Wondering Pilgrim

Sound advice to young men leaving an African village to make their fortune abroad. Umbilical cords were interred in the ancestral burial grounds – a permanent reminder of roots, belonging and identity. The closing day of convention centred on the place where the metaphorical umbilical cord of adherents of the Stone-Campbell movement, indeed all Christians – is buried, the Lord’s Table. A moving but simple ceremony heralded the year of the Great Communion, leading up to the celebration on October 4th, 2009, of the bicentennial of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address. Some pictures later of this and the preceding night’s Grand Ol’ Opry style celebration featuring Tommy Emmanuel.

Get ready for the Great Communion of 2009 – the Bicentennial of the document that is regarded by many as the foundation of the Restoration Movement (Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address. It is also the centennial of the split in the movement that became formal when the US Census of 1909 listed Churches of Christ and the Christian Church as separate denominations. The approaching bicentenary is providing an urgent incentive in dialogue between representatives of the three streams in the USA for next year’s celebrations. A visit today to the Historical Society of Disciples of Christ opened access to a rich resource for research and study.

Tonight the Garfield and Grace Todd Awards were offered to Sonny and Fran Graham for their life work amongst aboriginal people, to Ash and Angie Barker, founders of Urban Neighbourhoods of Hope (UNOH), and to Neville and Lil Muir for their work with International Deaf Ministry. Dr Philemon Paur of Dhond Hospital in India also received the award.

I took a deep breath and plunged into the African experience this morning. There is no such thing as observing an African worship service. You have to participate. Led by delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Zimbabwe, about 80 people took part in the singing and dabncing prayers. The vibrant, soul-tugging worship had this rational being wiping leaky eyes and slowing down a racing heartbeat. Might try the a capella service tomorrow!

The day begins with a choice of six different worship centres, Disciples, a capella, contemporary, African, Hispornic and Spanish. I choose Disciples which features the Gender Road Disciples Church Choir, gowned and swinging with a mix of classical and soul music.

Later, the plenary bible study is led by Rhonda Lowry, an a capella member breaking from a tradition that does not usually countenance women speakers. Indeed, reflecting on Mark 5, the story of the healing of the haemmoraghing woman, and the dynamic of trust, fear, liberation and enfolding into community in the narrative, Rhonda declares “Women in our tradition have been silent for too long.” Recognising the still divisive elements that challenging such traditions may entail, reference is made to the C & W song, “We come from a long line of love.”

Many workshops present themselves as choices, and I go to hear Ash Barker present the Jesse Bader Memorial Lecture. I have heard this courageous Australian missionary before, but I am curious to see how his incarnational methods of living amongst the poor in a Thai slum is received here. He compares Thai animism with “Christian animism” – any attempt to manipulate God to do what we want rather than being obedient to God’s leading. He develops his method of serving the poor around the priciples of authentic relief, education, protest, modeling after the style of Jesus and transformation. He fields many questions and has indeed provoked deep thought.

In the evening, special recognition is given to Avon and Deslee Moyle for over 30 years outstanding service in indigenous ministry. Sonny Graham receives the award on their behalf. A similar award is made to Ross Norling for the work he and his late wife, Helen, have done amongst aboriginal communities in the Pilbara.

A French youth choir, contemporary gospel, the parade of flags representing the 150 countries in which RM is present, a reading of a portion of John 17 in Maharathi (sp?) and a rip roaring Black American style sermon by Cynthia Hale kicked this Convention off to a good start. Cynthia grasped the nettle using both John 17 and Ephesians 4:1-6 as the base for her oft repeated assertion “It ain’t complicated!” What ain’t complicated? The call of the church in general and the various streams of the RM in particular to be united in Christ. Reminded me again of the observation several days ago. “Christ said we are one – we just imagine we are not.” There was a standing ovation when she concluded.