It is always encouraging to find out that people are reading and paying attention. Last month I wrote in my NAF moderator's eletter that I will be working over and communicating with the readers about how we define, or decide that we have a, “church.” My observation from our regional, national and international fellowships is that there is a lot of variety in how people, both leaders and followers, in our NAF churches are defining and deciding about “church.”
There was response to this issue. Certainly the email from Jerry Young, former long-time pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, PA was helpful. Jerry wrote that he served as chair of the FGBC (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) strategy committee of 1990, which presented a report entitled, “Elements of a Grace Brethren Church” which was approved by the delegates of the national annual conference that year.
It reads as follows:
"A Grace Brethren Church is a local assembly of believers in Jesus Christ who are affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, or its counterpart Fellowship in other nations, and are committed to:
1. One another as a spiritual family;
2. The Statement of Faith as a summary of our biblical belief and practice;
3. The practice of triune-immersion baptism and three-fold communion;
4. Oversight by an elder (or elders) who fulfill(s) scriptural qualifications; and
5. The observance of regular worship services.
The purpose of a local church is the worship of God, the edification and fellowship of believers, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission."
1991 Brethren Annual, page 16
So, as we respond to the challenge of every NAF church bringing a daughter church to our regional conference next year, this statement helps us understand both the mother and daughter churches involved. Jerry added, “To the best of my knowledge, this definition has never been officially altered by later conferences.”
What are your thoughts as we press on in discipling the nations?
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
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2 comments:
i'd add...
practices church discipline
expository preaching
Thanks, Danny2, for the suggestions. Faithful elders would certainly do these things (1 Timothy 5:17).
Dan
Sorry for the delay; I should look more often for comments!
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