Faithful and Welcoming Churches Call ECOTs to Reclaim the Church

Openly welcoming their critics to dialogue, a new movement of UCC members, pastors and congregations identifying themselves as "ECOT's" came together with vision and enthusiasm for the first National Conference of FAITHFUL AND WELCOMING CHURCHES in Bechtelsville, Pa, this weekend (August 4,5). FWC President Rev. Bob Thompson, who demonstrated a gifted mastery at handling dialogue with those who came from the UCC leadership to challenge the movement, set the tone in his opening message. He called for a movement that held an Orthodox understanding of Jesus Christ, a Conservative/Traditional view of the Bible and its authority, and an Evangelical vision for the world and the church. He reminded participants of the Haystack Prayer Meeting in 1806 that birthed the North American Missions movement, comparing it to the opportunity of the present time. Thompson said we are at a "tipping point" in UCC history in which the commitment of a few can bring new life. "What I know is that we must do our part. We must see to it that the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God is preserved for and spread to our generation, both within and beyond the UCC and America. That task, articulated by St. Paul and reclaimed at the Haystack Prayer meeting, is still our calling. ‘We can do it, if we will!’ Amen." (The entire message can be found: www.faithfulandwelcoming.org

In an opening panel focused on UCC Perspectives, Rev. Bob Chase, minister and team leader of the UCC’s Proclamation, Identity, and Communication Ministry and executive direction of UCC’s Office of Communication, made a strong appeal for dialogue and civility. He continued to be the strongest presence of the UCC national leadership throughout the weekend, dialoguing in the open hearings. He assured the FWC that they had an important role to play, lamented the churches who have left, and claimed that the UCC publications and communications he is most familiar with work to be balanced. The meeting watched a video presentation on marriage Chase had helped produce at the dinner hour.

Associate Conference Minister Toby Holleman, from Penn Northeast, however, painted a more realistic picture. He said that the answer to the question, "did ECOTS have a place in the UCC?" was yes and no. Citing the founding documents and theological commitments to unity and diversity in the UCC, Holleman said the answer theoretically was yes. Yet on a practical level he acknowledged that ECOT participation was at best difficult and problematic. Rev. Bob Thompson invited Holleman to give his contrasting perspective on marriage in Thompson’s workshop on marriage.

A rumpled Rev. John Dorhauer from Missouri Mid-South, appearing more like a college student coming from pulling an all-nighter than an Associate Conference minister, presented a far gentler, warmer, and thoughtful persona than the author of blog rants. Affirming the founding documents of the UCC as the basis of conversation he went out of his way to reject all forms of vilification. In the Q & A session, the man who once wrote, that the FWC was "lying" and "selling a piece of garbage," reiterated with seeming sincerity his receptivity to all points of view and again vigorously rejected all forms of vilification. In the evening session one FWC presenter said he would wait and see the forthcoming blogs to determine if Dorhauer’s change of heart was authentic.

Rev. David Runnion-Bareford, executive director of Biblical Witness Fellowship, and Rev. Vernon Stoop, executive director of Focus Renewal Ministries, were invited to give the meeting historic perspective on the ministry of renewal within the UCC. Several FWC leaders expressed their appreciation and gratitude for all that had been done in renewal in the past that had brought things to this point. BWF expressed its full support for the new work, voice and spirit of FWC. "We see this as a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit and believe that the gathering of multiple perspectives under the title of ECOT will give FWC unity and enable them to bring new life to the congregations of the UCC," Runnion-Bareford said.