OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

You might like to be on Arnold Hardin’s mailing list for his Persuader, which is a diamond in the rough. He will add your name for the asking. Address: Sceyene Rd. Church of Christ, 2920 Prairie Creek, Dallas, Tx. 75227. I just now dropped Arnold a note about a line in his last issue: “One may be a disciple and yet not a Christian.” I agreed with him, but told him I would disagree if it had read; “One may be a disciple of Christ and yet not be a Christian.” You will appreciate reading him.

Chester Woodhall writes from Zambia, Africa of missionary efforts in Zaire by his assistant, John Ramsey. While the Zaireans have not yet been responsive to the plea for the ancient order, Woodhall and Ramsey are not giving up. Efforts in that part of Africa have been generally successful.

Ray Brinkley (Box 6404, Orlando, FL 32853) has made many visits to India in missionary work. He is now endeavoring to send clothing to India, which is badly needed. Young people in Florida have gathered 19 tons of clothing, so what is now needed is money for shipping. Ray asks for donations as small as $10.00, so you might want to lend a hand. Ray and his wife Evelyn have made great sacrifices in their Indian mission and they are deserving. Ouida and I are sending a donation. Your gift, made out to GO: A Life Sharing Experience, is tax deductible.

The church press across the nation, including the Arkansas Baptist, has carried the story of the U.S. Supreme Court refusing to hear an appeal filed by the elders that they had sole authority to hire and fire a minister and to control the congregation’s purse strings. When they sought to fire the preacher the church rebelled and in turn moved to dismiss the elders. The lower court ruled against the elders, noting that in a congregational church the people must have a voice in hiring and firing, control of property, election of elders, and finances. The Supreme Court was satisfied with the lower court’s ruling. Lawyers among Churches of Christ see this as having a great impact on pending suits among us, where elders are contending that they have final and absolute control of a church and its money. It is unfortunate that the “powers that be” have to make us do what is so obviously right. But it has happened before. It was not until “the law” took over that our Christian colleges integrated.

The Firm Foundation (Box 17200, Pensacola, FL 32522) has announced it will run a special issue in which it will respond to my “Open Letter to the Editor of the Firm Foundation,” which ran in both One Body and Restoration Review. In the letter I pled for the kind of openness toward those with whom we differ that was shown by that great pioneer, J. W. McGarvey, who while he was non-instrumental music would not make it a test of fellowship. If you want a copy of the special, you might get one by asking.

On a Sunday evening in January members of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ met at the Southwest Christian Church in Ft. Worth and worshipped together. The house was packed and extra chairs were brought in. Jon Jones of Richland Hills Church of Christ was the speaker. Telling about this in Contact, a new mailout, J. Paul Du Bois noted that the speaker referred to them all as “We are all brethren in Christ,” with no effort to identify some as “brethren in error.” Du Bois wrote: “This writer believes that we can and should work together as brothers and sisters in various Christian works. This should require neither group to give up its personal convictions on the music question.” For Contact, which appears to be free:2408 Villa Vera, Arlington, TX 76017.