umistakeable sense of His perfect will on these matters of our common life and witness.

Jim Oldham

All in all, an eloquent appeal. But some thoughtful responses were forthcoming:

...After 20 years of praying and fasting for the ABCUSA, it amazes me that we still believe that forming another committee (contract group) to address “ABCPSW concerns as fully as possible” is anything less than a filibuster. Really, what’s the rush?

Quote:

It is my hope that those who seem so "hell bent" on pushing this separation of ABCPSW to finality can slow down long enough to consider the potential long-term negative consequences of this action.

On the contrary, pushing relativism and ethical perversion on God fearing folks for several decades seems more appropriate to the following diatribe: “being “hell bent” on pushing a separation.” Really, let’s face it; the ABCUSA turned its back on the evangelical church years ago. What makes anyone hope for a modicum of belief in the Authority of Scripture and accountability to it in all matters of faith and practice now?

Mark it down: the fallen world would rather see the church compromise with sin than separate for purity. In short, I don’t see how the ABCUSA can prevent the division they have initiated and perpetuated up until this very hour!

Bottom line: Our common life and witness is found in Christ Jesus and established by the absolute authority of Holy Scripture!

Worship & Enjoy

Ron

That would be Ronald Ratliff, pastor of Creek Valley Church in Minnesota.

AJ, otherwise unidentified, wrote this:

ABCUSA has long ago adopted the values and agenda of the fallen world. The fallen world has always wanted Christians and Christian churches to become like they are and believe and embrace the world's values. Now it has come down to how homosexuality and homosexual behavior is viewed, practiced, and supported. In this regard, ABCUSA is no different from the world, while for many of us in the so-called ABC "family", this was and is the last straw. ABCUSA's politically correct tolerance of the extremes of liberal theology has made it weak and dysfunctional. Christians cannot minister to the fallen world when we become just like them. We are called to stand over and against the world, not adopt its agendas and embrace its values: "...be not conformed to this world..." (Romans 12:2a). "...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). See also 1 Corinthians 1:18-29; 1 John 2:15-17.

What were our leaders at Valley Forge doing for the last 13 years (and longer) when ABE was a voice in the wilderness crying out to our denomination? Now, because ABCPSW is moving toward withdrawing, they are suddenly willing to listen to us? Perhaps things would not have gotten this far if our leadership had taken our witness seriously from the onset instead of doing what they could to marginalize our voices and paint us as extremists. How many congregations have already had enough and have withdrawn from ABCUSA on their own? Revdrron got it right: if there is godly and genuine sorrow over the state and fracture of ABCUSA, it will hopefully lead to repentance.In the name of Him who came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21),

AJ

Finally, the ubiquitous Dennis McFadden chimed in:

Jim,

Thank you for taking the time to interact in this forum. Very few of your colleagues accord us the dignity of this kind of personal attention. It is appreciated. However, your comments raise a number of reactions in me. Let me point to a few issues of disagreement.

Quote:

Contrary to some suggestions, these proposals were not advanced to buy more time to "pick off" individual ABCPSW churches, caucuses, or leaders. Those who put forward these proposals, and the majority of those who supported them, want the ABCPSW in its entirety, and all its affiliated congregations, to remain part of ABC/USA, and are sincere in wanting to address ABCPSW concerns as fully as possible.

Jim, I did not mean to imply that this was the “purpose” behind the action, only that it would be the consequence. The patriarchal relationship NM has had with ethnic churches has been used to the full in recent months in the PSW. Note the words from my original blog:

Quote:

Since the PSW rules call for a 90 day notice for a meeting of the region, this would inevitably buy time for the ABCUSA to continue using their influence on congregations to induce them to pull away from the PSW plan. We have already seen much evidence that this is exactly what is happening.

My point was that a delay at this time will be used to full effect by VF. That is not a matter of “suggestions,” it has been happening already and will doubtless continue happening. Would you like documentation?

Quote:

It is my hope that those who seem so "hell bent" on pushing this separation of ABCPSW to finality can slow down long enough to consider the potential long-term negative consequences of this action.

Some of us have struggled with this issue (and the underlying causes) for three decades. I really don’t see how you can characterize it as a “hell bent” pace. Fortunately for your position, I have no official role in the PSW structure. So my opinion matters little at all.

