North American evangelicals send wake up call to World Council of Churches
Institute on Religion & Democracy, November 10, 1998
WASHINGTON, DC: In preparation for the World Council of Churches’ upcoming Eighth Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, December 3-14, the Association for Church Renewal (ARC) released today a Jubilee Appeal and position papers on seven controversial topics. Thomas Oden, a United Methodist theologian who is chair of the ACR’s Jubilee Project, said the appeal is a “wake-up call for the WCC.” Diane Knippers, ACR steering committee vice chair, said: “It is also a Macedonial call to the rest of the world – come over and help North America. We need missionary outreach to renew our own societies and to reform the WCC.”
The ACR consists of leaders of North American church renewal organizations with an outreach to 4.5 million church members in North America. David Runnion-Bareford, an ACR steering committee member and Executive Director of the Biblical Witness Fellowship (United Church of Christ), says: “In trying to find the road to growth and revitalization, the WCC is contemplating the path of macro-ecumenism, becoming a vague umbrella organization encompassing multiple faiths – Christianity being only one of many ‘religious’ groups.” We believe that this route leads to the death of the WCC as a carrier of ecumenical hope.” As Donna Hailson, board of directors of the American Baptist Evangelicals, said, “Tolerance does not require relativism; nor is it a synonym for syncretism. Instead, tolerance involves respect, forbearance and restraint in the face of provocation. Syncretism repudiates tolerance and undermines the foundations of the universal Church throughout the ages.”
Jim Heidinger, Chair of the ARC and President of the Good News Movement (United Methodist) added, “We are shining a light to show the way to true unity. Jesus Christ is the unifying force of ecumenism. We urge the WCC to build a fellowship of those who confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, God, and Savior by joining ranks with those Christians who have been absent or marginalized from the council – Evangelical, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal and Orthodox communions.”
Allen Churchill, Community of Concern (United Church of Canada), pointed out that all of the ACR groups are from denominations that belong to the WCC. Further, he said, “Just as we strive for the renewal of our churches in North American, we also seek the renewal of the WCC.” Parker Williamson, Executive Editor of The Presbyterian Layman, explained how Jesus Christ unifies believers: “Proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, a centrifugal thrust, also means coming together in Jesus Christ, a centripetal thrust. The more vigorously we move outward with the gospel, the more we find ourselves moving toward one another.” Todd Wetzel of Episcopalians United reminded the WCC that “choosing Christocentric renewal means a de-emphasis on some social and political stances that many Christians cannot support.”
The ACR members are from 25 Church renewal organizations in the United States and Canada. Founded in October 1996, the association is comprised of chief executives and board leaders who address concerns about faith and life, theology and morality, along with missions and evangelism. A six-member team will carry the ACR challenge to the WCC Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, December 3-14, 1998. The challenge is titled, “Proclaim Liberty: A Jubilee Appeal.” According to Old Testament law, every fiftieth year is a Jubilee year. The ancient Hebrews were required to free slaves, forgive debts and restore land to its original owners. John Eby, National Coordinator of American Baptist Evangelicals, said, “Jesus linked the theme of Jubilee with his call to ‘repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.'” He added, “This is a perfect time for the WCC to remind people of the need for repentance and the power of restoration through the gospel of Jesus Christ.”