he fourth (4th) "Greater Austin/Central Texas Area Stone-Campbell Dialogue" was held on Saturday the 2nd of December 2006 at 9:00 a.m. at the Fellowship Hall of the Southwestern Christian Church in Austin, Tx. The Meeting like its three predecessors was another major step of re-establishing Unity among all three (3) branches of the Stone-Campbell Movement in the Greater Austin/Central Texas area.

All three (3) branches of the Stone-Campbell heritage were represented, with Elders, ministers and members from the following congregations:
Bastrop Church of Christ, Bastrop TX
Central Christian Church, Austin, TX (Disciples of Christ)
Southwest Christian Church, Austin, TX
Georgetown Church of Christ, Georgetown, TX
University Avenue Church of Christ, Austin, TX
Westover Hills Church of Christ, Austin, TX
Western Hills Church of Christ, Austin, TX
University Christian Church, Austin, TX (Disciples of Christ)
Townwest Church of Christ, Taylor, TX

As experienced in meetings past, the overall ambience of the gathering from the outset was that of a family being reunited after years of separation. The right hand of Fellowship was extended without hesitation to all who attended by those who were in attendance.

Moderated by Dr. Carson Stephens
The program started promptly at 9:00 a.m. with Mark Weinert, Student/Small Groups Minister from Southwest Christian Church formally welcoming all of the attendees. The meeting was opened with prayer and breakfast was prepared and served to all the attendees. Dr. Carson Stephens, former President of Austin Graduate School of Theology, once again served as moderator and started the program at approximately 9:15 a.m.

Thought Provoking Topic
Phil Kight a Deacon from Southwest Christian Church and member of the Steering Commitee addressed the topic, "Recent History and Plea for Unity of the Stone Campbell Movement" Phil set the stage by addressing the basic issues that had divided the Disciples of Christ and the Churches of Christ and then the issues that divided the Christian Churches from the Disciples of Christ and the Churches of Christ. He shared his own spiritual journey of having converted from Catholicism directly into an "Anti" group within the Churches of Christ and his experiences attending both Florida Christian College and Harding College. He shared with the group his transformational experience into a more grace-centered understanding of Christianity and of those who had influenced his understanding.

Inspirational Music
Bill Moore, a minister of Music from Southwest Christian Church shared with those in attendance some of the key points of his spiritual journey and then shared two spiritual songs of his own composition. Bill's deep baritone/bass voice accompanied by the Guitar was a wonderful display of God's transformational power in the lives of his people and the use of their talents to his glory!

Table Discussions
At 10:00 am, the entire group entered into table discussions ranging from ideas of a perfect vacation and favorite food to the greatest challenges we have all faced as Christians and what we hoped to achieve out of these Dialogue Meetings. Southwest Christian did an outstanding job of splitting the attendees up into tables that included members from all three (3) Streams of the Stone-Campbell Movement. The questions provided to the attendees were designed to build on our common background, likes and dislikes, experiences and basis of our faith. Those in attendance found the questions to be stimulating and gave wonderful insight to those we share the same heritage.

Introduction of the Greater Austin Area Stone/Campbell Steering Committee
Where Do We Go from here?
At approximately 10:40 am, B.J. Pierce introduced the new Greater Austin/Central Texas Area Stone Campbell Steering Committee which now takes the place of the Western Hills Church of Christ Unity Committee to oversee the planning of the Quarterly Greater Austin/Central Texas Area Stone Campbell Dialogue Meetings and search for further means of cooperative efforts between the Three (3) Streams of our Movement.

B.J. then addressed the issue of where does the Greater Austin/CentralTexas Area Stone Campbell Dialogue go from here after its 4th meeting. B.J. relayed that the initial consensus of the Steering Committee was that "Bridge Building" and finding "Common Ground" among the Three Streams was crucial during this period and that trying to tackle doctrinal issues that have not been resolved even by the greatest minds of our movement over the last 100+ years would not prove profitable at this time. B.J. acknowledged that the Steering Committee believed there would be a time to address certain issues, but not in the sectarian style fashion that has characterized our Movement in years past.

B.J. concluded his thoughts with two short stories of reconciliation from the final Gettysburg Reunion of 1938 and T.B. Larimore's refusal to be caught up in the Divisions that permeated our Movement in the early part of the 20th Century.

Next Meeting
Bert Crowson from University Avenue announced that the next Greater Austin/Central Texas Area Stone-Campbell Dialogue meeting would be held at the University Avenue Church of Christ on a Saturday in March 2007. The firm date should be announced by the end of January 2007.

In Closing
Bill Moore led the Assembly in Blest Be The Tie That Binds.