When John Mills, pastor of the Remsen Christian Church, Brunswick, Ohio (Independent), assisted me to the pulpit at the Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Austin, TX on June 10 , it was not only nostalgic but a reminder of what God has done among us during the past decade for unity within the Stone-Campbell heritage.

Back in 1999 John called to tell me that the leadership of the Disciples of Christ was at last showing interest in dialogue with their fellow Stone-Campbell churches -- to “move in both directions,” as they put it, in their unity efforts.

John wanted me to select two others and for the three of us to meet with like numbers from each of the other two churches, and that the nine of us would meet and pray together, and explore ways of bringing our people closer together. It was the beginning of what is known today as The Stone-Campbell Dialogue, which I described in my autobiography as an effort that may prove to be “the most promising development of this generation for all of our people in the Movement.”

Since I deemed it appropriate that younger and less controversial leaders than I should represent Churches of Christ, I consulted with Don Browning, then of the Farmers Branch (TX) Church of Christ, and we agreed that Mike Armour, then of the Skillman Church of Christ in Dallas, and Doug Foster of ACU, both already active in unity efforts, could represent Churches of Christ, and that they should choose the third representative. They asked Philip Morrison, an editor in Nashville, to join them.

Knowing all nine of the men from the three churches that made up the Dialogue, I was not surprised to learn that in their first meeting they formed a huddle, prayed together, and asked God to forgive them of the sin of division. They begged forgiveness of each other as well.

The Dialogue, which is by invitation only, now has twenty participants -- six from each church plus two observers -- , and they were having their annual meeting in Austin. But in recent years they have had a public assembly on Sunday evening -- before their private sessions began on Monday -- where those from all three churches in the area can meet and commune together, and thus be part of the Dialogue.

The service at Central Christian (1847) was called Commitment to Unity Worship Service. There were three choirs, one from each church, and speakers from all three. My part was to say a word before the Communion service on the place of the Lord’s Supper in our heritage. I pointed out that Cane Ridge, the birthplace of the Stone movement, was a massive Communion celebration as well as a revival, and that at Brush Run, where the Campbell movement began, they spread the Table out under the elms on the very first Lord’s day, well before they had their log cabin meetinghouse. To Campbell the Lord’s people, the Lord’s day, and the Lord’s supper are inexorably related. I told two stories out of our history that help define the significance that we have given the Table.

The first was about Alexander Campbell presiding at the Table at Bethany, and prefacing his remarks by telling his little flock that one reason he wanted to go to heaven was that they would be there. That captures the essence of communing together. It is a communion between believers who love one another even as Christ has loves them.

The other story was of Edward Scribner Ames, who in his Chicago congregation faced the problem of having no “elements” for the Supper due to very inclement weather hindering the presence of those responsible for the Table. The few present presumed there would be no Table, but Ames, noting that Disciples always break bread on Lord’s day, presided at the Table as usual. The congregation would break bread and drink from the cup “in their hearts,” which is what the Supper is about, he pointed out. So he blessed and passed the elements as usual, and they broke bread from a plate that had no bread and drank from a cup that had no wine. I noted that such a story, dramatizing the significance of the Table, could emanate only from our people.

I ventured that the very congregation that served as our host has assembled to break bread each first day since 1847. It may not have always had preaching, but it has always gathered around the Table. That is who we are, and it is true of all our congregations, whatever its persuasions otherwise.

As for personal matters, Ouida is still ill, but is nonetheless somewhat active. She takes short walks, enjoys TV, reading, visitors, and she made the trip to Austin quite well. I encourage her, as do her doctors, to push herself somewhat, advice she accepts with some reluctance. As for going to Austin, I said to her, “Trust me, you can do it.” She at last agreed to go for my sake, but she was glad she made the effort.

We were with delightful friends for the drive there and back, and our hosts treated us like royalty. And the fellowship at Central Christian was a foretaste of heaven. I told some of them that I have waited for a half century to see such beautiful expressions of unity among our divided people.

I still give several hours a day disposing of the abundance of “things” we accumulated during 63 years of housekeeping. I at last have everything out of the house and into the garage, and from the garage bags and boxes go off in different directions. It is sobering to see how much we can do without that we supposed we needed.

I ponder the wisdom of some poet: “We need but little here below, nor need that little long.”

(Thanks to Ron Hasty for helping us along. I should at last be connected for the next essay.)

Current contact information for Leroy and Ouida:

The Vintage Retirement Community
Leroy and Quida Garrett  Room 110
205 N Bonnie Brae
Denton, Texas  76201