NASHVILLE UNITY FORUM

The tenth one, and the last of this particular series, will be at Bethany, probably the first few days of July (but this will be announced later), and we hope that many of you will make plans to be there. This was the ninth one in as many years, and it was held on the campus of Scarritt College and in Moorman Auditorium of the Upper Room, across from the college. We had about 100 people from 17 states, plus many from middle Tennessee. We were filled to capacity the night Pat Boone appeared, and while the attendance from Nashville itself was disappointing we had good crowds and fine interest all the way.

Stanley Hime of the Otter Creek Church of Christ was the coordinator, and he did an effective job for us, especially in getting Nashville well represented on the program, though all the King’s horses and all the King’s men could not prevail upon the mainline CofC leadership in Nashville to join in.

David Bobo, who ministers to one of the Churches of Christ in Indianapolis, and Pat Boone spoke on unity the first night. Pat made the point that unless homes are one congregations are not likely to be. David gave his projection of what the united church will be like, a presentation that should be published. The second night gave us Perry Gresham of Bethany and Bob Fife of Milligan, with Robert Neil, an elder at Belmont Church of Christ, leading us gloriously in singing. Perry observed that the heart of our Movement was an effort to rediscover Pentecost, which he contrasted with the confusion of Babel. Bob, like Bobo the night before, gave us his view of the united church. He cited instances already in operation in which all our people could be working together.

Especially impressive among the day sessions was the one on faith and opinion, chaired by F. L. Lemley of Bonne Terre, MO and with Edward Fudge of Athens, AL and Thomas Langford of Lubbock, TX as participants. The three men represented very diverse backgrounds and yet they handled the topic in a most helpful manner, and they came near agreeing. Tom readily acknowledged his “non-class” position to be in the area of opinion, leaving matters of faith to be those things that are clearly and distinctly set forth in scripture. Ed was not so clear in reference to his “non-cooperation” background, but his irenic spirit and sincerity helped us all in thinking through a difficult problem.

The other day sessions were more or less personal testimonials in reference to freedom in Christ. Ed Neely Cullum, Max Foster, Fred Hall, James L. Barton, Clair E. Berry, A. A. Boone (Pat’s father), Hall Crowder, Frank Allen Dennis, who is now known by some of our readers as “the professor with the poodle” of Mississippi fame, all edified us. Here we have a Disciple, an Independent Christian, a mainline CofC, a pre mill CofC, charismatic CofC, and I don’t know what all. But all of them talked to us, shared with us, told us experiences about freedom in the Lord. It was beautiful!

Many of us out-of-towners stayed together on campus and dined together in the mess hall. We all agreed that we need more of such togetherness. There were tours of the Upper Room, where the Methodists have graciously included Alex Campbell in their historic stained-glass window and where we saw the Lord’s Supper carved in wood. And we toured the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. It warmed my heart to see Claude Spencer sharing the goodies of the Society with people of several different backgrounds, all of them basking together in our glorious history. Ouida, Ben, Philip, and I, along with friends from the Forum, visited with Pat and Shirley in the home of Archie and Margaret Boone, Pat’s parents, which rounded off a beautiful experience in the Athens of the South, or should I say the New Jerusalem.

Which reminds me of one of the gayer moments. In a question period someone asked Perry Gresham where he supposed Alex Campbell would be if he were alive today. Perry replied, “In Nashville, of course!”

A few days later at the North American Christian Convention in Anaheim I told Mildred Welshimer Phillips about the Forum, especially that scene of old Claude opening up our history to all these different backgrounds of our Movement. Nothing would do for her but for me to make the same spiel to the luncheon meeting of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, which is always part of that convention. Making me do a thing like that is about like throwing Brer Rabbit into the briar patch!

This is not a page from my travel diary. Beyond Nashville there is Anaheim, then Mexico City to the World Convention of Churches of Christ, and then to several places in Illinois and Indiana. All this deserves special treatment, which I hope to do in my text.—the Editor