Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 18
June 30, 1966
NUMBER 9, PAGE 5d-6a

Play At Fair Lawn, N. J.

William E. Wallace

The church in Fair Lawn has been known through the years for its resistance to the innovations promoted by the liberal establishment among churches of Christ. James L. Finney is the sound and faithful preacher of Fair Lawn. He has served the church well for seven years, and has performed his Bible appointed duties in a fine way. He has a splendid family and is loved and appreciated by all right thinking people. He and the Fair Lawn church have just recently survived a subtle, elaborately planned effort on the part of liberals to take over the Fair Lawn church. Fair Lawn has emerged victoriously, from a climatic event in which liberal plans failed and in which the liberal cause was exposed and thwarted.

It all began after the Fair Lawn church had been infiltrated with a number of capable, personable and dedicated families of liberal persuasions. These people sincerely sought to remove what they referred to as the "anti stigmata" from the Fair Lawn church.

These people began their move by fostering onto the church an elaborate committee system which subordinated every phase and facet of congregational interest under the central and authority of internal organisms foreign to and different from anything known to the church of Bible times. The liberal men held most of the important committee posts and when the climatic events occurred they acted quite arbitrarily and dictatorial.

One of the ring leaders is the son of an elder in a liberal church which supports Foy E. Wallace, Jr. in his work across the nation. Though the Fair Lawn church was fully capable to give full support to a visiting evangelist, it was suggested by the liberal that Foy E. Wallace could come for a meeting with financial support provided by an Oklahoma church. The idea was sold to the church, and shortly before the arrival of Foy E. Wallace the liberal plans moved toward climax. Apparently they planned to use Foy E. Wallace in their plans to take over the Fair Lawn church. Whether or not Foy E. Wallace was cognizant of these matters, I know not.

The appointment of elders was under consideration and the liberals were working to block the appointment of any man who would interfere with their plans. Brother Finney was under consideration for the proposed eldership--the liberals knew that they could not succeed in their plans if brother Finney served as an elder.

Two weeks before the scheduled meeting the liberals called a "flash meeting" of the brethren in which they passed resolutions by a narrow margin designed to immediately relieve brother Finney of his responsibilities as local preacher. The vote was by ballot and when a conservative brother sought to check the ballots his request was denied by the liberal chairman of the meeting. One of the committees was appointed to make a financial settlement with brother Finney, as to his salary.

The subtlety of the movement became clear and conservative brethren called for another meeting. Brethren were given ample notice and numbered ballots were used in this meeting. In this second meeting the vote went overwhelmingly in favor of brother Finney remaining with the church. This stalled the liberal momentum.

I had been contacted by conservative brethren and informed of the disorder at Fair Lawn. I was on 'stand-by alert' in case I would be needed in the resistance to the liberal take-over attempt. When Foy E. Wallace, Jr. arrived in Fair Lawn the day before the Gospel Meeting was to begin, he was informed of current events and it is likely he was told of the possibility of my being called by the Fair Lawn brethren. My father refused to hold the meeting and departed for parts unknown.

In a business meeting Sunday after morning services the brethren voted for me to preach in the meeting. I was called and I arrived on Monday to preach. The liberals had 'walked out' Sunday evening to start another congregation. They took about one-third of the membership, leaving the property uncontested to the Fair Lawn church. They met utter and total defeat.

Brother Finney and those other stalwart defenders of the faith at Fair Lawn are to be commended by Christians and blessed by God for weathering the storm. The congregation is now in most excellent condition for present and future growth. It will serve as a beacon of soundness in an area where liberals are intensifying their efforts.

After the liberals 'walked out' the Fair Lawn brethren disbanded the 'committee system' and set things in order toward a scriptural and successful work. There are other sound churches in New Jersey — the cause of New Testament authority will not go wanting in the New Jersey area.