Quote:

The ABC/USA needs the gifts, talents, experiences, and perspectives of the leaders, people, churches, and institutions of ABCPSW.

Perhaps this is so. However, the treatment of our Executive Minister, Dr. Dale Salico, has been shameful and disgusting. He has returned from the past several meetings shell shocked by the ordeal. Reports by GB reps (such as the one by a clergy rep I blogged last week on my "His Barking Dog" site), rejection of every initiative he brought to the table in San Antonio, and continuing failure to speak with moral clarity by members of the GB, REMC, GEC, and the GS himself show that the ABCUSA has evidenced little interest in the “gifts, talents, experiences, and perspective” of PSW.

There is probably a higher percentage of American Baptists who still have a mixed or negative view of the ordination of women than those endorsing the ordination of practicing homosexuals. Nobody in VF is afraid to proclaim with bold confidence what the majority of us believe to be biblical on the subject of women despite the numbers of American Baptists who do not see it that way. Yet, when it comes to homosexuality, Roy cannot bring himself to utter what the majority of us believe about human sexuality without constantly catering to, accommodating, or making room for the small percentage of those who disagree.

[My interjection: touche', Dennis.]

Quote:

How do these words of scripture "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!'" concerning the Body of Christ apply to this situation?

Frankly, Jim, they have little applicability to this situation. Again, efforts to use the unity of the body (whether the High Priestly prayer of Jesus or the Pauline admonitions) as applying to the current ABC crisis proves too much. If the proponents of unity at any price really mean what they say, then why are we Baptists in the first place? If the calls to unity in Scripture imply an organizational and administrative oneness, then why not disband our denominations, take down our Baptist shingles, and merge with the Roman Catholic communion as one body in Christ?

Once you allow that doctrinal differences and distinctives, a variety of niche ministries, and other even less significant factors offer legitimate reasons to exist as separate ministries, it destroys much of the force of your argument.
In my last six college degree and certificate programs, none of them was completed in a “Baptist” institution. There was no problem affirming unity in Christ with my Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, Assemblies of God, etc. sisters and brothers. Yet, I have not felt compelled to join with them in their denominations.

And, if structural unity is REALLY as important to GEC members as you say, then why didn’t the GEC affirm the clear biblical admonitions brought to them in San Antonio by Dr. Salico? Hiding behind an ultra individualistic view of Baptist polity, exalting “soul competency” as the organizing rubric for Baptist identity, and failing to give more than lip service to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture are what have brought us to the brink of possible separation.

I’m sure PSW doesn’t want to leave. So, why don’t you persuade your GEC colleagues to treat the Bible as more than a wax nose, speak with a univocal moral voice, and mean what they say and say what they mean? As Rodney King used to say: “Can’t we all get along?”

Quote:

Don't turn your back on a sincere offer from your covenant partners to listen to your concerns and seek determine how we can address them together.

Jim, this is utterly disingenuous! I believe you are sincere in your words. However, your rhetoric sounds wonderful in print but is less impressive when you analyze the individual elements of your case and compare them with the reality of the past few years. Dr. Salico presented a very clear and persuasive case in San Antonio (including dire warnings of what would happen if such pleas were ignored), only to have our “covenant partners” dismiss his concerns entirely. The VERY articulate and clear presentation he made at the GB last month was also treated as of little consequence. How can you say that a “too little too late” action represents anything “sincere” or serious?

Let the PSW board vote to RECOMMEND withdrawal to the churches and schedule a vote 90 days hence. During the next three months the GEC can do all of the soul searching, repenting, rethinking, and re-imagining they want to do. Three months is plenty of time to change one's mind if that is what the GEC sincerely wants to do. We will see who is sincere and who is not.

I'm sure Dr. Salico would be happy to cancel a scheduled meeting if the problem is resolved.

This story is developing. I will post more as it is deemed appropriate. Let me just say, I'm in agreement with Dennis here. If I were on the Board, I would say, "Let's move ahead. Perhaps Valley Forge will reform; perhaps not. Perhaps more of our churches will peel off (as VF is obviously trying to do); but not to move forward will send only one message to VF: we blinked, and they get to run the denomination into the ground."