- FROM THE BWF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -
It has been a season of silence for BWF. In part because there was nothing left to be said. Our witness to the churches, the media, the denominational leadership and the world has been clear and loud. The idolatrous decision in the summer of 2005 to attempt to tell God that marriage was whatever we, in our human delusions, wanted it to be placed the UCC beyond the boundaries of reality. We called for the president’s resignation, reiterated our witness that Jesus is Lord, the Bible is true, human life and human sexuality are sacred and, well what more could we say?
It has been an uneasy silence. We have gone to write, proclaim, publish several times, but we lacked clear mandate from the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile we watched significant realities unfold. New voices and movements were raised up by the Holy Spirit. The UCC, despite its energetic public face, spiraled further downward, pushing out the Episcopals and Disciples to become the membership loss-leader among declining protestant denominations. Churches left. Churches closed. The tears went disregarded. Foolish and false fantasies accusing BWF and anyone else who dared challenge the UCC with participation in some far-fetched scheme of conspiracy exposed an angry insecurity beneath the smiling surface.
But then something happened. On Sunday, May 13th I was given the text of Isaiah 44 to preach in the pulpit at Candia NH. As I prepared it, the Holy Spirit hindered my use of the key verses 3- 5, which read:
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land; and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendents. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’, another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand ‘The Lord’s.”
The Spirit seemed to indicate that these were not for that day. Perplexed, I went on and emphasized other verses in the text. Some weeks later I was in an amazing four-day meeting with 900 church leaders from 70 countries worshipping at Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London (UK). As we were worshipping in the Spirit, the worship leader read this text:
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land; and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendents. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’, another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand ‘The Lord’s.”
At that moment the Holy Spirit spoke very clearly to say, “This text is for the congregations of the United Church of Christ.” I was stunned. How? Why? Why now? On what basis? But again and again this word washed over me for the next two days, “this word is for the congregations of the United Church of Christ – really!” until I could only be moved to tears.
What this means next will have to be revealed. We will be at this Synod primarily as intercessors. We need you to join us as intercessors. If you are willing to pray with us, please email uccrenewal@aol.com and let us know. We will share requests as the Lord makes them known. We will be listening – and confident that God is still speaking!!
It will be a season to move beyond “right” and “left” to a radical gospel of a radical relationship with Jesus. It will mean being radical church in the context of much folk religion and cultural confusion.
I believe as we listen that God is going to honor the invitation extended to him by the UCC to speak. GOD IS STILL SPEAKING. And I believe that the key is in the Anniversary theme “LET THE LIGHT SHINE.” Stay tuned.