Biblical Witness Fellowship

Biblical Witness Fellowship
Renewing the United Church of Christ


Short History of BWF!


	On October 25th, 1978 the renewal movement known as Biblical Witness Fellowship was incorporated as United Church People for Biblical Witness. We were birthed out of the Synod of 1977 at which the first sexuality report was accepted which opened the door to all the many resolutions sanctioning sexual perversity which have followed. At that Synod a young pastors wife from Pennsylvania named Barbara Weller made an impassioned call for a return to Biblical faith and several hundred responded to that call. The following year a collaborative effort wrote a landmark book called Affirming Our Faith in just a few days. Affirming Our Faith compared the teaching of Scripture to statements of UCC leaders in parallel columns and made the drift of the denomination obvious to lay readers. A journal Living Faith was launched under the capable editorial care of theological Martin Duffy. At the Dubuque Synod in 1983, The Dubuque Declaration was written with substantial help from theologian Donald Bloesch and became the statement of faith of the movement. In 1984 at a convocation held on the campus of the historic Dummer Academy in Byfield, MA, hosted by renewal leader, Rev. Bill Boylan, the movement widened its purpose and became the Biblical Witness Fellowship The Fellowship elected Rev. Larry Wood of Royal Oak, Michigan President and asked Rev. Gerald Sanders to be its first full time Executive Director. Barbara Weller continued to work tirelessly on the board, as Assoc. Director, and later as interim Director, before leaving the work in the early 90's to attend Law School. In 1991 Rev. Armand Weller became the second Executive Director and he was followed by our current Director Rev. David Runnion-Bareford in 1994. In the late 80's BWF launched the very successful Missions Renewal Network which has in the years since connected more than 100 UCC related evangelical missionaries and mission project with hundreds of supporting UCC churches As we move forward, bearing witness faithfully in an uncertain time in the UCC, we thank all of you who have so faithfully supported us and all of you who stood courageously on the front line of renewal over the years! We know that many of you have had to speak out for the truth in hostile environments. Some of you have been fired for preaching the gospel. Some of you have remained faithful at a painful price! We remain confident that our Lord Jesus Christ will honor your sacrifice and integrity! Your names are engraved on the honor role of reformation in the kingdom of God. BIBLICAL WITNESS FELLOWSHIP: TWENTY YEARS OF RENEWAL IN THE UCC 1978 - United Church People for Biblical Witness incorporated "The Witness" begins publication as a newsletter "Affirming Our Faith" published 1979 - "Issues in Sexual Ethics" published 1980 - "Living Faith" begins publication 1984 - 2nd National Convocation in Byfield, MA UCPBW becomes Biblical Witness Fellowship UCC Friends for Life organized 1987 - Mission Renewal Network Formed 1990 - BWF / UCC Executive Council meet for 3 day dialogue about concerns 1991 - Beavercreek Meeting held in Dayton, OH "Mission Herald" published 1993 - The Renewal Fellowship established in New Tripoli, PA as an group of renewal churches independent of the UCC 1996 - BWF helps launch Association for Church Renewal, formally linking leaders of Renewal Groups in each of the Mainline Denominations 1998 - EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches forms in New Braunfels, Texas Where is everyone now? Barbara Weller practices law with the Christian Legal Society. Armand Weller is Senior Pastor of Church by the Sea in Madeira Beach, Florida which enjoyed 600 -700 in worship last winter. Gerald Sanders pastors a Congregational Church in Ohio. Larry Wood is still pastoring in Royal Oaks, and Bill Boylan is still at Byfield Parish Church continuing to mentor the national board of directors. Dr. Bloesch still teaches in Dubuque, Iowa, completing the publication of his Systematic Theology. God has blessed!