Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement Unity Meeting

ood morning and welcome to the second Austin-area meeting of heirs of the Stone Campbell movement.

We are glad you are here and have chosen to participate.

Speaking for myself, I am glad to see this day. By that I mean more than this particular day, but that in this year marking the 100th anniversary when the Census Bureau designated the Stone-Campbell movement as two distinct fellowships, that several leaders in our respective groups have had the courage and foresight to open dialogue and re-look at our common heritage.

There is much we have in common: a common heritage, a reverence for God, a respect for scripture, a love of the church, and a deep-seeded belief that the seek unity glorifies God.

So, I have great hope that this new dialogue will result in deeper respect for each other and will have a positive effect on our churches.

But, this meeting is just to help us take the next step. And, in my opinion, we should rejoice in small victories and be satisfied without expecting too much too soon.

For, in my opinion, these meetings do not signal the end of our divisions, nor do I believe that the distinctiveness of each of our fellowships that we and our people hold dear will be summarily abandoned. Neither should they be ignored or belittled.

However, I do hope and trust that these meetings signal the end of our isolation. Isolation is not good for us because it creates an insular view of the world—and a self-conceit—and a lack of accountability.

And, ending our isolation does not mean that we minimize or trivialize these things we hold dear. Just the opposite: at some point or level we can talk about them. Indeed, we should talk. For, in my opinion, not only do we need to be faithful to what we believe . . . what our people believe . . . we must be accountable for those beliefs—for they have effected everything we do and have done in the name of God.

Our isolation has allowed us to develop our own cultures and sub-cultures and sub-sub-cultures. And, some of these sub-cultures have taken on themselves the mantle of gospel. I am hopeful that accountability to our other brothers will help us examine—and criticize—those things and help us discern whether they, indeed, are gospel—or have we merely sanctified our own preferences and limited understanding?

At the very least, continuing to dialogue means we really do take seriously the teachings of Jesus whose prayer for unity—that we all may be one—should be instructive.

And, at the very least, continuing to dialogue means that we honor Paul’s appeal that we be eager to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Paul’s word was “unity,” and not “unanimity” which I take to mean, whatever we have in common—whatever unity we have—even if it is as slender as a thread—maybe especially if it is slender as a thread—is a stewardship that has been given to us to maintain.

So, thank you, Western Hills for calling us back to this and for taking seriously the challenge of Jesus and the appeal of Paul.

Let’s give them a hand for hosting us today!

Dr. Carson Stephens, former President of Austin Graduate School of Theology.