OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

Central Church of Christ in Irving will conduct another conference for “less traditional” Churches of Christ in 1986. The date this time is Feb. 20-22, and the theme is “The Nature and the Challenge of Christian Liberty,” based upon Galatians. The format will be panel discussions as well as lectures, with emphasis on fellowship with each other. There will be a $20 registration fee to defray expenses. To get on their mailing list write to the church as 1710 W. Airport Fwy., Irving, TX 75062 or call 214-259-2631.

Holy Kiss must be the most unique of any publication among Churches of Christ. Published by An Accapella Chorus, (Box 66734, Houston, TX 77266), it is the ministry of “Church of Christ Gay Men and Lesbians.” In the current issue Jimmy Maynard, a professor at Memphis State University, tells the story of how he began to deal with his sexuality while a student at Harding. As part of his testimony he writes: “We are maligned in sermons as perverts who molest children. We are persecuted when our Bible professors simplistically characterize homosexuals as repugnant filth. We are isolated in our struggle to reconcile our feelings about our self-worth with the attitudes of those who do not understand how we feel, that we are sensitive people who want to be like Christ but cannot change our sexual orientation anymore than they can.” The paper features a favorite Church of Christ verse, Rom. 16:16, but this time it is the holy kiss that is billed rather than the name of the church. But it was the piece “New Orleans, From Fun to Worship” that got Ouida, which closed with “I trust that God will bless you, and that you will have a safe and enjoyable time in ‘01’ New Orleans. See you in Sunday School.” “01” is a famous gay bar at 901 Bourbon, known as Cafe Lafite in Exile. The writer tells the gays who are to visit New Orleans about the Churches of Christ in that city, one of which is “Prim and Proper” and not very friendly, and will not care whether you visit again. To fellowship the gays should be no problem since they are not anti-Sunday School.

A good way to get the old batteries recharged is to be at the Third Annual Christian Unity Conference, hosted by the University Church of Christ in Conway, Arkansas, Jan. 23-25, 1986, and led by J. Harold Thomas. Resource people this year include W. F. Lown and Bob Cannon, the former ministering among Christian Churches, the latter now a minister with Assemblies of God, though born and bred Church of Christ. It is to the credit of the University church that they can invite folk to share who may be a step or two removed from our traditions. I plan to be there, the Lord willing, and while there will be diversity of viewpoint in some areas, we will enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit together as we learn to love Christ more dearly and to follow him more nearly. Besides, Lea Hook of New Braunfels, Texas will be there, which is reason enough for anybody to attend, especially when she gives you a free copy of husband Cecil’s book, Free In Christ. For further information write the church at 310 Donaghey, Conway, AR 72032 or call 501-329-9176.

Brethren from Christian Churches and Churches of Christ continue to have upbeat gatherings, and they are coming to see that they have far more in common than differences. They have Jesus in common and he is what matters. Marvin Phillips said something like that when he gave the keynote for such a gathering in Houston, Nov. 4, with some 300 ministers and their wives at dinner together. Unity was the theme. The gathering was the effort of Mark Hickerson of the Christian Church and Calvin Warpula of the Church of Christ.

If you read James Michener’s latest novel, Texas, just off the press, you will notice several references to the Church of Christ. Part of his research for such a big subject was at Abilene Christian University. One of his characters, a Texas-size Methodist minister, renounces that church and joins the Church of Christ. He became Texas-size in his opposition to instrumental music, for when the organ was brought into his church he threatened to burn the church down. I would say that Michener got the point. That just shows what happens to a good novelist when he stays in Texas too long, especially Abilene.