wfn.org | Stone-Campbell Dialogue expands to local areas

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

Date:  June 30, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Melinda Mains
Phone: 317-713-2496
E-mail: mmains@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

LOUISVILLE, KY, June 30, 2002 -- Members of the
Stone-Campbell Dialogue held their sixth meeting June 16-18
at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville.

The Dialogue, which has met twice a year since 2000, brings
some twenty ministers and scholars from the Churches of
Christ, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, and the
Disciples of Christ together for dialogue concerning their
differences and their common concerns. The stated purpose
of the Dialogue reads: "To develop relationships and trust
within the three streams of the Stone-Campbell movement
through worship and through charitable and frank dialogue,
that the world may believe.'"

Dr. John Mills, Brunswick, Ohio, chaired this June meeting
which was built around an area rally on Sunday night.
Members of the churches of all three branches of the
Stone-Campbell Movement gathered at the Okolona Church of
Christ for worship featuring the well-known quartet
"Acappella." A leader from each of the three branches in
the Dialogue shared briefly their reason for being part of
the Dialogue. The leaders were Dr. Doug Foster, Abilene
Christian College, Abilene, Texas, Churches of Christ; Dr.
Henry Webb, Milligan College, Johnson City, Tenn.,
Christian Churches/Churches of Christ; and Dr. Robert
Welsh, Ecumenical Officer, Indianapolis, Ind., Disciples of
Christ. 

On Monday evening leaders from Louisville area
congregations were invited to join in small groups for
discussions on the issues facing their congregations and
the potential of working together with others of the
Stone-Campbell Movement. Sixty ministers, elders, and
leaders coming from 25 congregations were present for this
event which is hoped to further local dialogue and
encounter.

Members of the Dialogue dealt with the question "What do we
mean by Christian Unity?" Brief statements were given by
each of the three groups followed by a general discussion.
The focus of the Dialogue for the future will be to serve
as the catalyst for numerous rallies, joint worship and
dialogue in the cities or regions where the Dialogue
members live or have contacts who can do this work. The
meetings in Louisville will serve as a model for these
other events.

Dialogue members firmly believe the work must go beyond the
number of people in the formal dialogue. They recognize
that the lack of communication between the three branches
of the Stone-Campbell movement has gone on for far too
long. The prayer of our Lord in John 17 that "they may all
be one" needs to be fulfilled in each city or town. This
does not mean merger, but developing working relationships,
mutual trust and understanding. For any wishing to begin a
dialogue in their area, the papers presented during the
first two years of the formal Dialogue are available, as
well as a new brochure presenting brief sketches on each of
the three groups which was developed for use in the
meetings in Louisville.

All those concerned about the unity of the church are
invited to join in prayer that the prayer of John 17 might
bear fruit in this generation.

                                           -- end --

For further details:
Dr. John Mills -- 330-225-5268 (Drjpm@ohio.net)
Dr. Doug Foster  915-674-3795 (Foster@bible.acu.edu)
Dr. Robert Welsh -- 317-713-2585 (rwelsh@ccu.disciples.org)

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