Co-Ordinating Churches
The development of organic ties among churches—even while they continue to say they are independent —is historic fact. It may be observed in the history of various denominations (Church of God, Baptist, etc.) and it is equally apparent in our own history. Our history is documented (Search For Ancient Order by Earl West; Disciples in Kentucky by A. W. Fortune; and other like books) and is available for study. It is not lack of information, or the ability to perceive what is taking place in our generation that blinds preachers and teachers. It is the unwillingness to see. Pride and jobs are at stake
Sponsoring churches, Executive Boards, and other media by which a plurality of churches function as one in benevolence and evangelism have caused brethren to think of Churches of Christ as a functional organic body which must, somehow, be coordinated and harnessed for work. This is the essential element in the organic concept of every denomination that has ever been formed.
A Vancouver, Wash., church offers SERVICE FOR THE WHOLE BROTHERHOOD, Their literature says, Whenever some member moves to another community... send the moving members name, new address, and date of moving to a SINGLE CO-ORDINATING CONGREGATION, which congregation will serve the whole nation. This congregation will then immediately send this same information to a relay congregation... etc. Relay stations have been established in many of the states, therefore the program is effective immediately. (Do you suppose the so-called Anti churches should prepare for a great flow of these addresses? Hmmmmm!)
The San Jose church, Jacksonville, Fla., has taken the oversight of the Evangelism/73 project to inform and motivate our brethren. The advisory committee consists of men from Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, California and Oklahoma; a nice little local church arrangement. Their NEWSLETTER (No. 1) says this is the response of churches of Christ to the opportunities that will be available as a result of Key 73, an inter-denominational activity. IN THE MILL of future plans are Area meetings of church leaders in many cities to discuss cooperative plans for evangelism in 1973. (NEWSLETTER No. 5)
Now I suppose someone will ask why I oppose evangelism or keeping up with brethren who move—and will ignore everything I have said about the trend toward national or universal churchhood organization. Someday they may wonder how this happened.