This article is from the EMU News Archive. Current EMU new is available at www.emu.edu/news
Conference to Examine Christians' Relationship to the State
How do Christians in the "Believers Church" tradition,
living in a democracy that is the world’s dominant power, understand their
witness for God and their relationship to political authority?
This question focuses the theme of a "Believers Church" conference to be hosted by EMU and Bridgewater College, Sept. 23-25. Sessions will be held on both campuses.
The conference, the 15th in the series, will explore "God, Democracy and U.S. Power: Believers Church Perspectives." Other sponsoring bodies include the Baptist Joint Committee, Washington, D.C., Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office.
"This conference will focus on the meaning of citizenship in the United States from the perspective of the Believers Church," said Steve Longenecker, professor of history at Bridgewater College and planning committee member. "The planners observe that the United States currently possesses and exercises unprecedented influence on a global scale. The conference is designed to clarify together what it means to be both citizens of the state and members of the body of Christ," he added.
Church traditions usually associated with the Believers Church include Adventists, Baptists, Brethren, Disciples of Christ, Mennonites, Methodists, Pentecostals, Plymouth Brethren and Quakers, noted Nate Yoder, associate professor of church history at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and planning committee chair. "They understand the church to consist of voluntary membership by those confessing Jesus Christ as Lord."
The planners have designed the program to attract and to engage a diverse audience. Sessions throughout the conference approach the topic from biblical, historical and theological perspectives.
Bob Edgar
The program includes respected voices from both academic circles and the broader church. Presentations will include biblical sermons, academic papers and autobiographical narratives. Critical analysis will be interspersed with reflective worship with a priority of integrating scholarly, pastoral and activist perspectives.
Robert W. Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, will address the conference Friday night. Edgar served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by a 12-year tenure as president of Claremont School of Theology. An ordained United Methodist elder, Dr. Edgar has also been pastor of several congregations, a college chaplain, a candidate for the U.S. Senate and finance director for Paul Simon’s presidential campaign in 1988.
The conference’s opening session Sept. 23 coincides with the regular Thursday morning worship in Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s Martin Chapel. Worship that evening, also in Martin Chapel, features Dawn Wilhelm Ottoni, professor of preaching at Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind.
Bethany Theological Seminary Professor of Preaching Dawn Wilhelm Ottoni will deliver a sermon for evening worship on Thursday, Sept. 23.
Friday’s sessions, including the conference banquet, are scheduled for Bridgewater College. For the closing session Saturday morning, the conference returns to Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
Other resource persons who will give papers include William Brackney, director of the program in Baptist Studies and professor of religion at Baylor University, Waco, Tex.; Donald F. Durnbaugh, professor emeritus at Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind.; Alain Epp Weaver, Mennonite Central Committee worker in Palestine; Jim Hardenbrook, moderator-elect for the Church of the Brethren; and J. Denny Weaver, professor of religion at Bluffton College, Oh.
The conference will conclude the morning of Sept. 25 with persons from other parts of the globe bringing their perspectives to the theme, a worship service and a message by J. Daryl Byler, director of the MCC Washington Office. Byler was named EMU's "alumnus of the year" in 1992.
"Given the growing U.S. tendency to muscle its way in global affairs, the U.S. image abroad has never been worse," Byler said. "Consequently, it has never been more important for the U.S. church to model a distinctive practice and offer a clear public witness."
Registration for the conference is underway. More information is available at www.emu.edu/churchandpolitics or from Cindy Smoker, at 540-432-4597; e-mail: .