Welcome to our online information center. The Biblical Witness Fellowship (BWF) is a confessing movement within the United Church of Christ. Search the pages listed below to find encouragement, information, and resources for renewal, reformation, and missions in the Evangelical, United Church of Christ (UCC).

On-lineWitness

Who is BWF

BWF PUBLICATIONS
Research & Commentary on Key UCC Concerns
THE WITNESS
Speaking the Truth in Love . .

EVENTS
Opportunities for Face to Face Fellowship 
 
Evangelical Resources Equipping the Local Church for Faithful Witness
Christian Education Materials

Biblical Messages for Spiritual Growth
BWF Executive Director:
Message on Peace
BWF President: Dr. William E. Boylan

FINDING A GODLY PASTOR
Connecting Search Committees and Pastors
 www.PastorReferralNetwork.com  

Mission Renewal Network Connecting the Local Church to God’s Global Mission

UCC Friends for Life
Pro-Life advocates

Networking for Renewal
Ecumenical ties to evangelical Christian groups and organizations - and ties to our own denomination

ARE YOU LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND?
Then you live where:
     *Only 3% of church attendees speak to non-believers about Jesus Christ
     *The average worshipping congregation is 60
    * 90+ % of all “growth” is transfers of Christians from one church to another If you want a dynamic, transforming opportunity for transformation in your church then CONSIDER:

May the peace, joy, and love that comes from knowing Jesus be your greatest gift this Christmas!

Photo  is by Brian Chapaitis, Mission Renewal Network Wycliffe/JAARS missionary serving in Papua New Guinea

November 10, 2009

 Maine Conference Minister Misrepresents Christ 

In the heat of the recent referendum on marriage in Maine, UCC Conference Minister David Gaewski published a public letter in which he claimed that "Though much has been said recently about marriage regarding its legality, definition and/or description, the biblical narrative offers little regarding the definition of marriage. When Jesus addressed issues of marriage in the Gospels, he was responding to theological traps set to test him by the Sadducees and Pharisees."     http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/view/letters/7026137.html

 Regardless of whether David's theological education was Bible-lite, his misrepresentation of Biblical truth on marriage,  intended to mislead those without the background to challenge his statement,  is inexcusable. The creation act and mandate followed by the explicit marriage covenant is foundational to being human. Jesus Christ is particular and emphatic in his reaffirmation of that truth. Marriage is the very basis of the relationship between Christ and us, His Church. We encourage you (and David) to read our pastoral letter on this issue:

http://www.biblicalwitness.org/PastoralLetter.htm

 Meanwhile it is very instructive to read a chilling account of the experience of Biblical Scholar Robert Gagnon who was invited by Intervarsity to address a public gathering at Bowdoin College during the same campaign season. His article is aptly entitled "Back to the Oppressive Future."

http://www.robgagnon.net/ArticlesOnline.htm

June 10, 2009

RENEWAL LEADER CALLS ON THE UCC TO REPUDIATE ANTI-SEMITISM

In a letter to UCC President John Thomas and the leadership of the Illinois Conference Rev. David Runnion-Bareford called for Rev. Jeremiah Wright to be held personally accountable for his anti-Semitic statements made in an interview today and to publicly repudiate those statements. Rev. Wright is reported to have said President Obama had not spoken with him recently because "them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me" and went on to say, "Ethnic cleansing is going on in Gaza. Ethnic cleansing of the Zionists is a sin and a crime against humanity." Rev. Runnion-Bareford pointed out that such language only promotes violence and hatred against a people close to the heart of God, adding, "The impact of anti-Semitism is graphically illustrated by the tragic murders which took place today in the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C."

April 16, 2009

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CALLS FOR CONDOMS AT WORSHIP

On March 19th, the UCC HIV and AIDS Network Executive Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer issued a statement encouraging condom distribution at places of worship in conjunction with a presentation to the UCC Wider Church Ministries Board.
   (full article)
 

April 15, 2009

Dissent Kills Costly Restructure Plan

Ten years after the last restructuring, a proposed new UCC national governing plan is dead – at least for the current cycle of meetings
. full article)
 

May 2, 2009

GOING BUGS IN THE UCC
 

April 28, 2009

Yvette Flunder Breaks Ground for Dual Standing Recognition
full story   
 

JOHN TO JOIN SUSAN

Posted - May 21, 2009 

Defying BWF predictions, Chicago Theological Seminary President Susan Thistlethwaite took herself out of the running to replace John Thomas as President of the UCC [link]. Instead John Thomas is moving over to join Susan on the faculty at CTS. In a "newly created" position, Thomas will "cultivate relationships with key constituents and congregations; support strategic fund raising efforts; foster student and faculty recruitment." The CTS statement cites "John's well-recognized accomplishments." Under his leadership in the UCC, the denomination lost a record number of members, struggled financially, and realized only a few dozen candidates for ordination each year from the graduating classes of all 7 UCC related seminaries combined. Perhaps a new environment will be transformational.

April 6, 2009 --

The following statement from BWF Executive Director David Runnion-Bareford was released to the national press today:
 
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RENEWAL LEADER APOLOGIZES TO CITIZENS, CHRISTIANS OF IOWA 

To the citizens, pastors, churches and Christians of Iowa. 

Today on behalf of many thousands of Christians who belong to congregations of the United Church of Christ and millions of faithful Christians in the ‘mainline’ churches that helped found our nation, I apologize with a broken heart for our denominational officials and other proponents of faux Christian religion who have publicly advocated and applauded the attempt of your court to redefine marriage. (read more)