OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

Our readers were interested in our news item about a merger of a Christian Church and a Church of Christ in Fenton, Michigan. Having recently visited in that area I can give a brief update on that merger. The two churches, now one, meet in the old Fenton Church of Christ building, and they are doing great. They say that in union they have a higher percentage of “workers” than previously. They resolved the instrument issue by having a 15 or 20 minute “instrumental service” of singing, etc. the first thing on Sunday a.m. After that it is acappella. Those whose consciences do not allow them to sing with the instrument can come at the break. This has long been the practice of non-Sunday School brethren in Sunday School churches. They don’t attend Sunday School. Some leaders report that a lot of their folk are “non Sunday School” who are not supposed to be!

The Christian Chronicle recently reported that there is a “pulpit shortage” among Churches of Christ. just as in most other churches. The editor told of one church that had 60 applicants for its vacant pulpit, and he refers to “the desperation of preachers in search of preaching jobs.” This might impress one as an odd news item for a people who claim to have “restored the true church.” Were evangelists desperate for “open pulpits” in New Testament times or was it some other way?