UNITY MEETING AT BETHANY

This year marks a full century since the death of Alexander Campbell. Some of our people think it appropriate that we have a gathering at Bethany in honor of the noble life of this great man who has contributed so much to us all. It is thought especially appropriate that representatives from all wings of the Churches of Christ-Christian Churches share in this memorial, making it a unity meeting of our divided brotherhood. Inasmuch as Campbell dedicated his life to the cause of Christian unity we could hardly honor his life in a more fitting manner on this occasion than to make some effort toward understanding each other better.

The committee in charge of the program is therefore issuing invitations to representative leaders of all major branches of our great brotherhood of Churches of Christ-Christian Churches. These men will be absolutely free to say what they believe they should. It is understood that the presence of any brother does not imply his endorsement of the views or practices of anyone else present. Certainly no one will be expected to compromise any truth he holds. We only ask that each participant enter into the dialogue with an honest effort to understand the thinking of those who differ with him, and of course to behave as a Christian gentleman. All of this is in the best tradition of Alexander Campbell.

Much of the program will be in the form of panel discussions with audience participation. Some of the subjects to be discussed are Why Are We Divided?, Is the Restoration Ideal Valid?, Is There a Pattern for Christian Unity—If so, What is It?, What Obstacles Do We Face in Realizing Unity and What are the Solutions?

Other unique features will be “dinner on the ground” at the old home of Alexander Campbell and guided tours of the places in the area that are renowned in our history. These will include the site of the old Brush Run Church, the farm home where Thomas Campbell wrote the Declaration and Address, and the recently discovered spot where Elder Luce immersed the Campbells. We believe our people can be inspired to seek the unity we have lost with more devotion once they have shared experiences amidst the majestic hills of Bethany that cradled our great movement.

The dates are July 1- 4. Housing and meals will be provided at Bethany College for only $10 per day for each person; half price for children. Bethany is an ideal place for a vacation, situated as it is between Pittsburg and Wheeling, and with the famous Oglesby Park nearby.

For further information and for reservations write to Mr. Farrell Walters, Bethany, West Virginia 26032.

As we go to press for this issue we are pleased to announce that the Bethany program is almost completed in its entirety. From the Disciples of Christ wing of the brotherhood there will be Prof. A. T. DeGroot of TCU, Dale Fiers, head of the United Christian Missionary Society, and Perry Gresham, president of Bethany College. From the Independent Christian Church will be Prof. Charles Gresham of Emmanuel School of Religion, James DeForest Murch, author of Christians Only, and W. F. Lawn, president of Manhattan Bible College.

From non-instrument Church of Christ will be Dr. David Stewart, Sweet Publishing Co., Gene Shelburne, minister of Black Canyon Church of Christ, Phoenix, Arizona, LaVern Foutz, president of Southeastern Christian College, and Carl Ketcherside, editor of Mission Messenger. Those who know the non-instrument segments will recognize that we have such varied representation as a premillennialist and a leading non-Sunday School brother, as well as “main-liners,” which is very encouraging indeed. I’ll not attempt to classify Carl Ketcherside, except that he is definitely “non-instrument.” We also have invitations pending to several other representative “main-liners”, and we are hopeful of having some “non-cooperatives” or “conservatives” or “antis” (take your pick) on the program. So it looks as if we will be loaded at Bethany. You’d better not miss it!

My own part on the program, besides in helping put it together, will be to present “Campbell’s Own Account of His First Brush Run Sermon,” which will be given at the site itself. We’ll be standing there amongst the trees, as Campbell did himself (it was before they actually erected the meetinghouse), and will recall what Campbell anticipated back in 1811 when our Movement began to form. What makes this such an interesting account is that Campbell made no record on what he said on the occasion, but recalls it thirty years afterward, with appropriate evaluations of what had happened in the interim.

“The table was spread in the woods, and some sixty or seventy disciples, gathered out of various denominations, had assembled to show forth the Lord’s death, covenanting with each other to follow the truth, the whole truth of Christianity, whithersoever it might lead us, without regard to former prepossessions, manners, or customs,” Campbell recalled. This was even before the Campbells decided to be immersed. As he recalled that humble gathering a generation later, he thought it unusual that he had selected the text, “Though thy beginning be small, yet shall thy latter end greatly increase,” for even in 1842, when he wrote of the first congregation at Brush Run, the Movement had attracted hundreds of thousands. Today it numbers more than four millions, counting all our divisions.

As we look down at the stones that formed the foundation of our first meetinghouse, we should be inspired to achieve the unity that Campbell envisaged on that day. He recalled that he was confident even in 1811 that he had discovered the principles of Christian union, and he was convinced that the work he was undertaking would definitely lead to the uniting of the Christians of all denominations.

The old Brush Run meetinghouse has long since been hauled away, being used for awhile as a blacksmith’s shop in a nearby town, and no one is sure what it looked like, though plans are underway to restore it.

Among other exciting experiences at Bethany will be “dinner on the ground’” at the old Campbell Home, which is so well preserved, from which one can walk across the road to “God’s Acre,” the Campbell cemetery .. On Lord’s Day, July 3, we will open the old, unused Campbell church, and worship together in the simplicity of yesteryear.

Ouida is so excited about the prospects of our both returning to Bethany for this momentous occasion that she is searching for ways to “farm out” the kids for a few days. We hope she makes it. And we hope you make it too! the Editor